Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-08
Millionaire Testifies Against
! Young Woman He Says
Attempted to Murder Him
Still on Stand Today.
SUICIDE ATTEMPT
FIGURES IN EVIDENCE
Stokes DeclaresMiss Conrad
Told Him Miss Graham
Had Taken Acid and Left
His Letters for Press.


testimony was still unfinished when
court convened today for further elm
ination of the charge that an attempt
to murder Stokes was made month
ago by Miss Lillian Graham and Miss
Ethel Conrad. The purpose OF These
proceedings Is to determine whether
the evidence is sufficient to warrant
sending the case to the grand Jury,
but the examination and cross examtn-
alton Is conducted with such thorough
ness that 1t amounts practically to =
trial
On the witness stand yesterday.
Stokes gave his version OF the alleg-
ed attempt on his life when he vis-
tied the young women's apartments
at Miss Conrad's invitation to recover
letters he had written to Miss Graham.
These letters were found by detec-
tives in the girls rooms few days
after the shooting and since then have
been in the possession OF the district
attorney. In them Stokes, who said
on the stand yesterday that ho was 81
years old, for the most part adopted
toward the young girl an attitude Of
tatherly counsel. advising her against
the stage, against Intoxicating liquors.
and about life in general. The two
defendants and Miss Graham's sister,
Mrs. John Singleton. wife OF q wealthy
California mining man who accompan-
led them in court, listened to Stokes
testimony with frequent deristvo
smiles. All three were dressed In the
daintest of summer costumes and
presented q refreshing sight In the
torrid court room.
Stokes Tells Of Miss conrad's Visit.
The pretty defendants were dressed
alike in striking gowns of white serge
trimmed with satin. Stokes wore
black.
When Mr.. Stokes resumed his testi.
mony he said he was not sure how
many letters exhibited yesterday were
his. He thought about eight. He
told of VISIT made to his ohico on
he said. highly excited and was unable
to speak for some time.
when she became calmed,"
Stokes continued. "she told me she
had met Miss Graham at dinner and
that she was In distressed circum-
stances.
".When went out this morning to
business. Miss Conrad said, I left
Miss Graham in bed after me. I for
get my pencil and returned for It.
When l got into the room was
shocked to hnd note on the table
together with bundle OF letters, ths
note saying that Miss Graham had
committed suicide and She had adj
dressed the letter to the press
Miss Conrad also told me-" con.
tinued Stokes. that some OF the LETT.
ters were mine and some belonged to
other men. She said she rushed into
the bedroom and found Miss Graham
In bed, her face all blistered and burn.
ed, where she had spilled carbolic acid.
A doctor was called and Miss Conrad
said, saved her life"
Miss Conrad, according to Stokes,
proceeded to narrate him her family
history. She was, according to thia
narrative. the daughter of Russian
prince, who met her mother in Louis
vile, KY, and eloped with her, Miss
Conrad being born In Bluehelds, Mo
aragua, where her father was killed In
riot. Losses of one kind or another
reduced the widows property from
5000, 1000 to $4,000 which latter sum
she collected in New York on insur.
ance This $4,000, Stokes said Misc
Conrad told him, was squandered BY
man her mother married. The
daughter then had to go to work. "shs
said the witness continued, "she had
come to see me on her lawyers advica
to tell me about the letters on the
table with the suicide note"
Gave Miss Conrad Money.
Il told Miss Conrad that Miss Gra.
ham was an undesirable woman" said
Stokes, "and that wouldn't give Miss
Graham one cent, but said would
give Miss Conrad money for the nurse
to look after Miss Graham. Miss
Conrad wanted me to sign a note for
5000 to allow Miss Graham to go
abroad. said would not. would
give no agreement because thought
Miss Graham q dangerous woman"
Stokes said he offered to give .
check for 5000 to enable Miss Graham
to get to Belgium to join her sister,
"whereupon, he continued, Miss Con
rad said. oh, no. don't draw q check
there might be some scandal about It
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