The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-27
GRILLING ORPET
Defendant Faces Prosecutions
Fiery Cross Examination.
Suicide Over Spurned Love Is
Youths Defense.

Will OrpeU was ready to lace grill
ing cross exa mination today
Drilled by his attorneys at con-
ference last night. Orpet came to the
courtroom today prepared to undergo
an hour of further questioning at the
hands of his attorneys before he was
turned over to the state for cross eX-
animation.
The courtroom was jammed again
TODAY Crowds who had heard Orpet
calmly recite his version of Marion
Iambert's death in Helms woods ex-
pected the testimony the young man
would face today would be merciless.
SDecial Prosecutor JOslyn planned
to wiring from the youth every detail
of his romance with Marion, to bring
out the manner in which Orpet lured
her into clandestine intrigue, and to
tangle the story Orpet told late yes
teTday.
The defense commended it had estab-
ushed through Orpet's testimony these
facts:
That Marion had asked Orpet, at
their last tryst in Helms woods to
stick by her and get her out of trou-
BILE" a trouble which was purely
mythical: that Orpet had refused, and
as he was leaving her she committed
suicide.
In concluding Orpet's direct testi-
mony Attorney Ralph F. Potter OF the
defense, asked Orpet about the water
Ito relieve her mind" One of these
bottles ne sent to her. the other he
brought to her on February 9, the
day of her death.
Il bought the bottle of six ounce
size of Otto Peterson and filled it two
thirds full in my room"
Orpet testified yesterday that Mar
ian when he met her in Helms woods,
refused to accept it, saying, That viii
not do me any good.
sT,6 hot xrnIR . n
terday and talked with more assur-
ence.
why did you tell States Attorney
Dady that you were at Madison on
February ?" asked Potter
We'll, the way things We're |
thought it would look bad" replied
the witness.
What were your relations with
Celeste Youker?" asked Attorney Pot
ter. The court room became very
quiet as every ear was strained to
hear Orpet's reply.
There was a tacit understanding
between US. I had known her six
years" he said.
Not Engaged to Miss YOuker.
Did she return your affections?"
Yes"
AT all times?"
Not always.
you were ngaged ?"
NO, there was an understanding.
L
not even formally asked her to marry
me-"
Mr. Potter next asked concerning
certain answers Orpet was reputed to
have made TO various reporters at the
time of his arrest. The principal ones
were:
Did you tell Mr.. Dady or anyone
else that you saw Marion take poi
son ~
NO. I did not"
Did you tell reporters that Marion
and other girls of humble parentage
felt flattered at the attentions of col
lege menu
Il certainly did not"
Orpet was then turned over to the
state for cross examination. Attorney
David r. Joslyn, who is assisting State
Attorney Dady. asked about an auto
mobile ride which Marion and Orpet
took last September.
Begins Cross determination.
Did you drive with both hands on
the wheel?" insinuated Mr.. Joslyn
Not that 1 remember. 1 can't pre-
tend to remember all such little
You could drive with one hand?"
Yes"
II was on this trip that the relations
between the young pair passed the
hounds of morality. the witness adj
mitted.
-AUAS NAH gu say 10 MARION =.
I can't remember
We'll, make a guess
can't guess as that would be in
dependent of any real memory"
On the way home did you make
love to her?''
Il think not
Were you in love with herr"
Orpet hesitated for a minute. then
replied, Judging from my letters lat
er. I think not
oh, you were desperately in love
with her, were you not?"
Not then, that came later judging
from my letters
You can't remember, independ emf
oped? ,"
NO. sir"
Wrote He Loved Her
Early in your correspondence after
returning to the university you did
not -
Yes. sir
Mr. Joslyn called attention to a let
ter which the defendant wrote to Ma
rion last September in which Orpet
told Marion that everything she did in
terested him. In another letter he
spoke OF this kind of weather makes
me think of fussing"
What do you mean by .fussing ?, -
asked Mr. Josyln
1t means paying attention to a
girl explained Orpet
SENTRY KIIIe MEYInAN