New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-07
NEW WITNESS MAY
HURT G|BSON'S CASE
District Attorneys Office Prom
ises Startling Developments
from Alleged Tool of Lawyer.
WAS "MOTHER," SHE SAYS
Counsel for Accused Man De-
clares He Can Tear Her Story
to Shreds and Thinks Her
Little Short of Crazy.

|
| Deacon Murphy, Assistant District At,
torney, talked for three hours yesterday,
with the woman known as Mrs. Rose
Guerra, who was arrested several days
ago by Constable James B. Callahan. Of
Luzerne County, Penn, at wilkes Barre,
on the suppositfon that she was tho
woman who posed as Mrs. Petronella
Menschik. mother of Mrs. Rosa szabo.
for whose murder Burton W. Gibson.
the New York lawyer, 10 held. While
| he would not discuss the details OF his
conference last night, he intimated that
startling developments might be expected
through the testimony OF the new witness
within a few days
! Mrs. Guerra, as she was known in the
case OF Hugh Trainor, rich awning
manufacturer, who sued Gibson a number
Of years ago for the return of s2i which
he alleged the lawyer obtained from him
by fraud, told long story of her rela-
lions with the accused man before she
left wilkes-Barre with Mr.. Murphy She
added several material details to this
story yesterday, the Assistant District
Attorney said, but he conveyed the inn
preston that there was still more she
could tell that would make extremely in
teresting reading. 1t is thought that her
entire story will be brough: out on the
witness stand
Waits for Verifcaton.
Mr. Murphy's reason for hiding the fur
Their details which he learned yesterday
twas that ii would be necessary to verify
| A. Hofo no n
legal proceeding. 1.-The womans story.
while extraordinary and extremely inter-
esting is one that must be completely
checked up before further action can be
taken along lines indicated by the state
nent," he said. IT her story proves
true in its entirety she will be very
valuable witness"
The Assistant District Attorney denied
that the woman was under arrest, Dut
said that she was being carefully cared
for. He refused 10 make known her hid
ing place. saying he had left the train
with her at ali obscure station In Ne"
Jersey on Saturday afternoon and brought
her into this state. He declined TO say
whether she was actually in the city or
not. but remarked that he had no inten-
ton of taking her to Middletown, Goshen
or Newburg.
! An important step in establishing her
chain Of evidence will be in her identih-
cation as the woman who posed as the
mother OF the dead Mrs. Szabo, and In
the character Of the mother signed papers
turning over to Gibson the administrs-
ton OF the estate. Donald Lyon, Of No.
53l Nostrand avenue, Brooklyn, was the
notary before whom she appeared In the
g,lise of Mrs Menschik, according to her
story, and she Will doubtless be brought
before him in the course Of a few days
TO determine whether he is able to iden-
tify her as the same woman. Mr.. Muir
ply refuses to say when or where the
meeting would take place.
| The man who ought to be able 10
identify her as the Rose Guerra of the
Trainor case Is Joseph Young, OF No. Is
William street, her attorney at the time.
According to Gibson's version Of that
episode Trainor brought the woman to
his office and signed over to her notes
Iaggregating in value $4,000. Mrs. Guerra
admitted according to the story she told
In Wilkes Barre, that she knew Trainor,
but the awning maker denied yesterday
that he had ever been acquainted with
the woman.
Gibson Attorney Ridicules Story.
Robert H. Elder, attorney for Gibson,
remarked yesterday that he wished Mr..
Murphy would put Mrs. Guerra on the
stand. He was convinced that he would
be able to tear her testimony to shreds,
he said He declared he had already III
vestigated her story, and believed she
was little more than a crazy woman.
The Assistant District Attorney, on the
other hand, was just as confident that
Mrs. Guerra was mentally sound. So
far. he said, she had signed no affidavit
OF her statement, but he expected no
difficulty in obtaining her signature and
oath when the time came. lie said he
expected TO meet Assistant District At
torney Rogers, OF New Jersey, in a day
or two. and 10 make plans for the verih-
cation OF the woman's evidence Her
story was correct he said, in the few
roInts OF which he already held corrobo-
ration.
Isidor Wasservogel. Assistant District
Attorney, was with Mr.. Murphy yester-
day when he Intercepted the woman. IL
Is understood that their inquiry Was
mainly into. her knowledge of the crime
e. with which Gibson is now charged. In
case the lawyer escapes this charge, how
ever, 1t is possible that her testimony
may be used in an attempt to fasten upon
him one of the other crimes with which
his name is associated. According to
good authority, Mrs. Guerra Will not be
taken before the grand jury at Middle
town. Her Importance TO the prosecution
is such that they are not running any
chances OF the defence learning the full
nature of her testimony until it is ready
for use.
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