The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-27
ELAN TRIAL IS ON
Grew Out Of Alleged Attentions
to Defendants Wife.

i
Kansas City, May 27.-s"The defend
ant is guilty OF murder In the first de-
gree" declared Lloyd E. Jacobs. pros
ecuting attorney. in his opening state
ment to the Jury today in the trial OF
DR.. w. T. ELAN OF St Joseph. Mo-.
charged with murder Of W. Putnam
Cramer of Chicago.
MFR. Jacobs declared that the physi-
clan purchased the revolver with
which he shot Cramer the morning of
the shooting, trading an old one be-
cause the latter would not work.
Mr.. Jacobs said that while DIR. Elan
ing the shooting, it was an accident,
when he was taken to police head
quarters he asked to change his state
ment, and then declared he had ask
ed Cramer a question. and when era
mer lied, I shot him. The prosecu-
tor declared the same night DR.. ELAN
wanted to plead guilty to the crime.
but Jacobs refused to permit him to
do SO. rhe prosecutor said DR.. Elan
told him that night that as far as he
conduct between Cramer and Mrs.
Elan.
! Mr.. Jacobs said the state would
show that Cramer was sitting in a
chair when he was killed.
Elan, said up to september IL, 1918,
there had been no trouble between the
st. Joseph physician and his wife. On
that day, Mr.. Brewster declared, DR..
Elam overheard the following tele-
gram which was telephoned to Mrs.
EIam:
Dropped off en- route Baltimore
hotel Can you come down? Tele-
lphone.@Jess."
Overheard the Message.
DR.. Elam, Mr. Brewster declared.
overheard the message accidentally.
The next day a ST. Joseph woman, a
tor up and asked him If he would per-
init Mrs. Elan to go to Kansas City
with her. DIR. Elan said he would and
he detailed John T. Glynn. a St. Jo-
and see who Jess was. Glynn made
a report covering the movements Of
the trio up to 4:3O O'Clock. After that
time, Mr.. Brewster said, DIR. ELAN had
! forced these admissions from Mrs.
Elan.
/ That the three went to the cafe of a
local hotel and remained there until 9
! O'Clock. Mr.. Brewster declared he
would introduce evidence to show that
| Cramer caressed Mrs. ELAN in a taxi
cab and in the cafe. The physician
/ also forced his wife to tell of a meeting
with Cramer in st. Louis in May, 1913.
Mr.. Brewster said. He declared the
defense proposed to show that Cramer
had been flirting and making love to
Mrs. Elan SINCE" and that Cramer had
! insisted upon her leaving her husband.
He Found . Letter.
Later, Mr.. Brewster said, DIR. ELAN
found a letter dated September 10. from
Cramer to Mrs. Elam which said:
Il do love you. Why does 1t seem so
criminal to love your The state OBJ
jecteda to the defense'si statement and
the jury was taken out during the
arguments. The state contended that
the defense's statement was based on
hearsay and declared 1t wanted to know
just what the defense would allege as
justifying the shooting.
| The motion was overruled.
| Mr.. Brewster said the defense would
show that "Cramer was a strong man,
trained like a prize fighter" He de-
1 clared when Dr. Elan went to the Bal
timore hotel on the day Of the shooting
he had expected to meet Cramer in the
lobby and carried the revolver merely
for protection.
made the request that they go to Cram
er's room.
I'VE can't talk here" Cramer told
Elan, according to Brewster. Come to
my room"
When the pair entered Cramer's room
Mr.. Brewster said Cramer locked the
door and placed the key in his pocket.
Then the pair began to discuss their
disagreement. The attorney related the
conversation between the two men and
said finally 1t became quite heated.
Then Cramer arose." exclaimed Mr..
Brewster, in closing his statement,
leaving the impression with the Jury
| that at this moment Dr. ELAN was
called upon to defend himself.