The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-03-24
HEALTH OFFICER,
WEST AND CRAY
WILL TESTIFY
Alleged Slayer May Be Called
as Witness,
STATE MAY CLOSE TODAY
Defendants Nephew Gives
Family History,

To combat The theory OF insanity re-
lied ON as the defense in the Couch case
the state this afternoon will Introduce
in rcbu,tal three alienis,S J. W:
Duke. state health commissioner of
Guthrie DR. A. H. West OF Oklahoma
City, and Dr. ! T Gray oi Saltwater.
State May Close Today.
County Attorney Selby thinks that
the states rcbuttal proof may all he
ir before the adjournment OF court to-
dav States attorneys have not vet de-
cided whether little Mary Couch,
daughter OF the defendant, will be put
on the stand
The defense rested at II 80 o'clock
this morning. John l., George. nephew
ci the defendant by marriage. was the
last witness introduced. He was used
by the defense to bolster up the plea or
hereditary insanity.
Knew Abe Coveh.
| Did you know Abe Couch in his lie
timeI" asked Mr. Estes
u did"
What relation was he to the deiend-
ant John VI Couch"
"A brother"
"lS he living or dead
Dead"
DO YOU know the manner OF hi,
death"
'Iie committed suicide" Witness
answered before Mr. Selby could set
ir an objection.
How did he come to his death"
Shot Himself
"By. shooting. according to the cor.
oncr's inquest"
"D.d YOU see the body after DEATH"
YES"
Describe the condition oi the bodv'"
ut looked like any other dead body"
When did he de-
1904 or 1905"
Mr. Selby asked that all the evidence
OF the witness be stricken from the rec
ord and the jury be told to disregard It
Overrulcd by the court
Objection Sustained.
The court then sustained contention
of the state that witness statements
with reference to the manner OF Abe
Couch's death be withdrawn from the
jury.
Evidence intended by the deieuse TO
corroboratc the testimony oi Couch
when on the witness stand yesterday
when he stated that messenger boys
had told him certain things about Row.
land ID Williams character and things
that took place in the studio did not
get TO the Jury
, Messengers on Stand.
Ben Lester, u. Lemon and J. A.
RcuckS, former Postal messengers, were
called Lester was the first introduced.
Did YOU know Rowland d Williams
IN his lifetime ,"
II did" ..
When did YOU first NEE, hmf"
Some time in November 1913"
How many times did you NEE, him'"
Three or four"
Where did YOU meet him,"
"N 1881, West Second street"
Who was there at the time you
wcte''
"No onr hut Williams"
Tells OF Conversation.
What conversation did you havs
with Williams" Objection by the state.
Tell what happened therei" Objec.
ton by the state sustained by the court.
Counsel in the case then gathered at
the Judges stand with the court re-
porter and the rest Of the witness,
testimony wac transcribed into the rec
ord Lester was then EXCUSED -.
| Witness Lemon was asked practically
the same questions and gave practically
the same answers the conference with
the court was had again Lemon wss
no, questioned further IN open eoust.
Reucks was only asked his age and
low l,ng since he had been In the ser.
vice ol the Postal lie said Ne wss n
aud left the telegraph eompsny's EN-.
ploy lest April
Aisle Crowdins stoppslA
| Judge Clark told the court. rom THE