Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-21
STEPHENS COUNSEL
OUTLINES DEFENCE
IN i. S. COURT
Mrs. Newton l.. Grubb Was
Placed on the Stand
This Morning.
CASE WELL UNDER WAY

Trial of Frank Stephens. founder ot
Arden and noted Single IaNer. before
Judge Noolley and Jury IN the nltcd
States District Court, on charge oi
violation of section 3 OF the Federal rs
pionage act proceeded RAPIDLY today on MS
resumption. The morning session closed
with all the governments testimony III
and the defence about 10 present us
witnesses motion to instruct the Jury
10 render verdict of not guilty. having
been overr,iled Judge Gray sat Tor
time during the session with Judge
Woollcy much Interested N the unfolding
OF the ease
The specific allegation IN the lndicf :
ment against stephens IS that he told
Mrs. Mabel Van Trump team cap
tam in the Third Liberty Loan drive
when she called upon him 81 Arden, that
she was a murderer. that All who sold
Liberty Loan bonds were mIrlercrs. that
soldiers wer, being sent forth to hc murder
cd. and that no lady would engage IN
such mission This the government
holds, is within the meaning OF the
statute which makes It a crime to utter
or circulate in wartime false statements
or reports intended to interfere with the
operation or success Of United States
forces
When court opened this morning there
were even more women IN attendance
than Yesterday. the number then beng
considered somewhat unusual Most nf
them are residents OF or near Arden.
Stcphens son. Donald, who also - IN
trouble with the government, but over
srlcctivc draft registration matters sat
beside his father. frequently taking part
in the consultations Stephens held with
his counsel. Gilbert ; Roe and Philip
Garrett
Court having opened, United States
District Attorney Curlev called to the
stand Nfrs. Newton L. Cirubb, who was
Mrs Van Trump's companion on the
visit to Arden.
MRS ~ l.. GRUBR TESTIFTES,
Ms. Grub said she lived in Brandy
vine hundred at Gr1Ibh's Landing She
told Of accompanying Mrs Van Trum p
10 Arden and heing present ut her in
terview with the defendant.
ContInmng. she said Mrs Van Trump
had told stephens that she was selling
Liberty Ponds Qi the third loan. Stephens
made reply then. using the words upon
which the Indict nent IS based. He also
said ms son was under nine TnouAhs
Indictment Witness thought these were
hrs words and that they We're uttered
before he said Liberty Bond sellers were
Inurdcrers
Turned over II Mr. Roc Tor rroSs-
examination Mrs Grubb was suhJecte ed
10 a lengthy griIling. although her testI-
1nonv-5n-cmef had lcen gwen in very
few minutes
First, Mr. Roe wanted 10 know some
hing about the movements Of Mrs Van
Trump and Mrs GrlIbb before and after
the meeting with Stephens He learned
they had visited a Mrs Rroadhent before
Stephens
Producing a diagram Of he locality
Mr. Roe showed it 10 Mrs. Gubb, II
once drawing the attention Of the court
and Mr. Curiey, who desired TO see Il
Mr. Curley objected 10 the diagram and
Mr. Roe said he'd try TO get on without
II, and asked the witness 70 tell every
thing that went on III the interview with
Stephens.
She said Mrs Van Trump mad stated
her mission and that Stephens approached
her in very threatening attitude with
bus fist upraised and close to Mrs. Van
Tn1mp's face and spoke about his son
being under indictment.
Then followed a remark by the witness
TO the effect that she thought this had
been adjusted Stephens then used the
language imputed TO him concerning
murderers Mrs Van Trump SAID she
had approached him as a lady would,
but that he had not been gentlemanly
in his behavior to her
Mrs Grub then described the method
she and Mrs Van Trump had pursued IN
making their round She couldn say
how many persons they had seen before
seeing Stephens. but she thought 1t was
half dozen Afterward, they saw others
probably more Replying TO query
bv the court Mn Van Trump fixed the
time Of the interview with Stephens as
about the middle Of the afternoon
As to Stephens attitude when talking
10 Mrs Van Trump. the witness said
IN effect that he spoke with violence and
anger and SO Overwhelmingly she wanted
10 get away from HIM She had known
him for some time living within few
hundred feet u his house. she replied to
further questions She knew from the
newspapers Of his son Donald sentence
because Of trouble with the government
over the draft
AS to Stephens attitude as a con
scientious obiector toward war witness
said she had heard he was pacnhst and
didn't believe in the law but she didn't
remember just whom she had heard say
80 The line az questioning being con
tinued. Mr. Curley objected SAYING
II didn't make any difference what the
witnesses motives were in going TO
Stephens. he was accused Of making Ger
tam statements and the queries of the
counsel for the defence were not material
Mr. Roe then turned his attention to
another line He wanted 10 know what
other men she and Mrs Van Trump had
seen that day In connection with Liberty
Bonds Yesterday, when Mrs. Van
Trump was on the stand, MIR Roe tried
10 show that their business was to see
women.
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