The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-26
STATE DEALS BODY
| BLOWS N M0hR TRIAL
SIGNIFICANT ACTION SHOWN.
Application for Appointment As Ad.
ministfaxxix WINS Made Irnsnedfsse-
IL Aftcr Breath Loft Body OF Muir
dcscd Physician.

Providence, X. L., Jan. 26.---'I ask.
ed Brown why Mrs. Mohr wanted to
have the doctor kiiled---whether II
was jealousy or whnt--and Brown said
he Understood 1t WIS to get control Of
the doctors estate"
This was part of the testimony Of
Ralph r.. Bailey In the Mohr trial
here this afternoon. He was one OF
the many reporters with whom the
three negroes Just after their arrest
last September discussed the murder
of DIR. c. Franklin Mohr. Several OF
these reporters have already testified.
But the state had saved Bailey until
the last fer him conversation with the
negro defendants had touched upon
motive
This statement might have passed
az insignificant had II not been for a
subsequent bit of Misunderstanding
evidence that the State offered in tho
shape OF the probate court proceed
ings affecting tina estate of the slain
man.
bate court, identified at the request OF
made by Mrs. Mohr for appointment
as Administrative OF her husbands
estate.
But this in itself meant nothing until
MIR. Rice inquired casually; And on
what date was this application filed z"
September t." answered the wit
ness in his matter of-fact cierkiy voice,
and this was the thrill that electrified
the court room September ! was the
day DIR. Mohr died In the Rhode
Island Hospital
Very Significant Act.
Within few hours after he had died
al an nnnttruftnn IN
secure temporary control. at least. OF
his property. That to the State was
the terrific Significance OF that innocent
looking document.
And Attorney General Rice asked:
did she mention In that petition
that there were other heirsy
Eyes said the quiet old clerk. "She
mentioned Charles r. Mohr. Jr. and
virginia b. Mohr tMrs. Mohr's own
children)."
This was additional evidence tending
to show that Mrs. Mohr's primary mo-
tive in instlgating her husbands MUIR
der was to get control of his money.
She had failed to mention in his first
petition the doctors other children by
his fsrst wife. BY this stroke the State
succeeded in wiping out again. through
dull looking legal papers, the senti-
mental effect on the Jury OF the charges
In her separate proceedings read into
the record yesterday. There she al
legged that he had treated her with
excessive cruelty. associated openly
with other women, was an opium fiend
and a drunkard.
The defense realised what was com
ing Just too late.
with the introduction OF the probate
papers. Arthur Gushing was on his
feet Instantly and attempted TO show
that the fling of administration paper =
had been strictly in accordance with
custom.
"Isn't it a fact that such papers are
| filed as soon AZ possible after death
| In order TO conserve the estate and r
protect 1t from wrongful claims Unit
the court finally passes on it?" he de.
| manded,
yes, that's true" admitted the clerk
The general impression, how ever
was that this explanation was too late
TO be OF any ayail--that the picture oi
tho widow scarcely waiting until ,hel
husbands body had gotten cold be
fore taking steps to seize his property
would be fneradioabiy impressed, upor
the jury.
with this last crushing, though sub
tie. blow the State practically con
cluded Its case