The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-10-20
Startling Development in The Trial
of The 0ntonagon Murder
Case Today
A NEW LINE OF QUESTIONING
surritt Asks Witness Where Mrs.
stsnnard Was Night Before Day
of Husbands Death.

ontonagon, Mich, oct 2O.-fhe
most startling development at the trial
OF Mrs Laura stannard, charged with
the murder Of her husband by ad-
ministering strychnine, today, startling
not In the direct disclosures brought
out, but in what it portends. occurred
shortly before the noon recess. when
the prosecution asked permission To
continue the direct examination OF
Grace Hammes. Permission was grant
ed and Attorney Burritt asked one
question:
Where was Mrs Stannard on the
night previous to the death Of her hus-
band"
Almost before the significance of the
question was apparent to those in the
court room Mrs. Stannard screamed
and sobbed wildly. So visibly was
the defendant affected that the court
asked Attorney Burritt to suspend
Questioning until she could regain her
composure.
Il don't know" was the witness an
.swer.
The opening up Of a new line Of
Questioning by the prosecution came
as a surprise ito those who have fol-
lowed the case so far, as IL is the first
time the defendants life previous to
the day on which Mr.. Stannard died.
has entered into the case.
Despite a most rigid cross-examina-
ton for two hours by Attorney
O'Brien for the defense this morning.
Grace or Dolly Hammes. the star
witness for the prosecution. stuck 10
the story concerning the events which
transpired in the Stannard household
where she was employed as a do
mestic, which she gave in court yes-
terday. ON a few minor points the
answers given by the witness today
varied from those given yesterday. but
these can hardly be considered OF es-
pecial importance.
Hope to Break Down Story.
The defense is evidently attempting
to show a discrepancy between the
testimony offered by the witness at
the inquest conducted soon after the
death Of Mr.. Stannard. and the tes-
timony offered at the trial yesterday.
When she told her story at the in
quest, the Hammes girl omitted ref
erence TO poison, but i'm the testimony
she gave yesterday she made impor-
tant statements concerning the find
ing of strange Jumps in the bottom Of
a cup in which she served Mr.. STAN
nard's coffee on the morning Of his
death. When questioned concerning
this divergence. the girl testified that
she had not told about the poison at
the inquest because Mrs Stannard
had told her not to tell about Il. not
even TO her mother, and that IL was
her intention TO comply with this re-
quest until she discovered how impor-
tant the testimony was
Doris and Elaine Stannard came in
10 court today with their mother and
sat beside her until the hour for call
ng the court 20 order arrived. Elaine
las been subpoenae by the prosecu-
ion and Doris by 1 he defense
Dolly Hammes resumed the stand
Il the opening Of the court. The pros
acution objected to the reading OF the
witness testimony, given at the coro-
ler's inquest but the objection was
'verruled by the court The reading
vas then begun by Attorney O'Brien.
Defense Scores One Point
The reading occupied only five
rtnutes and then Attorney OBrien
'egan 10 cross examine He first drew
rom the witness. the admission that