The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-08
Girls Shoot Stokes To Save Their Own
 Lives, They Say
Young Actress and Artist Ar raigned in Court Today For Attempt on Life of Hotel Proprietor and Wealthy Club man in Their Apartment
Especial from United Press)

New York, June 8-When arraigned in court for shooting W. E. D. Stokes, proprietor of the Ansonia hotel and wealthy clubman last night, Miss Gra- nam, 22, an actress, and Ethel Conrad, IS years old, artist, reiterated today, they shot Stokes, in their apartments at the Veruna, to save their own lives. This, Stokes positively denies and as- serts he was lured to their apartment py the two girls who tried to black all him out of $25O00
 Alter a night spent in a cell the two girls, both of whom are decidedly pre- possessing, were arraigned in court ana on short affidavit by Detec- tive Devery charging them with first degree assault, were held for exam lnatlon when Stokes is able to come to court. Both girls, while distinctly ner- vous and troubled because of their pre- dlcament, insisted that they shot in self defense and Miss Graham exhibit ed what she alleged were marks of otokes fingers on her throat
 stokes. who recently married Miss Helen Elwood. a wealthy Denver mu- slc1an, was said. at Roosevelt Hospi- tal to be resting comfortably. His wife and son by his first marriage w E. D. stokes, Jr., were with him, today. The doctors say that if blood poison- ing does not result from the wounds, Stokes will be able to appear in court. early next week.
 Because of the conflicting stories told by the participants, the affair IS shrouded in mystery. On only one thlng do they agree and that is that Miss Graham had received some de- cldedly interesting letters from Stokes which the latter was anxious to se. SfOkRS tn the little apartment occupied by the young women they locked him in and demanded $25.cOO for the letters They also insisted that he sign a statement they had prepared. He says when he refused both girls drew revolvers and began shooting at his thighs. The girls version is that Stokes came blus- tering into the apartment and de- manded the letters. Becoming enrag> ed when they told him they were not there, he began to choke Miss Graham and the shooting followed in self de-. fense. Stokes admits having been very friendly with Miss Graham but says he only recently met Miss Con- rad Miss Graham comes from Los Angeles where her sister, Mrs John Singleton. who is now in Paris, main- ta1ns a magnificent home. Another sister is Mrs. Andrews a widow. of San Francisco
 w It'll lHe SlrlS Tn court, today, were arraigned three Japanese who were held as material witnesses They were arranging for dinner to be given by Pat Casey, the vaudeville booking agent in an adjoining apart ment from the one in which the shoot ing took place and they beat Stokes rather severely in the belief that he had attacked the girls.
 The police, today, carefully searched the apartments occupied by the two girls in an effort to locate the letters which caused the shooting but without success.
 Miss Graham came to this city af- ter the San Francisco earthquake and went to live at the Ansonia. the big apartment hotel conducted by Stokes. About eight months ago she accom- panied her sister, Mrs. Singleton. to Europe, ostensibly going to Belgium to study music. Her friends say she told them that she was coming back after her musical education was com pleted to marry Stokes. Instead. about four months later Stokes and Miss Elwood slipped over to Hoboken one night and were married On hearing this. Miss Graham hurried back to this city. She and Miss Conrad rent ed light housekeeping apartment in the Veruna and it was in this that the shooting took place.
 A Nugget will hold fire eight min. uteS oa