Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-14
WIFE OF STOKES
To HIS DEFENSE
Denies Statement of Ethel Con.
rad Telling of Hotel Meet
ing With Husband.
BOTH AWAY AT THE TIME
Negro Butler at Farm of Millionaire
Disputes Word of Lillian
Graham.

new fOrk, Dec. 14.-Tne trial OF
Ethel Conrad and Lillian Graham,
the shooting show girls" was hur-
ried to a close today. Attorneys ex-
pected to finish summing up in time
to let the jury have the case before
adjournment tomorrow. Million
aire Stokes. victim of the shooting,
passed a very bad night. His con-
dition is said to be critical.
A slight fire in the building filed
the court room with smoke and CON-
PEELED a brief recess. The fire was
extinguished and the trial resumed
this afternoon. This Is the third time
the Stokes trial has been halted.
New York, Dec. 14.-The case of
the state against Lillian Graham and
Ethel Conrad on the charge of at
tempting to murder w. E. D. Stokes
probably will be in the hands Of the
jury by tonight. The trial of the
show girls held interest yesterday
afternoon through the temperance
of the spirited Miss Conrad for cross
examination and the unexpected call
ing of Stokes young wife.
There was sharp contrast in the
appearance and demeanor of these
witnesses in all respects but age. The
Conrad girl has sworn her age tc
be 10, and the millionaire's bride
looked scarcely older. Both ars
pretty. Miss Conrad is of the bru
nette type, while Mrs. Stokes is &
tall blonde, with Titan hued hair.
SURPRISE TO DEFENSE.
The calling of Mrs. Stokes as ;
witness for the state came as sur
prise to the defense and to the spec
tators. Her testimony, however
was brief. She said she had married
Stokes Feb. II, but had lived a
Stokes hotel for four or flye month
/ previous to that date.
The main feature of her testi
mony was the contradiction of Mis-
Conrad's declaration that the defend
ant had met Stokes at the Hotel Ar
| COllld oH lhC hiOi INNS VI uboy . q
Mrs Stokes declared that her hus
band and herself were away tha
morning.
Ethel Conrad's story of the shoot
ing of Stokes remained unshaken il
any material point by the cross e,
animation. She swore that Stoke
shot twice without effect in the ba
tie last June in the apartment whicl
Miss Graham and she shared, durin
which she admitted that she and Mis-
Graham also fired in self defens
and wounded Stokes in the legs.
was "his life or ours" she declared.
REFLECTS ON POLICE.
When asked why she did not te
the police that Stokes had fired twic
she explained they were "old tattl
tales, anyhow"
Horace Hix, negro butler O
Stokes farm in Lexington, KY, tol
story much at variance with tha
of Miss Graham, who had declare
she was detained at Stokessfarm 70
two nights. Hix swore that Will
Miss Graham was guest, Of Stoke
she seemed happy and that when sh
left she said she had had a goo
time. Hix said he had heard he
ask about that money" but did M
know what was meant.
Mrs. Stella Singleton, sister {
Lillian Graham, probably will be tn
last witness for the defense tomol
row and the summing up will 70
low Miss Graham testified that Mr..
Singleton had warned her of Stoke
being a dangerous man because st
had heard he had murdered AL A,
ans, the policy king"
1t is expected Mrs. Singleton wi
be asked about this report.
STOKES STILL IN DANGER.
A statement on Stokes conditio
issued by his physician said:
"An operation has given NJ
Stokes considerable relief. The pc
son is slowly being removed fro
: the system. 1t will be two week
at least, before Mr.. Stokes will /
able to be up. His condition still r.
mains dangerous"