Bisbee daily review., 1921-10-26
MRS. SOUTHARD
DENIES CHARGE
Staying MEYER
Appears Bright and Cheerful
= On Witness Stand During
Grilling Examination

TWIN FALLS, Idaho, Oct. 20. De
nying prdactically every allegation
contained in the testimony previous
witnesses with respect to conversa-
lions between these and the defend
ant, Mrs. LYDIA Meyer Southland, al
legged slayer of Edward +. Meyer,
spent the greater part of the day to-
day on the witness stand on both di-
rect and cross examination.
Mrs. Southland appeared brighter
and more cheerful after her days
grilling than has been the case in
some time past. She chatted breeZiIy
with her attorney, exchanged word
or two with newspaper men, and COM
ported herself on the whole as one
freed suddenly of restraint.
Her replies to questions were adj
dressed directly to the jury in whose
direction her gaze was .c--r most I'll
the time. Her answers for the most
part were quick and voluble. Only
occasionally did she glance in the Ill
rectiCn OF her attorneys on hesitate
before speaking.
Did Rot Urge Insurance
Mrs. Southland admitted That she
knew Edward +. Me- er owned 20
acres OF land. She did not urge him
to make will, however, and never
discussed with him the matter of life
insurance. She denied that she had
ever SAID she knew or believed that
; Meyer could not recover from his
| final illness, or that she :lou ni.ue use
of the words attributed to her by
! former witnesses with respect to the
l.. So ,nrfn on IL
! of Meyer, to-wit: go aneaG and cut
him all to pieces if you want to-.
| Cross examination OF the witness
! was constantly interrupted by objec-
lions on the part of attorneys for the
! defense, the most frequent objections
being on the ground that such exami-
nation was not being kept within the
record of the case. Practically all
were overruled by the court.
Admits Buying Poison
| Purchase of the poisonous insect
exterminator was admitted by Mrs
Southland and two packages placed by
! her as the amount she bought. Asked
as to whether she remembered the
testimony of the clerk who waited
upon her to the effect that her pu;'
chase was of several times this
amount, she declared that the clerk
was mistaken. She declared that she
had no recollection of the clerk say
ing to her Good gracious woman
what are you going to do with it all?
or her reply to the erect that she
intended taking it to a. ranch in the
canyon, all of which was contained
in the testimony of the clerk as q
witness for the state.
Mrs. Southland testified to the effec
that she, too, was taken sick shortly
before Meyers first attack in his fl
nal illness and that ooIn Wee SlcB
at the same time. Her sickness, she
said, resembled that of Meyer and
lasted until after her husbands death
The symptoms, she said, were SINH
lar to those of her husband although
she did not suffer as much
Statements Are Denied
The witness denied having ever
said in response to a suggestion thai
she call doctor, during her husband
illness, Well, l will call a doctor
Their they can't have entthing &c
say" or that she ,,ver told Mrs. Car
RE Howe, the ranch boarding house
keeper, following the death of Meyer
that she would like to have Mrs
Howe as a witness IN event of trou
BILE over the death.
i Meyer. the witness asserted, was
!, not in good health for some time priol
to her marriage to him, In July o.
last year, the two went to Salt Lake
City in car and Meyer was too il
to drive. the witness doing the driv
ing herself
On only one occasion during Mey
er's stay at the hospital in which h,
=. died did she ever offer him food o.
water. she declared. This was on thu
day after his arrival as patient.