The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-08
SHOT BY WOMEN
w. e. ID. Stokes Found with
Three Bullet Wounds
In an Apartment Occupied by
Two Young Girls.
CLAIMS SELF DEFENSE
One OF Them Says He Was
Choking Her.
Injured KanCharges an Attempt
at Blackmail.
CLAIMS SELF DEFENSE

New York, June s.-w. e. D. Stokes
wealthy owner Of the Hotel Ansonia.
on upper Broadway, was shot three
times last night in an apartment
occupied by two young women in
West Eighteenth street. It is charged
the accused. that Ethel Conrad, an
artist, 10 years old and Lillian Gra-
ham, an actress, % years old, both
had hand in the shooting.
Mr.. Stokes was found lying at the
top of the fourth floor handing near
the door of the young women's
apartment, when a policeman was
called in. He was bleeding profusely
from bullet wounds in the right thigh
and the calf of the left leg. He
clutched a revolver in one hand.
The wounded man was removed to
hospital and both girls were ar
rested. They turned over to the po-
lice revolver and shells of three dis
charged cartridges.
According to Mr.. Stokes story, as
told through his attorney, he had
gone to the young women's room to
run down report that they had some
letters he had written, and to his
surprise they demanded $4,000 for
the return of the letters The Gra-
ham woman had a pistol, the aIlega-
tion ran, and made threats to kill
him. Three shots were fired, the
story told by the attorney continues
one of which went wild and Stokes,
although wounded. grappled with the
Graham woman. Then she shouted:
"Ethel, you get your gun and kill
him." Miss Conrad fired, the bullet
taking effect in the calf of the mans
! leg. Stokes held the Graham woman
! in front of him as a shield, so that her
room mate dared not fire again but
| she shouted murder" whereupon
! three Japanese servants from another
] apartment rushed in and jumped upon
| Stokes.
| Says He Choled Her.
| According to the Graham woman's
/ story, told at the police station, she
hadi lived at the Ansonia for five
years and during a recent year she
spent abroad had correpsonded with
Stokes. ''The letters were of no i'm
had heard that Miss Conrad was in
1 possession of them and he called to
demand them. Notwithstanding she
told him she did not have them, he
| turned on me and grabbed me by the
throat and started to choke me-
The revolver in Stokes's hand was
| accounted for by his attorney with the
explanation that he had taken it from
| The japanese servants, who, ac-
| cording to the attorney. intervened.
were held as witnesses, while a
charge of fe1onious assault was lodged
| against the two girls.
At Roosevelt hospital it was said
| that Mr.. Stokes's' wounds were serious
| but not dangerous.
Mr.. Stokes, who is 55 years old, is
| one of the largest owners of real es-
| tate in New York. He is horseman
and owns a fine breeding farm at
Lexington. Ky. On February IL.
last, he was married to Miss Helen Ell
| wood of Denver.
Miss Graham has lately appeared in
| vaudeville, while Miss Conrad has
been drawing pictures and writing ar
ticles for fashion magazine. At the
police station Miss Conrad became hys-
terical when it occurred to her that a
brother from her home in New Or
! leans, La, was expected here, and she
walled:
What will he say to this?"
She was compelled to fire in self
| defense, she told the police matron,
so the latter said.