Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-28
IDA RTEHL BRAVELY
FACES THE CORONER

Continued from Page One
spat in her face when she told him to
keep his promise. Then she had shot him
in the abdomen and he died in the Epis-
copal Hospital, his last words whispered,
"That is the girl who killed me-"
Long before the case came up the
courtroom was crowded TO the doors with
friends and sympathizers. And an hour
before Ida Rhiel made her appearance
every seat was taken and the walls llned
fivo deep with spectators
The girl entered the courtroom from
door in the rear of the bench. For a
moment she hesltated before the crowd
which stared up at her, not knowing
which way to turn. CARRIED In black
from head TO foot the heavy black veil
which she wore did not conceal the mar
ble-like pallor OF her face. She seemed
the very picture of grim tragedy.
A wave of infinite pity for the frail girl
who will become "A mother In November
swept over the room. Men cleared their
throats, women sobbed audlbly and even
the robust voice of Coroner knight trem-
bled as he opened the case. Court DILL
cials declared that this display OF sym
pathy was unprecedented In murder
case.
Leaning on the arm of her father and
supported on the other side by Mrs. Mar
garet Cooper, police matron, the girl took
her place in the front row OF the spec
tators' seats. She was not required to
20 to the prisoners dock.
Her little 5-year-old brother John, whom
she has been taking care OF since her
mothers death, last Easter ran to her
with arms outstretched The girl cud-
died him on her lap and, raising her VEIL
kissed him many times,
whats the matter, Ida?" he asked in
sistently But Ida could not answer.
4 l,t 10 tt,a.
tears she could not keep back.
The testimony was brief Policeman
Carroll. who arrested her. had taken her
from the hands of John Murphy on Sat
urday night at 10 o'clock outside the
Hauptfuhrers' dairy at 900 North Law
renee street. Murphy, who had heard
the two shots, saw her start to run away,
then stop and go TO drinking place in
q nearby wall and get a drink of water.
He took her by the arm. She had put
the revolver in her blouse. She offered
no resistance. She seemed in a daze.
As Charles Rlehl, father of the girl,
took the stand, John r. K. Scott, her at
torney, rose to make an announcement
There would be no defense made, he said,
until the hearing of a habeas corpus writ
which had been sought this morning ana
which will be argued tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock before Judge McMichael in
room 696. City Hall. This hearing will
uGleTIllile WHelnSI lud Tltlll Will De re-
leased on bail while awaiting the action
of the Grand Jury. A man. whose name
has not been made public, has offered
to put up S1OO, 900 bail for her.
When Ida Riehl was held by the Coro-
ner to await the action of the Grand
Jury "for inficting on Edmond Haupt-
fuhrer wounds in the abdomen causing
his death" she rose and left the room
by the door through which she had en-
tered. She never lost her composure until
she got to the Coroner's private office,
where she Immediately collapsed, as If
she had taken vow not to break down,
until 1t was all over"
Virtually all the witnesses who testified
showed by their manner how deeply they
sympathized with the defendant. Only
one. John Rogers, 2946 Lawrence stret.
indicated by his testimony that he way
friendly to Hauptfuhrer. He testified as
to the position that Ida Riehl took when
she shot and said he saw her fire the
second shot
Coroner Knight questioned him sharply
and his impatience at this statement of
the only eyewitness was ill-concealed.
Assistant District Attorney William
Findlay Brown represented the Com
monwealth.
After the hearing the girl collapsed in
| her fathers arms and was taken from
tho room to Coroner knights private Of
| fee before being sent back to the Phila-
| delphia Hospital to await the hearing
before Judge McMichael tomorrow morn
| ing.