Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-06-09
MAY RIVAL THE
 THAW CASE Millionaire Who Was Shot By Two Young Women, In Serious Condition
STICKS TO HIS STORY
Says He Was Lured to Their Apart. ment-Girls Have Figured
 In Sensations Before.
International News Special

International News Special
 New York, June 8.-Millionaire w. E. D. Stokes, proprietor of the An sonia Hotel, who lies wounded in Roosevelt Hospital from bullet wounds inflicted by two comedy show girls, Ethel Conrad and Lillian Gra- ham, in the latter's apartment late Wednesday afternoon, is in a serious condition. Tonight it was announced that it would be ten days at the ear Hest before MT. Stokes would be able to personally appear against the young women.
 Developments in the affair, which in many respects rivals the Thaw case in dramatic interest, came thick and fast today.
 The girls, arraigned in the West Side Court and held without bail on a charge of attempted murder, vied with each other in claiming credit for having shot the wealthy hotel man. It developed that both girls have had interesting careers. Lillian Graham has figured in one Or more Sensations on two continents, while Ethel Con- rad achieved notoriety last September through an attempt which she made to shoot Charles Miller, we'll known and wealthy young man of Plattshurg N. Y.
 { Three legal actions will probably result from the affair. Miss Graham said today she intends suing Stokes for defamstion of character. The two girls are held at present on charge of attempted murder. Mr. Stokes through his attorney still clings to his original explanation of the incl dent. He maintains that he was lur- d to the apartment occupied by the girls on the promise of being given a package of letters he is said to have written Lillian Graham. He also re- interates the charge that a demand of $25,OOO was made of him at the point of revolver and that on his refusal to be 'sblackmailed' the girls opened fire. Ethel Conrad's statement diff fers so materially from that Of the millionaire as to leave the entire af- fair still shrouded in mystery. She makes it appear that MT. Stokes had been pursuing her with unwel- come attentions, but she backs up Miss Graham declaring that he came to their apartment to recover letters he had written Miss Graham and up on which she threatened to bring a
 breach of promise action ,aganst him. Here is Miss Conrad's state ment in part:
 "When MT. Stokes came to the house he did not ask for Lillian. He "sk- ed for me. He did not want to see Miss Graham. He had been pursuing E me with his attentions for some time and I was tired of 1t.
 "He expected to find me alone *nd when he saw Miss Graham he became enraged and cursed her. He had toid bad stories about her thet reflected on her character and Miss Graham was determined that he should retracl them.
 'She was ready for him and when he began abusing her she took out revolver. As soon as MT. Stokes be gan stolming at Lillian she pointed fo r. tab on our able. She told him syDu must sit down and sign a state ment retracting all you have sale about me and my family. Stokes laughed brutally. Lillian. becomius excited, threatened him again with ;he revolver. He looked down the bar rel unwinkingly and suddenly rushef at her and seized her by the throst Lillian partly wiggled out of his grip and began shooting. seized reyolverI bought few days ago. look careful aim, and fired at Mir. Stokes leg. I am sure that I hit him. did not wsrt to kill him, but I wanted to cripple him.'
 Mr. Stokes sill declares that he went to the apartment as result of a telephone message to him fron