Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-08-08
FOURTH DAY OF
I STANTON TRIAL
Wife of Prisoner Collapses
After Long Cross
Examination
HUSBAND ON STAN
Alleges Rolph Struck Him With .
Baseall Bat When He Asked the De!
Ceased of the WhereabOut of Wife

-.
Mrs. D. w. Stanton was on the
stand when the Gazette's report o1
the trial Of her husband, D. Worth
Stanton, charged with killing Jesse
Rolph last May, closed.
After having been on the witness
stand for FIVE hours she went to ar
anteroom and collapsed at the con.
clusion of the cross examination.
The accused subsequently took the
stand.
He told of events leading up to
the shooting. Among other things he
said he told his wife he was willing
to go anywhere with her to get out
of the clutches Of Rolph. The wife
suggested California.
Stanton told Of the departure of
his wife from home and of his eff
forts to locate her and of finally
finding her in Washington. While
his wife was at one hotel, he testi-
fed, Rolph sent her flowers.
The witness described meeting
RoTpE and Rolph's brother and he
said he asked: "Where is my wife,"
Rolph replied: 81 don't know your
wife"
A few words were exchanged
when Rolph jumped at him and
grabbed small bat and struck him
over the head. During the struggle
for life, he fred once. getting the
! pistol from his hip pocket. Stanton,
however said he had no idea of
shooting Rolph when he accosted
him. His intention being simply to
learn something regarding the
whereabouts of his wife.
After the reconvening ,f the court
this morning Stanton was again
placed on the stand. After some,
questions by Mr.. Burke his cross
examination by Commonwealths At
toiney Smith, began. He said he
noticed change in his wife's; de-
meanor in February last; during the;
latter part of that month or the
early part of March saw his wife
with Rolph; said be went: to house
in the neighboIhood where a social
party had assembled and requested
his wife, who was among the guests,
to come home; Rolph was present.
at the time, sitting or, a sofa where,
prisoners. wife. YVES also, seated; saw,
his wife and deceased together on
other occasions; had suspicious OF,
relations between his wife and
Rolph in February; deceased would
drive up late at night and put hls
wife out at her home; when defend
ant approached Rolph on May y ne
entertained no hostile feeling toward
him: but wanted to get information
of his wife's whereabouts, as ne de-
sired her to return to him; had nc
intention Of doing Rolph bodily
harm at the time; shot after RoEph
took him by the throat; did not in
tend to kill him when he discharged
his pistol; was aware: that Rolph
had entered into negotiations look
ing to the purchase Of Mrs. Stan
tons house., his wife had stated to
real estate dealer that; she die
not desire to sell her, house to
Rolph; defendant and wife later
agreed not to sell the house; his wife
had neither money nor property
save what be had given her; did not
know Mrs. Stanton had been spend
ing money freely; did not know OF
her business transactions nor of the
issuing Of checks by her until after
the killing Of Rolph.
Before Stanton left the stand Mr.
Mr.. Burke propounded few ques
tions to Aim.
Several witnesses were put on tn
stand by the Commonwealth in re
huttal OF evidence for the defense
At one o'clock court took reces
until two.
After reconvening Kenneth '
OGDEN was called. Witness IS
member Of the firm Of Graham ar
Ogden, rear estate dealers. He to
of hi. business relations with Nj
Stanton concerning the intentions
selling her house. Mrs. Stanton nj
told witness Rolph should not ha
her house when she was told
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