The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1918-02-13

men the wife seduced Mr.. Knox and
the husband slew him."
Mondays Conclusion.
Esper himself remained on the wit
ness stand for more than an hour
Monday afternoon, He was direct y
questioned by the defense and told
his story in very creditable manner.
1t was indicated by his testimony
that the man, according to his own
claims, did not want to kill Knox;
that this was one of the worst fears
of his life for the sake of his small
children and that it was onsy after
two days of serious thought, during
which time he was absent from his
home, guest in the Kitchel Hotel
of this city.
When re-examined by the prosecu-
tion Esper admitted that he had been
a habitant of the local pool room
while in the city and that he inter
cepted the letter which brought on
the fatal difficulty on Christmas
morning and that the shooting took
place on Dec 27, two days later.
Mrs. Esper Claims She Warned Knox.
Mrs. Esper was put back on the
stand about a quarter to five O'Clock
Monday afternoon and was thorough
ly examined by the prosecution.
In answer to a question by Attor,
ney Gardner she stated that Jas.
Knox was the only man she had ever
had any illicit relations with.
After Esper had told her that he
was going to demand an explanation
from Knox, according to her state
ments, She made an effort to warn
him; she said that she went to Mem
phis and to his offices in the Ex-
change building after wiring and
writing him letters warning him of
the difficulties arising.
DO you love your husband? ?" this
from Mr.. Gardner.
Il do" replied Mrs. Esper.
do you expect to live with him
after this is over?"
Eyes; if he'll take me; we have
five little children"
Mrs. Esper was put on the stand
first at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon
as the first witness introduced by the
defense. She remained on the stand
from that time until after 8 o'clock.
when she was relieved of the witness
chair by her husband, the defendant.
After Mrs. Esper had been oues-
toned by Mr.. Witty for some five
or ten minutes there was an obiec-
ton raised by the prosecuting counsel
when "the letter" was referred to.
Here the matter was gone over at
length and argued out for more than
twenty minutes. During this time,
Mrs. Esper remained in the witness
chair.
She sat there looking toward her
attorneys. She neither turned to the
right nor left and her husband, sitting
over near the table, never looked up
at her and she never once glanced at
him, Mrs. Esper wore a blue dress
with broad white collar. Her hat
was small black one and a black
veil covered her face. She carried a
white handkerchief in her hand.
After a while the jury was brought
oack IN the room ard the testimony
was continued. Mrs. Esper held up
the entire questioning
turing the early part of the after
1oon Frequently she was at point
IT crying, as was evidenced by ner
one, but there was always pause
~ the court at the critical moment
md the woman went through the en-
ire affair without shedding a tear.
Esper, during the greater part of
Ter testimony, laid his head on the
able and kept it there for some time.
us features never changed at her
ensational utterances and her three
title children continued to play about |
heir father and humble childish
expressions to one another, entirely {
innocent of the dark story being re- {
ated by their mother Of the path !
rktai IL l.... 49,. 4 :,