Imperial Valley press., 1916-12-13
MISS RUTH ARMSTRONG
PROVES A REF RESTING
LYTLE CASE WITNESS
Main Witness of Morning Without Trace OF Propnquy
Brings Refreshing Pquancy to Testimony for Frosecu-
miss Ruth Armstrong Exasperated When Number
-Four Shoe Is Mentioned in Her Presence Indignantly
Informs Cross Examiner that She Wears Number lWo

The introduction of Miss Ruth Armstrong as wit
ness for the state in the prosecution of Lyte on two
charges of having thrown acid on Thomas fotts HolI
vile druggist proved to be refreshing in addition to 1ur
ishng some slight links required in the chain OF crcum-
stantial evidence being submitted by District Attorney
Gaen Nichols.
Miss Armstrong cousin of Potts. occupied the stand
this morning in Judge Coles She was living at the
Armstrong home at the time Of both acidthrowing at
temps and stouy denied that she was or had been IN any
way considered as Potts sweetheart asserting that ne had
never kept Company with her, but had escorted her to
various social gatherings at different times.
Miss Armstrong and Miss Florence Stafford were IN
mates of the Armstrong household in Hotvlle the lat
ter following Miss Ruth Armstrong on the stand Tor cor
IObOrative purposes.
Miss Armstrong testified that she awakened by
the screams Of Potts when the first acid thrown She
rushed into the bathroom where the injured man was
attempting lessen the pain by the application OF facial
ablutons When asked for her opinion regarding the ma
of the fluid used the witness confusedly replied tnat
she guessed it be 'highife. $
She did not notice any stains on Potts undercloth-
ing while he attending to his injuries IN the oatn
roOm explaining that she did not investigate because OF
her desire to alleviate the sufferings of the injured man.
Miss Armstrong told Of Lytle having visited the Arm
strong house the morning OF the accident showing ner
note that had been found the premises She testified
that she had discovered small jelly glass Immediately
within the window and upon looking out of that window
heavy heel prints the grounds These prints were
heavy and extremely large, she said.
Upon the arrival of Lyte at the Armstrong house that
morning Miss Armstrong stated that she had conversed
with him. using the topic Of conversation the clcum-
opinion regarding letter that had been received from
Miss Smith, Potts fancee. Miss Armstrong said that
Le declared at that time that Potts would never live
to marry Miss Smith.
Miss Armstrong confessed that she had frequently
ioked with Thomas p IS about his approaching mar
5aEe and that it was ar opinion that Potts and Miss
& h were to have been married about October or No
Der Of this year.
Miss Armstrong stated that she was 21 and corrected
the impression that she No. shoe, indignantly in
forming Attorney Seymour her feet were adapted to
"twOs"
Miss Stafford did not add anything new to the est-
mony given by Miss Ruth Armstrong Constable Bert
Underwood told of finding "brown" bottle which is al
legged to have contained acid.
The two notes found on the Armstrong premises
introduced Miss Ruth Armstrong identifying hav
ing been shown her following the second attempt She
remembered the contents of the other but could not posi-
lively decide to the exact texture of the paper
understood that the defense will introduce hand
writing experts to contest the claim that Lyte the
author of the notes in question: this to be done in
the prosecution attempts to prove such allegation.
Tuesday Afternoon. The only evidence submitted so far