The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-25
Father Believed Her Insane at
the Time.
Grace Lusk Cries Softly During
TOday's Ordeal.
MRS. ROBERTS TAINTED Her
Intended To Kill Herself Over
the Matter.
Had No Intention of Numbering
DIR. Roberts's Wife.

Wauk esha. Wis, May 25.-Grace
at the close of her cross examination
today to make way for her old rather.
The aged man testified that Grace's
mother once tried to hurl herself into
the Niagara whirlpool rapids and that
he considered her insane at the time
1t was the defense plan to show that
Miss Lusk inherited insanity and was
irresponsible when she shot Mrs. Mary
Newman Roberts, her love rival, last
June. But the aged fathers state
ment was stricken out upon the states
objection.
A hypothetical question of several
thousand words was submitted by the
defense covering the history of Miss
Lusk's love affair with DIR. David Rob-
erts Following testimony of alienists
this afternoon, both sides may rest. If
arguments are made Monday the jury
will have the case by next Tuesday
night.
She Cried on Stand.
Miss Lusk cried softly during her
cross examination today by Prosecutor
Walter Corrigan on her supposed sex
theories. She was questioned ABOUT
review of book by Ellen Key on love
and marriage prepared by Miss Lusk
for a friend.
'They are Ellen Keys opinions, not
mine. 1 refuse to have them attrlb-
uted to me- said Miss Lusk.
But you once requested Mrs. Rob
erts to read the book" shot back Cor
rigan.
Yes" said Miss Lusk, and she be-
gan to cry. But at other times during
her brief session on the stand this
morning she did not finch and at the
close of cross examination jumped
from the stand with a relieved smile.
Cannot Remember Shooting.
She had denied persistenly remem-
bering shooting Mrs. Roberts or her
self She made Doctor Roberts vince
openly in court today by intimating
that she might have intended killing
scene when she compelled him to
swear on a Bible that he would tell his
wife of their Illicit love.
Suicide Was Plan.
Waukesha, Wis, May 25.-It was
Grace Lusk, scientist, who faced a
renewal of cross examination today in
her murder trial for shooting Mrs.
Mary Roberts. Impersonally. Miss
Lusk aided in the diSsecting of her
soul as a biologist might study some
strange animal form. A crisp shirt
waist and shining spectacles added to
her school teacherly appearance.
Today when Prosecutor Corrigan
was to force her into discussion of
the actual shooting last June, the
jury was impressed for almost the
first time with the fact there has
been killing. Intimacies between
the school teacher and DR.. David Rob-
erts which led to the Staying were
almost forgotten.
Mrs. Roberts had been shot. Grace
Lusk did the shooting. These were
the facts hammered home by the
prosecutor.
Had Planned Only Suicide.
Corrigan tried to make her say she
had wanted to displace Roberts's wife
and marry the veterinarian; that a
she failed. Miss Lusk steadfastly
claimed she had planned suicide when
Roberts failed to keep promises to
restore her reputation.
Details of the shooting, she insists,
were not recorded in her mind The
Staying was done when Mrs Roberts
called to revile her as common wom-
an, home-wrecker, a scrawny old
maid and plaything of a man of
many affairs who thought her the
damndest fool he ever saw
Crisis Came Yesterday.
Waukesha, Wis, May 25.-The cri-
sis in her battle for freedom was
reached by Grace Lusk. psychologist
school teacher, self-confessed SLAYER of
Mrs. Mary Newman Roberts, wife of
the man she loved, Friday.
White of face, and seemingly tor
telling of the happenings of the day
on which she shot Mrs. Roberts, al
most in a state of total collapse. She
was given an unmerciful grilling dur
ing cross-examination by Prosecutor
Corrigan.
Once the defense counsel shot at
her the question:
DO you still love DIR. Roberts?"
The defendant lifted her face, her
lips trembling.
IL"
Prosecutor Corrigan leaped to his
feet objecting, and Grace Lusk was not
allowed to answer the question:
Taunts hurled at her by Mrs Rob-
erts, whose husband she loved and
with whom she was intimate, accord
ing to Miss Lusk, drove her to the
shooting.
Miss Lusk on the witness stand, un-
der direct examination related the fin
al interview with Mrs. Roberts.
A Scrawny Old Maid.
"She said, whenever 1 say anything
about you to the doctor, he always
makes fun of you. He told me that if
I suspected him of having anything
to do with a woman, to at least give
him credit for picking out a nifty
dresser
'.She said she didn't admire his
taste in picking out a scrawny old
maid
"She even said to me that she
would tar and feather me and when
I answered, What will they do to
Doctor Roberts p she said, oh, that's
a different matter"
Explaining her desire to die, Miss
Lusk said:
II had lost my reputation and with
my reputation went my usefulness