Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-22
ESTHER MERCY ACCUSES HEAD
OF UNIVERSITY OF REFus-
ING PROTECTION.
GIRL SUING COLLEGE DEAN
CONTINUES HER TESTIMONY
Becomes Hysterieal on tho Stand and
Accuses Witness Of 6cins Wife
Poisoner-Asks 100000 Of Dean Tai
bot Of the University Of Chicago for
Alleged Aspersion Of Character.

Chicago. March 22.-Miss Esther
Mercy. the former student at the Uni
versity Of Chicago. who is suelng Miss
Marion Talbot, dean of women at the
university, for 100000 damages. for
alleged aspersion of her character. re-
sunled the witness stand today and
continued her version of the events
which preceded her expulsion from the
university.
The young woman declared that she
sought Dean Vincent, then a member
Of the Chicago faculty and now presi-
dent Of the University Of Minnesota,
and asked him to aid her.
"He told me that he had left the
entire affair in Miss Talbots hands,,
said Miss Mercy. She pointed her finger
at President Vincent, who was in the
court room, and exclaimed in a shak-
ing voice:
Dean Vincent knows it is the truth
and he can't look me in the eye
Miss Mercy declared that Dean Tai
bot had used words to her directly at
tacking her character.
She told ne that the sooner / left
the university the better it would be
for me-
Hysteria. tears. caustically worded
alterations and several startling ac-
cusations and attacks were features in
yesterdays session of the SANDER suit
brought by Miss Mercy
Miss Mercy in the course Of her testi-
mony attacked by implication the at
nf LovoofioyJk hudson
Of the university. She startled the
court room by accusing one of the
principal witnesses for the defense of
being the poisoner of his wife.
In reply to these charges the at
torney for Miss Talbot tacitly accused
Miss Mercy Of being responsible for
the divorce between her flarce and his
wife. He implied that the young stu
dents motive was mercenary one. in
that she had demanded to see the will
OF the mans father, in which he was
made the beneficiary of s100.0o0. He
then accused Miss Mercy's f1ance OF
being felon.
Crowd Packs Courtroom.
When the court was convened by
Judge Pomeroy at o'clock In the af-
terroon every seat In the room had
lock the doors to keep the curious
crowd on the outside from filing up
the aisles. In the throng within the
room there were fashionable dressed
society women. members Of the Chi
cago University faculty and students.
more than half Of whom were girl
friends of Miss Mercy.
It was evident that Francis Walker,
T,lh fnfant
on discrediting the young woman's
character. When she was called to the
stand to continue her testimony Of the
morning tense expression upon the
face of both showed that the final bat
tie was to be fought.
DO YOU know man by the name Of
John A. Wooten--a lawyer in Chi
cago?" was the first question shot at
the witness.
Miss Mercy admitted that she had
known him for year and half.
"Didn't you tell Wooten that your
fiance, Warren f. Reynolds. was mar
ried man and had two children: that
he had mother living and that upon
her death Reynolds would come into
a fortune Of 100000? And didn't you
admit that you would marry Reynolds
after he had botained his divorce, pro-
yided that he could show you a copy
of the Yill?" she was asked.
Tries TO Entangle Plaintiff.
The most Of these facts had been
brought out at the mornings session.
but it was evident that Attorney Walk
er was determined to trip up the Wit
ness by getting a conflict in her state
ments. Miss Mercy seemed to be aware
Of his plans for quite suddenly her
voice. that had been low and vel!
modulated during her previous testi-
mony rose threateningly.
81 guess that you don't know Mr..
Walker" she hissed. that Wooten is
an ex-convct"
.Is that sc? 2" sneered the eNasperated
attorney. 80 Is your dear fiance."
"He never was in the penitentiary."
she flashed back: che only served a
term in the bridewell."
REYNOLDS sentence was result OF
conviction on charge of adultery.
II was evident that Miss Mercy did
not relish the discussion of her fiancc's
former marriage and subsequent at
tempt to get divorce. She seemed
highly pleased when Attorney Walker
gave her further opportunity TO tell
what she knew Of Wooten.
where and why. may ask. did
wooten serve a penitentiary sentence?'
he asked with mock politeness
IT understand that it was for poison
ing his wife, and that the sentence
was served in the state Of Colorado"
Tho cross examination then turned
to the Interview that took place in tfia
office OF Miss Talbot at the university,
in which the alleged slander was COM
naitted.
AFTER had made my loss known
Mrs. Won jain treated me shameful
w." Miss Mercy told the court. "She
used to tie several dogs to the door
post of my room and they would howl
all night fearfully. All OF this I told
Dean Talbot, but, she would hear none
"a ~ IA ,,.aa a4faf A9iSs Nsalhot,s hor.