Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-25
GRACE LUSK DESCRIBES
KILLING OF MRS. ROBERTS
Schooi-Teachcr Driven to Shooting
by Taunts OF Wife of Man
Sire Loved.
INTENDED TO STAY HERsELr
Surprised When Informed That
Bullet Aimed ut Her Heart Went
Too Low to Reach That Most
Vital Organ.

WAUKESHA. WIS, May 24.-The
crisis in her battle for freedom was
reached to-day by Grace Lusk. psy-
choloSist school-teacher, selfconfesscd
slayer of Mrs. Mary Newman Rob
erts. wife of the man she loved.
White of face and seemingly tor
tured in spirit, the defendant finished
telling of the happening of the day
on which she shot Mrs. Roberts, al
most in state of total collapse.
Taunts buried at her by Mrs. Rob-
ertS. whose husband she loved and
with whom she was intimate, accord
ing to Miss Lusk. drove her TO do
the shooting.
DESCRIBES FINAL INTERVIEW
WITH MRS. ROBERTS
Miss Lusk was on the witness stand
under direct examination about the
final interview with Mrs. Roberts.
Under questioning she said
Mrs. Roberts said: Whenever ! say
anything about you to tho doctor. he
always makes fun of you. He told
me that if ! suspected him of hav-
ing anything to do with woman 10
At least give him credit for picking
out Il nifty dresser
''Shc said she did not admire his
Taste III piChihS Out ScTaWny oiu
maid
she even said to me that she would
tar and feather me and when ! an
swcred: What will they do to DR.
Roberts? She said: oh that's IA diff
fercnt matter"
She stood there and hurled abuse
at me and thcn--and them don't re-
member what happened
Did you intend to shoot Mrs. Rob-
erts"" the attorney asked.
Never. Never Never cried the
witness. "Al the time intended
shooting myself"
In telling of her attempt at self
destruction after she had shot Mrs.
Roberts. the defendant said:
II thought that | had shot myself
through tho heart, When they told me
that had shot too low was sur
prised. sho, at the vital spot. I
realized that had Slain Mrs. Roberts.
and did not want TO live and be
dragged through just such a trial as
this
Later. In telling why she had suf-
fered a change Of heart and wished 10
live. the defendant said:
1T was because my Old father
wanted me To live: asked me to
live"
Explaining her desire to die the
defendant said
Il had lost my reputation. aud with
my reputation went my usefulness, and
I did not want to live any longer. be-
cause there was no place for me In
the world. was under intense emo
tional strain. neither ate. slept.
played nor did anything Of that sort.
II desired. some way or otncr. to
end things"
In telling OF her cTcrts to convince
Mrs. Roberts At the final interview
that DR.. Roberts loved her. Miss Iusk
said:
IL told Mrs. Roberts that her husband
really cared for me. and that / could
prove il. told her had some letters
Of his which would convince nc".
MISS LUSK SAYS Sill:
DECIDED TO KILL I,EPSEIF
she asked to be allowed TO see the
letters. There were two or three &c: =
ters in my desk drawer. and with them
was the revolver When | saw Il |
decided to show her the letters and
kill myself. l took the letters Gown
stairs TO her. She said she could not
read them, because she had let her
glasses at home. She asked me 10
call HIM upon the Telephone. would
not do II. Then the phone ranS She
answered it. DIR. Roberts was m the
wire. She began abusing me. and
| then. and then
Here II was that the witness said
that her mind ceased to register hap
pcnings. Her hands CROPPED blindly
at her bosom and when She finally lift
ed her face to the courtroom II was
dead white and her mouth WAS twist
ed in aSonized lines.
Under cross examination Miss Lusl,