St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-12-16

OF SHOOTING
While w. E. D. Stokes is
Under Surgeons Knife,
Miss Conrad and Miss Brice
are Giving Testimony.
"Wishes Buckner Wouldn't
Make Her Laugh.
Miss Graham Claims She
Shot in Self Defense.

New York, Dec. 12.-While w. E.
/ d. Stokes was under a surgeons
knife for an operation which is ex-
pected to restore him to health, Ethel
Conrad, charged, with Lillian Gra-
ham, with attempting to murder him
last June, was on the witness stand
this afternoon corroborating every
feature of the testimony o. her chum
that they had shot the millionaire in
self defense. Mr.. Stokes operation
was for an abscess Of the kidney,
and it was said tonight it had been
successful.
Miss Conrad, statuesque In ap-
pearance, as well as posed in manner
and firm and clear OF voice, and
made striking contrast to the older
| but weak voiced and less self-con-
tained Miss Graham as she succeed
ed the latter on the witness stand.
Miss Graham'e ordeal had lasted
Through two and a half days OF
steady examination. and her pale
and almost haggard face showed to-
| day that she had felt the strain Sc
verely.
| However, she stuck to every ma
lterial point OF her story, particular
| ly to the shooting, and likewise de-
inied every material charge that
Stokes had made against her. Miss
| Conrad, on the other hand, was
| smiling much of the time and con-
vulsed the court by several OF her
sharp replies.
Il WISH" she said, when hor cross
examination was reached, that pros
ecutor Buckner. would stop making
me laugh. 1 don't want to laugh.
The girl explained her friendship
for Miss Graham by saying that the
Halter had nursed her SO dcvotedly
Iduring an illness last April that she
decided never to leave her. Buck
lner questioned. the witness closely
las to her past life, particularly as to
La visit she made in 1910 to Platts-
ibure, N. Y, where she occupied. she
lsaid, the house of q friend, MT.
Harley" who was away for the sum-
liner. While there she admitted that
tshe had drawn revolver upon man
named Louis Miller while on an
Automobile ride with him. She fore
ed him to write statement, she
said, of what took place on the auto.
| mobile trip, and then told e shertfl
that she had attempted to kill man
land wanted to be arrested. THIS
lstatement she promised to have II
fcourt tomorrow IL she could find it
/ Assistant Prosecutor Buckner be.
lgan with requestioring about tbs
purchase Of the pistol with which
Stokes was shot.
Miss Graham was asked if, wher
she and Ethel Conrad entered de
partment store, the salesman did moi
inquire whether they wanted q weap
on for "road work, !" and + Ethel die
not reply: mo, for close work
Lillian said she could not remem
ber.
i Lillian denied that before the pis
Itol was purchased she remarked K
Ethel that she "did not know how
| she was going to get Stokes to tint
apartment"
Il She said Ethel had never suggest
Il ed to her that 'it's an easy thing :.
/, | get man to sign a statement VIII
a gun in your hand.
i "Did she (Ethel) tell you 1t hat
) worked we'll in the cage of Piatts
/ iburg mani" asked the prosecutor.
NO" sighed Lillian.
Here the prosecutor produced
/ pint bottle one-third full OF wnisk
) and asked il it wasn't th. bottle Lii
t / lian sent out to be filled on the da
lof the shooting.
II Lillian admitted she had possess
led bottle of whisky, but denied
5 thad been refilled that day.
After further parrying betwee
' witness and cross-examiner, mis-
+ iGragam rehearsed the story of tn
i ishooting. She said Stokes throttle
r iher, then she reached for a gun, &C
lit and shot
vi Miss Graham told how Stokes
;, enally got the gun away from her an
e ihow Miss Conrad joined In the figh
: miss Conrad used a chair as a weal
d on at first, but ultimately began fl
Q ing a revolver. Lillian said NJ
/ companion and Stokes exchange
; several shots.
d Asked whether she and Miss Col
d rad didn't drink great deal OF viii
e ky just before Stokes arrival, Ii
e lian said she never used whisky G
r, Scept for medicine.
p After the recess Miss Graham vi
Is lput under redirect examination
= iher attorney, Mr.. Jordan.
is Speaking of the frequent MESA
rs les requesting Stokes to como to 8
e her, she said that he did call fl
Id quently ct that time.
IN And did you love Mr.. Stok
n itheN?"
II did," she replied, dropping h
G eyes.
le A few m,rc questions by the {
t. lsstant district attorney ended Nj
lGraham's ordeal, and she left t
lstand after two and q half days
lsteady examination.