The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-08
SOME OF STOKES
 LETTERS MISSING The Defense Attorneys Ask
 Where They Are
WERE SUPPRESSED
Defense Will Rest Today After Ele- vatOr Boy Is amined-The Conrad Family History
 Is Given

or the StOkeS leIlFlSs HOW UlU llcA De- come suppressed? Who suppressed them and why? These are the questions that Robert w. Moore of counsel for Lillian Graham and Ethel Conrad tried to get answered today in their preliminary hear ing on the charge that they attempted to murder W. E. D. Stokes, the millionaire hotel man, when he called at their apart ment.
 The questions were not answered wholly to Mir. Moore's satisfaction. but he ad- vanced so far that he will rest his case tomororw morning after one more wit ness has been called-the elevator boy who took Stokes to the girls apartment on the night he was shot Magistrate Freschi will then decide whether the case shall go to the grand jury.
 Stokes told how he first met Ethel Con- rad how she enlisted his sympathy anew for Lillian Graham, who, sick and penni- less. Stokes said Miss Conrad told him, had attempted suicide; how he came to call on the two girls after Lillian Gra- hams recovery, and what his sentiments for them were. Those who had expected the two girls to take the stand were dis appointed. The defense succeeded in eliciting most of the facts on which the state must base it's case without disclosing its own hand.
 only once did Stokes sllcw signs of con- fusion.
 Are these nine letters produced in evidence yesterday all you wrote Miss Graham" asked Attorney Moore.
 No"
 How many did you write her; as many as 1s?''
 Perhaps
 What became of those missing let ters. which you admit having written, and which were in Miss Graham's pos- session on the night of the shoot ing?'
 q haven't the remotest idea" satd Stokes bIandly.
 Counsel for the two girls called to the stand James Cummings, a house detective at the Ansonia, owned by Stokes. Cummings said he had search cd the girls apartments TWO or three sla7s after the shooting With thlf- { ( .-aif.tl aTri-e detortiJas ana 9Andt Ae' 1etters ,tn. 4 clesef Aovr helttal trhH-s
 And these officers of the depart ment of justice of the city allowed vol to rummage the apartment and take from it what you wished? "rhey did not know I had found anything" parried the detective. Mr. Moore bounced on him. "Then you deliberately secreted those letters from the sworn officers of the law?" he thundered.
 ''I put them in my pocket
 ..Yes or mo-" insisted counsel.
 Yes" admitted Cummings.
 Subsequent testimony was that Chm mings had delivered the letters 70 a MT. Gleason, personal counsel for Stokes, who had passed them on to former Judge ol- cott in charge of the case for MT. stokes, who in turn delivered them to the district attorneys office. Cummings. the detec- tive. had not counted the letters, he swore. and did not know their contents
 Judge Olcott swore that the package, as it reached him. contained P letters.
 ."rhere were IS of those letters, at least" said MT. Moore after the hear | ing "Who suppressed them?
 ..They will make no interesting reading when they are produced" added Miss Graham "I wouldn't dare tell you what $ l in them You wouldn't believe me. but when I get out of this trouble. I'm going to use them They're a scream.
 Stokes on Stand W. E. D. Stokes testimony was stlli unfinished when court convened today Tor l further examination of the charge that | an attempt to murder him was made | month ago by Miss Lillian Graham and Miss Ethel Conrad, The purpose ot | these proceedings is to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant sending the case to the grand iurv, but the examination and cross examination is conducted with such thor ouehness that it amounts practically to a trial.
 The letters which Stokes referred to yesterday were found by detectives in the girls room a few days after the shooting and since have been in the pos session of the district attorney. In then Stokes, who said he was 57 years old for the most part adopted toward the young girl an attitude of father counsel advising her against the stage, against intoxicating liquors and about life in gen. eral.
 The two defendants and Miss Graham. sister, Mrs. John Singleton. wife of { wealthy California mining man, who ac. companied them in court listened t, Stokes testimony with frequent derisiv' smiles All three dress in the dainties of summer costumes and present a re freshing sight in the torrid court room.
 Tine, pretty young defendants wer' dressed alike today, in striking gown! of white serge, trimmed with satin. Stoke wore sombre black and carried a boat shaped straw hat of the collie fashion. When MT. Stokes resumed his testimony | he said he was not sure how many let | ters exhibited yesterday were his H. | thought about eight.
 | He told of visit made to his office | on May 21 last by Miss Conrad, whlet | was the first time the letters were brought to his notice. She came intc his office, he said. highly excited anc
 was unable to speak for some time. When she became calmer." Stokes con | tinued. 'sshe told me she had been ou
 to dinner the night before. She met Miss I Graham, she said at the dinner and the | young lady was in distressed circum | stances with little money. and that sh' | had taken her home to her rooms. | When I went out this morning t' | husiness' Miss Conrad said, I left Mist Graham in bed I forgot my pencil ant returned for it. When I got into tn,
 room was shocked to find. note oi the table together with bundle of let | ters the note saying Miss Graham ha,
 committed suicide and she had addressed
 the letters to the press.
 | Miss Conrad also told me- continued stol<es that some of the letters wer, mine and some belonged to other men She said she rushed into the bed room Land found Miss Graham in bed. her fac' all blistered and burned where she ha, smiled carbolic acid. \ doctor wa
 called and pumped her out. Miss Conra' | said and saved her life
 Miss Conrad. according to Stokes. pro ceeded to narrate to him her famil