The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-27
Trial of Miss LuSk Now CenterS
Around That.
Tainted Ancestry Exposed. to
View To Prove She Is.

WaukeSha, Wis, May 2T.-MlSs
Grace Lusk, brilliant school teacher.
heard alienists repeat today that sne
is insane. DR.. Herbert Powers, Mil
waukee alienist, who Saturday called
her an "hysterical automatist, offer
ed further testimony. DIR. w. r.
Waukesha physicians will follow.
Miss Lusk, charged with murder for
shooting Mrs. Mary Roberts. quailed
as her family history was spread be-
fore the jury to show tainted ances-
try. She adopted a diet and physical
culture course to condition herself for
this greatest ordeal"
Doctors Frank Studley and F. o.
Wegge are to be introduced by the
| state to contradict defense alienists.
The state will try to show the teach
! er's brilliant mind was unaffected, but
| that she coldly plotted the murder OF
| Mrs. Roberts in order to supplant her
as the wife of DR.. David Roberts.
Hypothetical questions of 5000
words, reviewing evidence in the trial.
were submitted to the physicians.
! Her Spirit Broken.
| Waukesha, Wis. May 27.-Grace
Lusk's spirit broke last night in her
little cell in the Waukesha county
| Jail.
For hours she had undergone ex-
animation by the chief alienist for the
defense. Herbert w. Powers. of Mil
waukee.
Then. for the first time, she seemed
| to realize that her defense of insanity,
while 1t might close to her the doors
of the penitentiary. could at best only
open in their stead the doors of Wis.,
consin's hospital for the criminal in
sane.
She collapsed and sent for her
father. When the old man entered
the cell the daughter begged him to
tell her the truth
Has this fight been all for nothing.
daddy" she cried "Oh, 1 can't 90
there; I can't can't can't"
Doctor Lusk. worn almost as much
as his daughter by the dreadful ordeal
thru which they have passed. fenced
as best he could in replying to the de-
PENDANT.
Look for Acquittal.
He sought to allay her fears. ana
assured her that both he and her
counsel were confident of an acquit-
"Oh, I've got to be-Ive got to be-"
she moaned. This means nv very
life. I wouldn't live two months in
either place; I won't CO."
The father shook his head sadly as
he came from his daughters cell
I'm worried about the girl" he told
the correspondent. eff her shirt
breaks completely, there is-no telling
what will happen. She is all unstrung.
This terrible tragedy would never have
|
master herself then. Now she is in a
} much weaker state"
Tears came into the old mans eyes,
Il don't want to lose her now" he
added. after all this fight want
ITO take her back home with me; back
to the old scenes where she grew to
womanhood and where she was always
happy"
And then DR.. Lusk went 10 his at
torneys and asked that they request
Sheriff Morris to take every precau-
ltion to prevent the defendant from
lharming herself. The father told them
that he wanted the knives and forks
which the defendant has been permit
tied to have in her room, and the big
pair of scissors taken from her. II
don't think she'd do anything" he
pleaded, but please let's don't take
lany chance"
Se1f-vioIence Is Feared
told him they would take care of the
matter. Tomorrow they will consult
with Sheriff Morris, and it is UNDER
stood that he will act in accordance
with their request
Her attorneys frankly admit that
they fear the effect of an adverse YER
dict on their highly sensitive client
These fears crept into their minds a
few days before the opening of the
trial and they then exacted from the
school teacher promise that she
would do nothing to harm herself be-
fore the case was called or during its
hearing.
The defense rested today in the
case of Miss Grace Lusk. the school
teacher charged with the murder of
Mrs. Mary Newman Roberts. The
state Immediately began presentation
of evidence to combat the defense
plea of insanity.