The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-07
.SIOKES' LETTERS
 OFFERED IN TRIAL ] Misses Conrad and Graham Arraigned HOTEL MAN ON STAND Says He Was Shot Because He Re- fused to Pay $25,OOo to Miss | Graham or. Sign
 Paper
HOTEL MAN ON STAND

room where Miss Graham and her chum' Ethel Conrad, were arraigned on a charge of attempting to murder ". E. D. stokes' the millionaire hotel man. They had been found, said the detective, in whose keeping they had been. in the young woman's rooms and constituted the prize 10 reeover which Stokes declared he had risked his life.
 Stokes, pale and worn, told ms own story of the shooting. He had been sum- moned to the apartment he said' by MISS Conrad. who told him that Miss Graham had left for Europe. He was angry, he said. when he saw he had been decelveo' and declined to sign an aleged statement setting forth that he had defamed Miss Graham and her relatives He had also declined to pay s25.o0o under threat of death. he added and thereupon Miss Gra- ham began to shoot. As he gave his evi- dence the young women laughed and ehatted gay.
 Stokes said he told the girls that black mail was prison offense and that Miss Graham said: "Tn say I'm crazy" while Miss Conrad declared according to Stokes, wen say he came to our apart ments and attacked us and we killed him in self-defense. We have three wit nesses listening to all this who never would let him live"
 Second Bombardment
 When Stokes disarmed Miss Graham after sustaining two wounds, Miss Con rad. he said, was in the parlor and as some one began firing then he assumed It was she He was shot again in the calf of the leg There were four more shots' but they all went wild. he said.
 Stokes started for the hall then. There, he said. first the two girls and later three ,panese grabbed him and throttled hlm, hile short stout man aided them. me police finally rescued him. and, he said he handed a patrolman the revolver he had taken from Miss Graham.
 On cross-examination, opposing counsel attempted to have Stokes tell of his at- tentions to Miss Graham during the four years he had known her. but he proved an unwilling witness and the lawyer met with constant objections.
 Gave Her Cash Presents
 Stokes met Miss Graham at dinner in Lexington, Ky, he said. He had taken her out automobling, had written her while she was at Memphis. Chicago and other points, and had also entertained her at his Lexington farm. Once he said, she nad come lIoT Mei1pnlS lo l>cAlilbN NpIl at his telegraplyic request. She left the next dave Stokes said. The first cash payment he had given. Her was s25o or S3oo he did not remember which-on the oc- casion of one of her visits to Lexing- ton.
 Stokes concluded his testimony shortly before adjournment. The case will be continued tomorrow. The bundle of let ters that drew Stokes to the girls apart ment was made public by the court. They 1. Miss Graham" or My dear Miss Lil- lian," and most of them concluded with Yours sincerely" or Yours truly
 Visit to Farm
 There was a brisk encounter between opposing counsel as to what MT Stokes should be made to testify regarding the visit he said Miss Graham made to his Lexington farm. Stokes admitted that it was a telegram from him to Miss Graham that caused her to go to Lex ington, but he declined to identify a par tcuiar telegram that Miss Graham s counsel produced.
 When he was asked as to the length of time he had invited Miss Graham to s remain as ,his guest at Lexington there was objection by Stokes counsel The young woman's attorney insisted that e matter had an important bearing on the shooting
 Assuming" the attorney said that he invited her to the farm and that she went believing that she would meet a large number of persons there and as soon as she found there was no one there, she went away, would not that have a bearing on the motive?"
 It then that Mr. Stokes testified that Miss Graham had left his place at Lexington "the next day"
 Advice in Letters
 In the letters from Stokes to Miss Gra- ham there was many bits of advice to the young woman. One sent to Miss Ora ham early in December, 1909, warned her that the stage held but "a heartless so- cial life" and urged her instead to marry some rich young fellow whose companionship will be worth more than all the worthless admiration of a cheap stage" In another the writer said:
 q am a cross and crabbid and ugly old cove and such nice letter rom such pretty girl has turned my head. In the first place, you know am a divorced man, forbidden to marry; second, any man who has failed to retain the love oi the woman who was desperately in love with him would count it a crime to try matrimony on a girl for the second time In the third place. I am too old so all could do is to wait for widow or di vorcee who has had all the matrimonia experiences she wants for life and SC we will just be good friends. ie We will go travelling and autoint together and have pleasant talks an, such things. There are several dozel widows and dvorcees here l nten, looking over carefully before l return tbut I will make. no selection before have talked it over with you Ther is a widow right small, about 10 year old. very pretty and only slightly dam aged that hear a lot of good about She is very shapely and I will ge your opinion of her. She has nice lit tie nose and black hair. She says sh, does not like Chicago The dirt, streets, the hogs and such things re mind her of her late husband Nev York is where she wants to- live ant she has an ample fortune to do wha che pleases with She Is a little bacl and white dream
 Keep Your Health
 A telegram sent to Miss Graham a 129 Auburndale avenue Memphis, Tenn \ in June, 1907, read:
 's "Photograph superb. Keep you health and good looks. Have written
 In another letter Miss Graham WE advised as follows:
 Keep your health. Don't touch win f. beers or liquors. They will ruin you complexion You know the stage f not my advice. If you need anythin will help you. Sorry you spent thu | S1SOO but star at s2000 a week. suppose, has to by s45 $50 hats"