Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-28
CRAIG ENDS HIS
DESCRIPTION OF
DUAL TRAGEDY
Defense Rests Case, Which Is
Expected to Reach Jury
by NightfaII.
KEYPORT WOMAN'S
IDENTITY LEARNED
Sally McKeen Questioned by
court-Jersey City Men
as Witnesses.

Hiram E. Craig, the imam of many
wives" was again on the stand today
at his trial for the murder of Hetty
Reeve and Mrs. Mamie Clark 1t was
brought out during the forenoon ses-
!, sion that Mrs. Sally McKeen, a
widow, has been housekeeper for
Craig at the home he maintained at
| keyport. This fact was brought out
! by Judge Martin, who questioned the
woman in open court. She has been
known in the case as the woman of
mystery
The defense rested it's case at noon
without calling Mrs. Keen. 1t Is ex-
pected that Craig's fate will go to
the jury before nightfall.
| Craig, according to testimony yes
terday, had a home with his wife and
| son in Jersey City, a second one with
Miss Reeve in this city, and third
at Keyport. The name of the Key
port woman had not been mentioned
in court until today, Craig pleading
that her name be not brought into
"the affair."
Craig at Ease.
| The defendant was as much at ease
on the witness stand today as he was
yesterday. Before court opened
Craig said he had had a good night s
sleep and felt much better than he
| did yesterday. He felt sure, he said,
he would be able to answer questions
| more clearly than before.
Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Van
| Blarcom, who is looking after the
States side of the case today, picked
up Craig's story of the murder.
How lang after you arose on that
morning did the shooting take place?"
about twenty minutes" said
Craig.
Reeve finding in Craig's pocket the
letter from the Keyport woman, Mr..
Van Blarcom asked where he 'Craig)
was when Miss Reeve appeared with
the letter.
I'm the dining room," said Craig.
where was Mrs. Clark, then?"
TN the kitchen. washing"
Unable to Tell.
How was Mrs. Clark dressed?''
II couldn't tell you to save my
life,' answered Craig. Everyone in
the room caught the significance of
the reply.
After the first alteration about
the letter, was it resumed again."
asked Mr.. Van Blarcom.
mo"
"You were interested in it. weren't
you?"
mot particularly" answered the
witness.
you wanted to get it back, didn't
your"
YES" said Craig. But I thought
she'd calm down later and give it
to me in the car on the way to
work.
The witness said that when Hetty
announced she would get His gun
and make either one of them give up
the $40 bill she was standing at the
sink in the kitchen. Craig said he
stood at the dining room door The
scuffle for possession of the revolver
took place in the dining room, Craig
said.
Defendant Cool.
The witness showed not the slight
est emotion during the questioning
Even when he was shown a photo
graph of the room, which showed
Mrs. Clark dead on the floor. he did
not appear disturbed. 1t was the
first time he had seen the photo
graph. He examined it closely,
pointing to different objects in
answer to questions without any
perturbation at the picture of the
slain form of the woman he stands
charged with having murdered.
He Was Shot First.
"You say you were shot first?"
asked Mr.. Van Blarcom.
"Yes," answered the woman.
'Did you fall?"
Eyes, reeled and fell against the
wall"
Were you conscious?"
'I could hear everything going on"
did you hear any more pistol
shots?"
"Yes, heard shots and bottles; I
heard million things"
"Oh, nonsense! commented Mr..
Van Blarcom, whereupon Mr.. McDer-
NIT was on his feet protesting against
the remarks. Judge Martin ordered
the words stricken from the record.
"Why did you shoot yourself?" the
witness was asked.
Because I was suffering the tor
lures of He'll. and believed my face
would be disfigured for life and I
wouldn't be able to make a liveli-
hood
"Did you have any other reason?"
''Well, l thought 1t would reflect
on me-the whole thing. It was my
gun and naturally it would look bad
for me-"
Mr.. Van Blarcom pressed further
for Craigs reasons for wanting to
end his life.
''I knew I had about $1,000 insur-
ance OH my life and I was suffering
terribly and 1 would be relieved OF
the pain"
you suddenly thought of your
family, eh?"
YES"
when you were asked by the DO
lice, why didn't you tell them how
this happened?"
81 was in no condition to talk. ]
thought l was going to die and ]
wanted to see my son.
SIS that the only reason you didn't
talk?"
well, I was advised to keep my
mouth shut"
"Who gave you the advice?"
''All the nurses in the hospital told
me to keep my mouth shut when
got on the stand. I had dozens of
lawyers up to see me trying to get
the case. They all advised me to keep
quiet about it. I did So"
"Is this woman in court?" asked
Mr.. Van Blarcom, referring to Craig's
friend at Keyport.
"Yes," said the witness.
"Point her out"
A neatly-dresed woman arose.
what is her name?" asked Judge
Martin.
~Craig hesitated a moment. His
counsel advised him the court was
CONTINUED on Page Q. Column IL