The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-22
Flat Denial of the Testimony of
DIR. David Roberts.
Father Pleads for Complete
Open Testimony.
ZONE OF MANY" SAID WIFE
Murdered Woman Called Her
Bad Names.
Fellow Teachers Uphold Grace
Lusk's Character.

Waukesha, Wis, May PA score
of men and women testified today as
character witnesses for Grace Lusk
who is herself expected to take the
stand late this afternoon to defend
herself against the charge of mur-
dering Mrs. Roberts.
School teachers, who have worked
with the defendant, told of the esteem
in which she was held, and others
testified that she was subject to Sc
we're headaches as the result of over
work. Still others, intimate with the
Lusk family, told of alleged eccen-
tricities of its members. Questions
were framed to bring out support for
the insanity defense.
Grace Lusk, altho said by her
friends to be on the verge of a nerv-
Gus breakdown, prepared to take the
witness stand late today at her trial
for the Staying of Mrs. Mary Newman
Roberts.
According to attorneys she will en-
ter a fiat denial of the testimony OF
DR.. David Roberts, husband of the
slain woman, that she pursued him.
forced him by means of threats to
meet her in Chicago and Milwaukee
and deliberately plotted to wreck his
home.
1t May Take Days.
Her ordeal on the witness stand
may take days. Thruout she will be
watched by alienists for both the de-
fenSe and prosecution. Her lawyers
plea is emotional insanity Opening
witnesses called by the defense yes
terday testified that her father
mother and grandmother were al
times erratic.
Her Attitude Uncertain.
Miss Lusk's lawyers were said to
be in the dark as to the extent she
might go in revealing her relations
with Doctor Roberts. She was saio
to be verging on a collapse at the
prospect of barring the love of which
dying: It had rather had this ex
perience than to have gone thru life
without knowing what love car
mean"
1t is not believed she will veer fal
in her testimony from the letter she
addressed to Mrs. Roberts, but never
mailed, informing Mrs. Roberts thai
her husband wished she were ir
"angel land and for three years hat
taken monthly trips with Miss Lusk.
She Is Very Tired.
waukesha, Wis, May 22.-Grace
Lusk, self confessed slayer Of Mrs
Mary Newman Roberts, wife of DR.
David Roberts. today took the stand
in her own behalf.
AS ldtACI ltdS PtCdoCo viii Lfs
daughter to cast aside every vestige
of lingering regard she may cherish
for Roberts and seek safety; her law
yers have made the same plea. But
to none of them has she given indica-
ton of what she intends doing.
II am very tired" she said and tina,
was all, according to the lawyers and
her father.
Despite her state of near collapse
Miss Lusk. before she took the stand
detailed to a reporter the happenings
of that memorable afternoon wher
she shot to death the wife of the mar
she loved.
She was seated at a small table
making Intellectual attempts to eat hel
supper she talked. Momentarily
she dropped knife, fork and spoon a.
she talked and the muscles of her face
twitched continually.
The day Mrs. Roberts came" sh,
said, she insulted me terribly. Sh,
| was with me a half hour 1 guess.
don't remember how long it was. Blu
when she came in she began tellins
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