Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-17
History Of the Orpet Case

friend, Otto Peterson. to be mailed on
the latter date. One was to his mother
one to Marian, and the third to Marian's
friend, josephine Davis. They were
woried to make 1t appear that the writ
er was in Madison on Feb. 8, the day
he kept his tryst in the woods with
Marian, and she came to her death.
orpet's Explanation Of Letters !.
Orpet explained on the stand that the
alibi letters. as they came to be known,
were written so that il by accident he
were seen at Lake Forest and word OF
the fact reached Marian's parents. who
objected to him, or his own parents.
who expected him to remain faithful
to college duties at Madison. they would
accept the letters as conclusive evil
dence to the contrary. The letter 70
Josephine was to corroborate that 70
Marian. Josephine testified that she
never received it.
On the afternoon Of Feb. 8, in q z
dark overcoat which he said ne hao
borrowed to wear with dress suit 70
a party which he expected TO atteno
on the 18th, carrying the bottle OF mo-
lasses and water in his pocket, anu
leaving behind him the alibi letters
and a bed rumpled to deceive his lano-
lady, the student proceeded by way OF
Milwaukee. where he spent a half hour
or SO between trains. to Lake Forest
Arriving there he arranged by tele-
phone to meet Marian on her way TO
school the next morning, walked ABOUT
for q while to make certain that MS
parents had retired, and entered tne
mccormick garage where he spent the
night on a cot.
Meeting in Helms Wood.
Tn the morning he and Marian met
and walked thru the snow into the
woods, Orpettestifed that there was
little conversation. and he could recol-
lect only the purport OF IT,, He offered
her the medicine" and she refused It.
He started to leave but she called him
back and asked if he was going to
write to her any more. He said there
seemed to be no use of it, and started
away again.
Something made me look around
I don't know what-and I saw Marian
lying in the snow" related the defend
ant on the stand. Il turned, kneeled
over her for maybe minute. noticed
the moist powder in the lines of her
hand. Her eyes were glazed. Then
kind Of fog came on my brain and
don't remember much after that except
that on reaching the road threw
away the medicine and made my way
on foot to Highland Park. caught
train, and that evening arrived back
at Madison
Arrested For Murder.
Marian was missed that night and
her body found the next morning. Or,
pet was arrested and told numerous
conflicting stories prior to the trial.
these being used against him at the
trial. During his cross examination,
which lasted three days, he repeatedly
took refuge in 7 don't remember" He
spoke in a low voice, with apparently
studied effort. but nevertheless became
involved at times and extricated him
self by Correcting my previous testl-
mony." His manner was nervous, and
he rarely looked at his inquisitor, At
torney Joslyn.
Early in the case the state developed
the theory that ,Orpet purchased
two ounce bottle from Charles Hass-
niger a friend employed in a drug
store at Madison, obtained cyanide Of
potassium from an alleged supply in
the greenhouse on the Mccormick es-
tate, and made solution Of it before
retiring to bed in the garage. It was
charged that he either forced Marian
to take it, or deceived her with the
explanation that It was medicine.
Refuse to Leave Wisconsin,.
The state was unable to persuade
any witness to come from Wisconsin.
and repeatedly limited that a sinister
influence Of the defense was at the
bottom Of 1t. Hassinger, wanted with
reference to the bottle, was among
those who declined to testify. and no
bottle or other container Cor the poison
was even found. Otto Peterson like
wise became a persistent absentee, de-
spite the need for his testimony rev
garding the alibi letters and as having
seen Orpet. according to the latter,
concoct the molasses and water
DR.. Ralph w. Webster and DR.. w. J..
McNally, chemists, testified for the
state that Marian died Of liquid cya-
hide Of potassium. and that the spots
on her coat were left by drops Of the
solution. Three defense chemists tes-
titled that the poison was taken in
powder form and that the important