The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-12
GROSS EXAMINE
 LILLIAN GRAHAM The Prosecution Introduces Some New Letters SHE EXPLAINS THEM
  Letters Show That "Exoneration' of
Letters Show That "Exonerati0n' of Stokes Was Subject of Consider able egOtiatiOn-Letters
 Surprise the Defense

New York, December 1.-The prescott
 tion in the trial of Lillian Graham and
 Ethel Conrad, charged with shooting w.
 E. D. Stokes, the millionaire. now criti- cally ill, confronted Miss Graham on the continuation of her cross examination to- day with some new letters. put in evi- dence to show that the young woman's
 "exoneration" of Stokes had been the subject of considerable negotiation and
 that she had previously promised in more
 than one letter mot to make him any
 trouble"
 One of these letters, which took the defense completely by surprise, concluded with a request that Stokes submit the statement he wished her to sign.
 Miss Graham, however, was ready with an explanation. She declared the let ters all related to the s170O which she said she had let Stokes keep for her.
 When Lillian Graham, the show girl de-
 fendant, who with Ethel Conrad another
 is accused of shooting w. E. D. Stokes, took the stand Monday for cross exami- nation, MT. Buckner, assistant attorney, cautioned her to be just as composed as you can under the circumstances The prosecutor then tried to get the girl to admit that she was 2I or 2S years of age instead of 23 years, as she claims. She remained calm and refused to a-
 low herself to become entangled in con fiicting statements. The prosecutor then
 dropped the point. Under questioning Miss Graham ad- mitted, however she knew when she went to the Ansonia in December, 1906, | that Stokes had been divorced, but said l cause for divorce In New York. She ad-
 mitted also that she knew that Stokes had no intention of marrying again as | he had witten her that having failed | to make one woman happy. l do not in 1 tend to try with another" 1 Miss. Graham said that their acquaint- ance at that time was only friendship with no thought of marriage. The prosecutor reverted to the Al Adams story.
 | Last week Miss Graham said that she | was afraid of Stokes at the time she | shot him. because her sister, Mrs. Ap-
 drews. had told her that she believed | Stokes had murdered the former policy | king.
 A coroners jury found that Adams committed suicide. Miss Graham ad- mtted that her sister had not told her the story until some time after her acquaint-
 ance with Stokes began. Did Mrs. Andrews raise any objec- | tion to your running around with the di- vorcee?' asked the prosecutor ironically. No, sir"
 "In fact, haven't you brought this | matter up for the purpose of blackening l Mir. Stokes character" To this Miss Grahams attorney ob- | jected.
 l Witness declared that no one had told
 her what kind of a man Stokes was.
 Didn't you know of his relations with | other women?"
 NO, sir.'
 | Didn't you want to get on his pay
 roll?'
 NO, sir'
 | The prosecutors answer to these nega- l tions was to read several of the girls 1 letters in which she invited Stokes to her apartment and expressed disappoint-
 ment over his failure to accept former l invitations.
 Why did you not stop writing and | telephoning him when he continued to disappoint you in this way?" Because" replied Miss Graham, The always gave a very good eXcuSe.'' | Last week Miss Graham testified that Stokes never had made a full return of $170O, which she had given him to invest for her early in their acquaintance. Today she said the money had been
 given her by her sister Mrs. Singleton. Were these letters written before or after you gave him the money?' asked
 a juror.
 After" the girl replied Prosecution disputed this statement and otherwise exhibited several letters in support of it's contention. In February, 1907, Miss Graham wrote Stokes "the farewell letter." in which she addressed him as "dearie,' told him she never expected to see him again and closed it ITO the only man l ever loved.'
 MT. Buckner read the letter and then asked, If you were a young, pure girl of IS or 19 years, why did you write such a letter as this; and what could you hope to gain from man like Stokes?"
 We'll he wrote me a good many letters and I saw him often,' Miss Gra- ham replied.
 Defendant said "she thought good deal of Stokes"
 Prosecution asked what Stokes meant by several expressions, but Miss Grahams replies were: T am too young and inexperienced to under stand"
 The letter introduced by the prose- cuton in which Miss Graham released Stokes from all responsibility as to what had occurred during her visit to his Lexington tafm was introduced. She declared Stokes had held her prisoner and forced her to write the letter before he would release her.
 She averred last week she wrote it when Stokes threatened he would tele graph MT. Singleton, her brother-in- law in California, unless she did so. Later she said Stokes assured her he had destroyed this letter.
 The girl said when she returned to New York city Stokes on his pended knees begged her not to tell her rela- tives.
 Why did you keep quiet?'
 Because l felt sorry for him; he begged me not to tell on account of