South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-17
Harry S. Ne70 to Plead
Emotional MSanityAS
Defense For Murder
Will Claim Girls Refusal to Marry Him Drove Him Into
Insane Frenzy During Which
He Killed Her.

oision to break our engagement was
final.
Yes Harry; If is she said. And /
she added that she did not intend to
bear our child"
Beyond that New claims to have /
had no mental impression until he
saw Frieda Lesser's lifeless eyes
staring dumbly up at him from the
floor of the limousine. where she lay
crumpled on the floor
He drove for hours after that,
aimlessly. He told detectives after
ward that he seemed to be dazed. AS
his mind became clearer he de-
clared he saw that there was but
one thing for him to do-give him
self up. So he drove to the police
station. and walking steadily into
the night sergeant's room. said:
ct have killed a girl. She is out
there in my car"
Improves Physically.
Since that early morning he has
been in Jail. And he has improved.
A wan, haggard young man on the
verge of mental and physical col
lapse six months ago, an obvious
sufferer from incipient tuberculosis.
he walked briskly into the court
room today a picture of rudy
health and utter confidence.
The trial opening today with its
velOp, its numerous dispositions
from Indiana certain to be intro
duced and its relentless searchlight
played upon all phases of the rela-
tive past will strip the shroud of
80 years secrecy OF the principals
even more than the first glare Of the
crime.
Mrs. Lily NJ. Burgers alleged un-
conventional romance with Sen.
New in Indianapolis more than so
years ago which, Mrs. Burger
claims, resulted in the birth of
Harry New, jr.; subsequent relations
as of father and son between the
senator and New, jr.. and the
strange influence that knowledge of
his alleged illegirimacy exerted on
the defendants character all are
expected 10 be disclosed during the
trial
Senator Provides Funds.
1t has already been announced
that Sen. New is providing funds
for his alleged sons defense.
New was born in Indianapolis. !
Dispositions taken by both counsel
for the prosecution and defense are
said to bear out Mrs. Burgers
claim, and old residents testifying
through these have cited instances
when the senator is said to have
been seen walking with Harry New
down the streets Of Indianapolis, /
hand in hand. His interest is al /
legged to have been shown in young
News education, plans for his fu-
ture and financial aid rendered (
through a mutual friend.
OF late years, however. Harry
New, jr., is said to have been en- /
tirely estranged from the senator, I
an estrangement brought about by .
his broOding over his alleged dis /
tressful situation in society.
Frieda Lesser. the dead girl. was .
the daughter CT Mrs. Alice Lesser, I
a bed-ridden invalid. AS the shadow F..
OF alleged illegitimacy clouded /
Harry News life. so did destiny /
play cruelty with the Lesser fam /
lily.
Three years ago Frieda's father, |
suspected of pro- ermaS operations /
by the department#f justice. !
strangely disappeared, with indica- /
tons Of drowning. He nor his body I
was ever found. Not long after Mrs I
Lesser was stricken 10 her bed. I.
which she has never left And then |
the tragedy that Harry New
wrought fell upon the Inflated (
home.