The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1916-06-10
TABER HELD TO ANSWER
Sensations Continue In Poison
ing Case-Convicted Woman
Gives Damaging Testimony
Against Hospital Steward
Details of Plot Barred

Elko, Nevada, June 5.-Mrs. Ella
Connell, convicted on a charge of at
tempting to poison her aged and
wealthy husband, Mike Cornell. con-
tinued her sensational testimony to-
day in the preliminary hearing of j.
M. Taber, steward of the Elko Coun-
ty hospital, who is charged with be-
ing an accessory to the crime.
Mrs. Connell, in reply to questions
by Special Prosecutor j. A. Sanders
before Justice of the Peace j. l..
Clark, stated that Taber suggested
to her that a good way to get rid of
her husband would be to take him
for an auto trip and drive over a
cliff. Another suggestion, she testi-
fled, was that she take Connell to
San Francisco where two doctors
would operate on him and would in
sure his death. The conversation,
she continued, was held at Taber's
home shortly after her marriage.
Gave Bottle Tablet
Taber, later, gave her a bottle of
tablets to give her husband, the wit
ness said.
.rhe court officials, including JUS
tice Clark, were astounded when Mrs.
Cornell testified that Judge Ben F.
Curler advised her to feign insanity
and thus get a new trial. Curler is
one of the best known men in this
district and formerly was district
Judge here. Mrs. Cornell added a
climax to her story by stating that
she told Curler. while he was acting
as her attorney. that Taber, McMur-
trey and Mrs. Massey advised that
Connell be drowned in a Salt Lake
sanitarium.
Following Mrs. Connell on the
stand, o. M. Lamon identified a piece
of a letter, alleged to have been
given him by Castle and signed with
McMurtrey's initials.
Testifies Morphine Sale
w. R. Englert, an Elko druggist,
gave corroborative testimony to the
effect that Taber bought a phial of
morphine tablets and returned later
asking that the entry be changed to
cough syrup. Taber told him. wit
ness testified, that he bought the
drug for a morphine fiend anG did
not wish the purchase to become
known.
Englert testified further that after
Mrs. Connell's arrest, TabeI inn
plored him not to disclose the fact he
had purchased morphine. A little
later Taber took witness for an auto
trip and begged secrecy, saying di-
vulgence would send him, Taber, to
the p%enitentiary
Moves for Dismissal
Following the taking of testimony
the defense moved for dismissal on
the ground of insuficiency of evil
dence to hold Taber. The court
probably will hand down its decision
tomorrow. If the Ease against Taber
is dismissed the prosecution will de-
cline to press the charges against
Justice of the Peace H. u. Castle
and Constable McMurtrey.
Taber Held to, Grand Jury
Elko, Nevada, June Cd. M.
Taber, steward of the Elko County
hospital, who was charged with COM
plicity in the attempted poisoning of
Mike Connell by his wife, Mrs. Ella
Connell. was held over to the grand
jury to-day by Justice Clark. His
bonds were fixed at $1,000.
The decision of Justice Clark came
as a surprise as it generally was be-
lieved the ease would be dismissed.
The trial of Constable H. u. Nc
Murtrey. charged with the same Of
Tense as Taber. will begin at $3.50 to-
morrow morning.
Attorneys Joseph Mcnamara and
Carey Van Fleet will appear for Nc