Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-05-06
Lawrence H. Lackey Alleged
To Have Given Little Daugh.
ter Poisoned Candy to Effect
Reconciliation With Wife.
SHE IS TO TESTIFY
IN BEHALF OF HUSBAND
Prisoner Whistles Popular Airs
And Jokes With Attorneys as
Hearing Begins-LikeIy to
Be No Witnesses for Defense

Alliance, Neb.. May 5.--(Special
Telegram Lawrence H. Lackey,
charged with first-degree murder in
connection with the death OF his
7-year-old daughter, Pauline. who
died of strychnine poisoning Decem-
Der II, was placed on trial here in
district court today.
Lackey is alleged to have commit
ted the murder fer the purpose of
effecting reconciliation with his
wife who had divorced him in No
vember. The couple had five chill
dren. the oldest 9 years old. 1t was
alleged that he thought the death of
the little girl would bring her back
to him.
Wife Stands BY Husband
Mrs. Lackey stood by her former
husband at the preliminary trial last
January and has repeatedly declared
her belief i'll his innocence. A few
weeks ago she was married in Col
orado to Manton Hickerson and is
now living with her husband at Nc
Cook, Neb. She is expected to tes-
tify i'll her former husbands behalf
at this trial On the morning OF
December II, Pauline Lackey and
her older sister Wilma started to
school accompanied by their father.
On the way to school the father
tha,1, aoch nf -E
Wilma spat hers out saying it was
bitter but Pauline ate hers.
Dies In Conyulsions.
A few minutes after arriving at
school Pauline was siezed with con-
vulsions. A physician was summon
ed and she was taken to the home
OF her grandmother, Mrs. Mary
Lackey. with whom the children
were staying since their parents had
separated. The schild died in about
two hours. I
The following day the child's
stomach was removed aud sent to
Lincoln for chemical analysis. The
report indicated that death had been
caused by strychnine poison. At
the preliminary trial it was brought
out that a bottle Of strychnine
had been kept in Mrs. Lackey's |
iouse for the purpose of killing rats
and that the bottle had been de-
stroyed shortly after the little girls
death
Made Candy Purchases
TESTIMONY also showed that Law
renee Lackey a day or two before
pauline's death had bought three
different kinds of candy at local |
tore and had asked for candy with !
,oft centers.
Several days after Pauline's death.
Lackey was arrested and charged |
with murder. At the preliminary
trial his bond was fixed at $1,000,
but he did not obtain bondsman
and has remained in the county jail
since his arrest Yesterday he was
arraigned in district court and en-
tered a plea of not guilty.
Lackey appeared in court today
clean shaven and neatly dressed. Be
lore the trial and at recess he walked
about the court room with his hands .
in his pockets. laughed and joked
with his attorneys and occasionally
whistled airs of popular songs. Sew
eral times he walked to the windows
and looked out in apparent thought
fulness, but beyond nervous
twitching of the lips and almost con-
slant moving about the room, he
showed no anxiety as to the outcome
of the trial
Jury Is Selected.
The entire day yesterday was oc-
cupied in selecting jury. Forty
nine talesmen were called and more
than 20 were disqualified among
those examined. because of having
previously formed all opinion in the
case.
A total of s. witnesses have been
summoned by the state, among
whom is John A. Gill, now serving
sentence in the state penitentiary for
forgery. He is expected to give sen-
sational testimony at the trial He
was brought back from Lincoln yes
terday by Sheriff Miller
~ All Witnesses Excluded.
At the opening of the trial today
ailswitnesses were excluded from. the
court room until called to testify
upon motion of Attorney William
Mitchell who, with his partner,
Harry Gantz. are conducting the de-
tense. Mitchell announced that the
defense probably would produce no
witnesses. County Attorney Bayse
is being assisted in the prosecution
by Attorney Eugene Burton. The
entire forenoon session today was
occupied with the testimony of
DIR. Einar Blak, who attended
the little girl at the time of her
death, and DR.. NJ. ]. Baskin, who
assisted Dr.. Blak in performing the
autopsy. Both testified that death
was caused by strychnine poisoning.
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