The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-24
GRACE LUSK BRINGS |. TEARS ID EYES OF
 MEN TRYING HER
Woman on Trial for Murder of Wife of Her Lover Tells Most Dramatic
 Story

Waukesna, Wis, May 23.-W With two jurors and many of the spectators in tears. Grace Lusk brought to dramatic conclusion late today the story of her life almost up until the staying of Mrs Mary Newman Roberts, for which she is now on trial.
 Swayins in the witness chair at time: as if on the verge of collapse, often low ering her voice until it was almost in audible. she denied she had ever pur- sued Dr. David Roberts and charged that he, first appealing for her help 1T the preparation of a book, finally wor home life After describing many meet ings in Chicago and other places during nearly two years, Miss Lusk told of ar ranging a conference with Dr, Robert: in Milwaukee hotel in May, 1917, abou month before the tragedy. It was rt this meeting which she carried the same pistol with which she later shot Mrs Roberts.
 SAYS SHE HAD DECIDED
 'T had decided that the situation had to be strengthened out" she tes tified, "and that if Dr. Roberts dic not care for me, I would take ny owl life. I told him how sincere l hat been in my affections, how l wcuIt never have allowed it to start if h. had not assured me that Mrs r&obert did not care for him. Things now wer' beyond my control My reputation was gone and my life ruined Mrs Roberts also was hopelessIy wronged
 of this had been game on hi part, and if I had been so simple a not to have understood it, I would talk the consequences.
 Then he said he cared 10000 time more for me. I asked him to tell her He said it was impossible. I asall asked hin, if he cared for me. lie as s,lred me that he did. I then took tn pistol and made him put his righ hand on a Bible and asked him t swear that he would go home and tel the truth. He said that it was ilupos sible at that time. I said that ! woui give him until June !! 5 and he swor he would tell Mrs. Roberts that W cared for each other. l told nm U ask for his freedom and he said ID you think that would be necessary ten inc truth?' Then I put down tn gun and told him that he need no l fell her it he did not want to. H l said that he would tell her, that IL wa | better to le honest
 WITNESS CRIED At this point Miss Lnsk paused, he 1 shoulders shaking with sohs w iurynen openly wiped tears from thei l eyes while scores of women Wer 1 weeping ir the hushed courtroom
 Judge I,ueck ordered an imnnediat 1 adiournmept and the defendant stag | ha stand
 1 Tomorrow she will continue he story. 1 Miss I.usk began her testimony tht morning by telling of her first meet l ing with pr. Roberts, after he na sought her help on some manuscrip he was preparing . l Simply, she told of their growing III l timacy and of how he conIioeo II business and family troubles to ne while they worked together on th manuscript Later she described wis l it's to Chicago where she said the I registered several times as man an wife; Dr. Roberts in at least thre l instances buying her railway ticket from Milwaukee to Chicago and pay l ing the hotel bills. !
 l INSTANCES OF JEALOUSY Then she related instances of hi 1 Jealousy Always she said, Dr. Rob 
 erts assured her that he cared for he more than anyone else, and proteste when she was away from home eve l for a day. At many points she flatl 1 contradicted the testimony of Dr. Rob erts. Regarding meeting in Apri 1917. at which Dr. Roberts had testi fled that she struck him in the fac when he refused to swear that h cared more for her than anyone els | in the world she said
 ''The situation had become unbear able. I was unhappy. Mrs Robert was unhappy I told him that if h did not care I would end it all H said that he cared as much as eyel | said that then he must go home an tell Mrs. Roberts. He said this was ii, possible, and when he became evasiv struck him"
 The greatest crowd of the tris
 Hooked to the courtroom today A
 least two thirds of the spectators wer | women.