The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-25
STOKES RELATES FACTS OF SHOOTING Resents Questions That Attorneys for Defense
 Ask Him

New York, November 24.-W. F. D. Stokes, millionaire. who limped to the witness chair In the supreme court to tell a jury this morning how he had been shot in the legs last June by two show girls, passed from the easy guidance of his counsel to the troubles of cross-ex- animation this afternoon. Stokes had not replied to half dozen questions before he was on his feet demanding to know by what authority he was asked to ds- close certain facts. The court ruled against him.
 Lillian Graham and Ethel Conrad, charged with having shot him, alternately sobbed and comforted each other during the hearing.
 Stokes vas asked about Miss Graham's visit to his country place at Lexington, Ky. in 1907 She went there with her sister he said, and stayed two or three nights.
 Letters sent by Stokes to Miss Graham during 1907 and 1908, including one in which he said he was a cross. grabbed old man, was made a part of the evil dence. Among the letters were some showing that Stokes had sent her money while she was in Paris after leaving the Hotel Ansonia, which he owned. owing a bill of s51.
 The session closed with Stokes still on the stand.
 Lillian Graham, a show girl, who, with Ethel Conrad, is charged with attempting to kill w. E. D. Stokes, a millionaire horseman, last June, burst into tears in the court room today when Stokes de- clared on the stand that he had refused to give her $500, because he was married 'and the incident might be misinter- preted.
 Stokes testified that he met the Gra- ham girl in 1906 and gave her money on several occasions. Later he said the Gra- ham girl had lived in the Ansonia hotel, of which he was owner. He gave her money to go to Paris. where he saw her i'll May. She was then seeking a stage job and wanted $500 he said. ''I told her would not give her a penny after 5 o'clock that day. he testified.
 He said Miss Graham attempted to kill herself and once he knocked a bottle of poison from her hand.
 After recess he took up the thread of his story by relating the events on the day of the shooting.
 Miss Conrad told me over the tele- phone late in the afternoon that she had the letters," he said. "She insisted upon my calling for them instead of getting a messenger, so I went to her apartments She met me at the door, showed me into the parlor and excused herself, saying she was going for the letters. Soon she came back and bolted the parlor door, hI1f T a at ba time.
 Miss Conrad looked foollshly around for something to happen" Stokes con tinued, and Miss Graham came across the parlor with revolver in her hand. She pointed it at me and accused me of blaclkening the reputation of her rela- tives. "
 'She talked so fast l could say nothing. Then she told mo to sit down and sign statement admitting the islander. I re- fused to do so. Ethel then told me to write my check for 5000 or that would never leave the place alive
 Miss Graham began to dictate state ment for me to sign.''
 Miss Graham said to me: You snealsed in here. Nobody knew you were com ing; you came on the sly and we have three men just back of the wall who are listening to everything
 ''I asked Miss Conrad if it was to be $25,000 or death, and she said yes. The Graham girl said the same thing and then 1 said, Well, I choose death.'
 "They opened fire on me then. The door was locked and I didn't have a chance to get out. The shots struck my legs and when the door was finally opened three men in the hallway fell on me and began to beat me. The girls shrieked murder and each was shout ing to the other that she had struck me-