The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-07
Stokes RELATES
SHOOTING STORY
Saws Two Girls Demanded of
Him $4,000, or He
Would Disappear"
FAMOUS LETTERS IN
CASE COME TO LIGHT
Prove to be Very Harmless
and Consist Chiefly of
Advice Against Going
on the Stage

NEW YORK. July 6.-Robust and
determined. William Earl Dodge Stokes,
millionaire hotel proprietor. sat in the
witness chair of the Tombs police court
to-day and gave his version OF the
events that led to his being shot In
the apartment OF Lillian Graham and
Ethel Conrad last mouth With snap
ping taws-and eyes cleaning with
hatred of the two Young women. who
sat before him. Mr. Stokes declared
he had been shot because he refused
TO give up $4,000.
Stokes created a mild sensation by
quoting Miss Conrad as saying that
many rich New YORKER had disap-
peared, and so woule he, II he did
not grant their demands. After stat
ing that Miss Conrad had called him
on the phone ard told him to call at
her apartment for some letters which
Miss Graham had left Cor him. Stokes
told OF the reception accorded him by
Miss Conrad at her home when he
called
Covered by Revolver.
The millionaire said that as soon
as ne entered the apartment, Miss
Conrad slipped the bolt III the door
and AZ be walked to a chair he hap
pened to look into the hall and there
saw Miss Graham coming toward him
with revolver ieveled at him.
-She kept coming toward me until
she stood directly In front OF me with
the millionaire.
she accused me of defaming her
mother and sister and that had done
her great damage and that ! was
to pay for It.
"'you have come here secretly said
Miss Conrad. No one knows you are
here and there are three men outside
who see everything that goes ON and
they are taking notes
Many Disappear.
"Then Miss Conrad said, added Mr.
Stokes, that many rich New Yorker
had disappeared. and NO would J.
1--WE can get rid az your body she
said, and If You move we Will XIII you
"Then she got some paper and a pen
and told me TO write what they die
fated. They then produced state
merit to the effect that had Detained
M!ss Graham and her relatives and
wanted me to sign IL
Stokes declared that he refused to
sign any statement and denied that
he ever made any malicious statements
about the girls or their relatives.
Stokes testified that the Conrad girl
then said: It's $4,000 or DEATH.
The Graham girl then began firing.
MIR. Stokes closed hts direct esanni-
nation by telling how Walter +.
piper. an expert accountant came TO
him and bound up his wounds. after
which he warned the policeman who
appeared on the acene to be sure and
ts.es ss.esss ~ ger the girls wanted
him to sign.
Court was then adjourned until to-
morrow.
In letter dated September 3, 1910,
and addressed to Miss Graham in
Paris. Stokes addresses her AS My
dear Miss Lillian" and chidcs her
for not telling him she was going
away.
He continues: "Your friend. Mr..
puff, and that other foreign gentle-
man often speak OF you and ask
about you. and ii 10 through them l
hear of YOU
"By the bly, Collins is still in the
country. hut Is expected back next
Tuesday. Your sister, l understand,
10 going to marry very rich man
/ fee. rather sorry for her husband.
He Is a pretty good sort OF a fellow
when he would not drink, and he
liked you a whole lot.
with kindest regards, am.
Yours sincerely,
fSigned) "W. e. d, STOKES"
On July II. 1907. he wrote to Miss
Graham at the Anson,a:
my Dear Miss Graham: notice
/. that the little thrse-year-old looks
very pale. How would you like to
take the automobile to-day and give
her a ride. II %. telephone me.
yours truly.
wv. e. d. STOKES"
Keep on Stage
On December Z. 1a1@. he wrote:
my Dear Miss Graham: My adj
vice II not to go in any vaudeville
show: In fact. not go on the stage.
You may have for two years madc
intend to wed yourself to the stage
and try to become an artist like Mrs.
Carter or Lillian Russell and to ban
ish marriage forever,
II am over twice as old Al you
are. have had a lot Of experience
with the world. My advice to you II
to drop all such ideas.
asIf were a young, handsome. mar
rying man--but am a DIVORCE for
hidden to marry by the State. and
any man who failed to make apne
. Is make another SO: besides that
Am past the age OF marriage and 20
YOU can rely upon my advice AZ COM
mon sense. and II you follow Il you
Will not regret It.
sYou~snarry some rich young fell
low, whose companionshfp will be
worth moro to you than all the
worthless admiration OF q cheap stage
81 4 ha2rtiess social life.
As~Yourp very sincerely,
ssW. r. d. STOKES"
Another letter written from Chi
cagO, bit undated. reads:
my dear LilIian.--I am . cross,
;cra bbed. ugly old cove. and such =
nice letter from such pretty g1rl
- turned my head. In the first
XCsntinnsd q Si1tA PAsAl