New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-03
HUSBAND OUTWITS
HIS INQUlSlTOR
Grins and DenialS All State Can
Get from Negro Accused
by Chauffeur.
Ry r. F. VAN DE WATER
fRr Trlesrsph n rhs Trioure

are alleged 20 have been hired by Mrs.
Elizabeth F. Mohr 70 murder her hus-
hand took advantage of lull in the
stormy court proceedings late this aft
.rnoor and rested. When the last Or
t...;on and counter objection had died,
and the lawyers and the witnesses had
5snsrted. this was found to be the re-
sui. Of dav Allied With legal and emo
tioual squalls.
Bessie Spollman, wife Of one defend
ant. and Mrs Gertrude May Daley.
half sister 20 Brown and sister - Spell
man. both Of whom had attempted TO
build I'd an alibi for Spellman-the frst
IN the face Of contradictory state
nent made by her last night. the sec
ond in denial Of her testimony before
the Grand Jury-were held each at 81
600 bail on a charge Of perjury.
Brown. accused Of firing the shot
which killed Dr. c. Franklin Mohr, had
submitted to a raking cross-examina-
ton for At least Two hours. and had
.merged tberefrom with perfectly
possible slibi still intact. Apart from
his stubborn adherence 10 this, he pro
fessed utter lack Of memory regarding
all things else pertaining to his actions
previous 70 and al the time Of the
crime.
Negro Women Angered.
All through the day squabble after
,ousbhle arose between the State and
William II. Lewis, who conducted the
case for his side Added TO this were
the stormy denials Of the two negro
women witnesses. each Of whom lett
the stand still talking angrily, and the
LAUGHTER which arose over the pert,
n,onkev-like conduct Of Brown in CIV
ing his testimony. The disorder be-
came so great during his stay on the
stand that Judge stesrns threatened 70
order the Sheriff TO clear the court
room. Arthur Cushing, chief counsel
for Mrs. Mohr and co-administrator Of
DR.. Mohrs estate, was the first witness
called this morning by Mr.. Lewis.
From the dead physicians bank book
and his receipt book he established the
following facts: On Saturday. August
rs. DR.. Mohr deposited $3.50; from Fri
day. August q. TO the time Of his
death. his earnings. as shown by the
recent book. we're s7S4. Il is believed
that from these statements counsel for
the negroes will endesvor to prove rob
berry on the part Of Heals. the physi-
clans chauffeur. as motive for the
murder.
Then upon the stand appeared Mrs.
Bessie Spellman, arrayed in velvet
hat. with an orange bird of paradise
plume, magenta sweater coat and a
dark skirt. She insisted under direct
examination that Brown and Spellman
had been In her home early in the even
ing Of the murder. and had eaten sup
per there. and that her husband had
returned for q few minutes at o'clock,
leaving her 70 spend the night with his
sister.
on cross-examination, the Assistant
ATTORNEY General, Abbott Phillips, elc-
tied an Admission that she and her hus-
band had not been living together He
then asked her II she had not admitted
10 Captain Monahan last night that
Spellman was not home at all on the
night of the shooting.
at want my pleasure 10 talk TO
him" the little negress SAID. bristling.
Il want on no stand
Battles Her Inquisitor
This reply, with variations. was re
turned 20 every effort of Mr.. Phillips TO
pin her down Il an admission. Several
times she almost confessed the truth
Of the police captains statement. Each
time she tho yht better of n and denied
IT, Finally. the Assistant Attorney Cen
cral gave up In disgust anC the little
negress left the stand, still talking.
Gertrude May Daley. Spellman's sis
Ter, then took up the tale where Mrs.
Spellman left of. She said that She
had gone 10 be az $50. but that she
heard Spallman come in shortly after 9.
She stuck % thus story under cross-eN-
animation, and repudiated an affidavit
which she had made shortly after the
murder. IN which she swOre that she
had not oeen her brother on the night
OF the crime She also contradicted most
ot the testimony which she gave at the
time of the grand jury proceedings
This was read 90 her bit by bit, despite
the repeated objections of Mr. Lewis
She also left the stand muttering things
at Mr. Phillips
At the conclusion Of the morning SEES
sion Attorney General Rice summoned
both women TO his room i'm the court
building. A few minutes later he told
them that they could go. Outside the
courthouse they were arrested by Cap
tain Monahan on charge of perjury
and taken 20 Police Headquarters Their
bail WAS set al 81, 900 each.
Both negro lawyers were late in re
porting for the afternoon session Of
the court, having accompanied their
two witnesses 20 headquarters Upon
the arrival # Mr.. Lewis, Brown took
the stand.
Denies Every Charge Of Heals.
The little negro was pale and
nervous as he faced the court. His
voice was fiat and light and he talked
quickly. Under the guidance Of his
attorney, he denied categorically
practically every statement made by
Heals In his testimony for the state.
lie had never threatened the life of
the doctor lie had never asked Mrs
Mohr 10 purchase a motor cycle for
him; he had never bought revolver;
lie had not seen Mrs. Mohr or August
20 when, the state alleges, the plans
for the murder were first formulated. /
nor on the twenty-seventh, when, the |
prosecution says, the final arrange /
ments for the crime were made.
lie told ~ lquQfh Of the third de