The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-03-23
STATE RESTS M
MURDER M!lR!Ie;
DEFENSE OPENED
Defendant Tells Of Relations
With Miss Dunn.
DIVORCED WIFE WITNESS
Letters Are introduced in
Days Session,

Evidence that outrivaled the letters
introduced yesterday afternoon in sor.
didi,y came from the lips Of John NJ.
Couch. testifying in his own behalf, IN
tho district court this morning.
Improper Relations Charge.
Couch swore that Nellie Dunn told
him that Rowland D. Williams had been
guilty of improper relations with her
and that unless he went away and al
lowed them to continue their assoeia.
tions she would take iittle, Mary Couch
to the Williams studio.
Couch stated tina, he left Oklahoma
City after telling Miss Dunn that " Ne
ever heard that Mary went there. sgain
he would cosas back. lie said thst Ne
had information through letters that
she had been going to the studio.
Attorneys Object.
AZ this point attorneys for the state
interposcd an objection to this charac-
ter OF testimony Judge Clark sent the
Jury from the room TO hear arguments
on the admissibility OF the evidence.
States attorneys contspded that un.
I'll some foundation had been laid Tor
the plea OF insanity such proof should
not 20 to the jury. Mr.. Selby and Judge
Day argued that il was not pertinent
until basis for the insanity defense
had been fixed They admitted that
when that was done the evidence might
be considered as contrlbutory.
Effect the Same.
Defendants counsel took the position
that any testimony ,ha, would tend 10
show tho condition Of the defendants
mind was compc,cn, wdch the plea vi
insanity; they held that the matters be-
ing testified To were true or untrue II
Couch believed them the effect was the
same.
Mr.. Selby read from an authority on
insanity; An insane delusion is NOT q
defense unless It would excuse lhs
crime iithe facts proved to he true"
Mr., Estes declared that under the plea
OF not guilty the defendant had tl,o
right to plead not only "delusional" 10.
sanity but any other form OF mental de.
ranscmen,; ,ha, under the general issue
the defendant could interpose any kind
OF defense.
Mr. Estes stated that the letters IN.
troduced yesterday proved that the de.
fendant was insane.
Difference, Says Judge.
Judge Clark said tina, there was &
difference OF opinion as TO whether the
letters showed iha, they were inspired
by the mind OF an insane person or
just pure "cussedncsS."
" don't want any evidence intro
duced here that would besmirch IN
character Of anyone unless il Is neces.
sary for proper defense" said thu
court.
The letters show that Couch, whilo
still a married man, contemplated mar.
riaRe with Miss Dunn and II she ros
fused him tina, would be no excuse foe
him to kin her"
Testimony Compssest.
The court held that the line OF tee.
umony was competent, but cautioned
the defense attorneys that the Witness
should he more soec,fic IN siatemeuts.
To bolster up the opening statement
that Couch was driven insane by tho
knowledge ths, his little daughter was
still bcing taken 10 the Williames
studio after he warned Miss Dunn ma
TO let her 70 there the defense intro.
duced letters purpor,ins 10 have hssa
written TO Couch under the name Of J.
VI. Gordon al Erie, Pa, by r. A. d