Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-09-22
Mrs. Steiger'
FlatlyDenies
Allegations
Defendant in Attempt
ed Murder Case Ad-
mits $. Intimacy with
Mulinix, However


Emphatically denying any con.
tract or understanding with less,
Mulinix concerning the attemptef
murder of her husband, Mrs. Lens
steiger underwent the four-hou,
oraeal Of direct and cross-examina.
tion in Circuit Judge Kelly's court
wednesday morning.
AT times sobbing with supnressad
excitement, the gray haired woman
save evidence concerning her rela.
ions with Jesse Mulinix. In answe,
70 questions by John McNary. he,
attorney, she admitted that she had
secured rooms at Salem hotels
Mulinix being her companion.
Ashamed of Conduct.
am ashamed of this conduct .
sobbed the aged woman. 81 have
dlsgraced my family, my daughter
and grand daughter. / certainly
regret that ever saw Jesse Multi
NIX. How could | know all the
time was with him that he had
murder in his hearth"
When questioned as to denials
she had made to Sheriff Needham
concerning knowledge of Multi,
nlx's whereabouts directly after tie
attempt, she contradicted the Off
GERS statement.
Il told him that Jesse had not
been on the place since August
l91S,' she declared. Sheriff Need :
ham and his deputies testified that
Mrs. Steiger had told them that she
had not seen Mullinix since the date
mentioned. The questioning took
place the day shortly after the
attempted murder Steiger having
declared that Mullinix was the
guilty party.
Mrs. Steiger denied that the gun
exhibited by the state is the same
weapon sold by her to Salem sec
ond hand dealer, about IS months
ago. That she had accepted a
flashlight from Jesse Mullinix, Mrs.
Steiger also admitted, denying,
however that she had ever request
ed Mrs. Hodge, neighbor. to tes-
tify that Mrs. Hodge had given her
the light. This was Mrs. Hodges s
testimony as witness for the state,
Monday.
When questioned in regard TO a
letter with Leaburg, Washington,
address, Mrs. Steiger admitted that
she had writtens this to MuIlinix,
using the name of j. Smith. IT was
ashamed of it and denied to the
sheriff that had written it," she
said.
Admits Mullinix Letter.
Asked by Deputy Prosecutor Roy
Shields to give an Interpretation OF
the letters, 20. S. K, !" written in a
corner of the letter, Mrs. Steiger
said that she did not remember
what it meant.
Ibid it not mean 'One Sweet
Kiss?'" asked Mr.. Shields.
Il don't know was the answer.
In her testimony, Wednesday
morning, MIS. OtciSSt, IL
to admitting and denying statement
made to Sheriff Needham, charged
that she had been given no food on
the evening and morning following
her arrest and confinement in the
city Jail. -,
"Did you ask anyone for food 2
asked Prosecutor Shields.
"Yes, / asked for food or drink,
I don't remember which" Mrs.
Steiger replied.
well, what did you ask forF
was the next question.
II want a drink of whiskey, as
nv heart was bad and my doctor
had advised it for some time, was
the answer. The crowded court
room greeted this reply with sup
pressed mirth and the court order
ed the bailiff to preserve silence.
With sobs breaking into her ut
terances, Mrs. Steiger told the jury
that her husband had been very
cross and abusive to her since Au-
gust. 1918, and asserted that TINS
gas due to attentions which she
asserted he had paid Mrs. Peter
SON. a widow who owned nelgh'
boring farm.
Accuses Husband.
.Ha would return from her place
gerry late at nights and would curse
mo when l demonstrated with him
md said that the neighbors would
talk After he ordered Mullinix
away in August, 1918, Mr.. Steiger
refusedto let me do his laundry ana
for more than year lived by him.
self in a cook house on the farm'
she said. .,a~
when questioned by Mr.. shieios
90 to her motive in associating with
M,,lIinix Mrs. steiger replied that
he had treated her very kindly.
since the month of August, 1913
Mr. steiger has often refused 10
sneak to me and would tell me
nothing concerning his business az,
fairs Mr.. Mullinix had traVeieu
muchand il was always interesting
to listen to him." Mrs. Stelger saru'
.sTben these meetings at the El
bridge hotel were of the nature o. o..
a literary melting. were they not
asked the deputy prosecutor