The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-07-08
Testimony Drags
in Higgins Trial;
Attorneys Wrangle
WITNESSES ESTlM ONY
DOES NOT AGREE ON
SOME POINTS.

macy spots and much superfuous mat
ter has been brought out during the
past week of the trial of Forrest Hig-
gins for the murder of Lucy Wittum.
Many delays and halts have been caused
by verbal battles between the opposing
attorneys which have at times become
personal. Judge Collins haq at numer-
GUS times, been forced to halt the
argument to speed up the trial, which
Is dragging badly at the present time.
That Higgins was writing to girl in
Iron Mountain, town in northern
Michigan, with the object of marrying
her. all the time he was going with
Lucy Wittum, was brought out last
Friday. He obtained the name of the
girl through a matrimonial agency.
Letters were read and quoted during
the trial in which Higgins told of his
home, occupation and stated that he
was ''honest aud could give the best of
references" He spoke affection stely of
his mother and his home life which he
said had always been of the best. That
Higgins was planning to marry the girl
he was writing to, seemed quite evi.
dent from the letters.
Both Higgins parents have testified
now, and added little of vslues to the
testi mopy yet given. The ruother told
of the events of the day following the
death Of Lucy, chiefly corroboratirg
statements made by her at previous
time. The father, displaying emotion
at various times in his testimony, told
Of his home life, his relations TO Forrest
and described the financial condition CT
the family. He also related some Of
the events of the days preceding and
following the death of Lucy.
Directly conflicting testimony was
rendered by Mrs. Ruth Vassil. sister of
Lucy, and Miss Mabele Merchant, girl
friend of Lucy ON the matter of the
mark on Lucy's forehead. Mrs. Vassil'
stated that she had helped Lucy with
her bath on the day of her death and
that she had not noticed either the mark
on her forehead or the mark Oh her
groin, which were found there after her
death. Miss Merchant testified that
she had noticed many times the mark
on Lucy's forehead and that she was
positive that it had been there for q
long time. The Significance of the
mark Is, that attorneys for the prosecu-
ton are attempting to show that Lucy
WAS held and, after a struggle, forced
to take the acid which caused her
de ath. The appearance of the various
mar ks on her body may, or may not be
constr ued to mean that there was
stru ggle, according to whichever side
maintains it's point regarding the prev
ious existence of the marks. There
W ere also prick marks on Lucy's left
arm.
Mrs Vassil also testified that when
Lucy and Higgins visited her home,
their relations were apparently those of
lovers, and that they were planning on
being married before long They were
very int mate, she said, and their dem
onstrations of affection were perfectly
frank and open.
Another point brought out in the
testimony OF Saturday was that Lucy
was left. handed in everything she did,
except writing. This would support
the possibility, at least, of Higgins
statement that he saw her with the
bottle to her lips and that she was
holding 1t in her left hand. He claims
he knocke. it from her hand and that
then che recovered 1t with her right
hand and drained the bottle.
Little had been added to the facts
air esdy brought out by the trial 80 far
this week. Emma, the younger sister
of Lucy Wiitum, was on the stand
Tuesday but proved that she was not of
high mental caliber, and that her un.
derstanding was decidedly not Of the
best. She was considered one of the
trump cards of the prosecution, but the
value Of her testimony seems to be
more or less dubious now. SO far she
has adde. little to the knowledge al.
ready obtained concerning The case.
Wednesday The most important event
of the day was the admittsncs by the
defense that higgins "as at the scene
of Lucy's death. The testimony OF
Mabel Merchant was heard on that
day, and several arguments over her
so.called abuse by the Wittum family
otter her testimony were staged by the
attorneys. Thursday the attorneys oc.
cupied much of the time In wrangling.
but new fact was brought out when
under sheriff Pardee stated that state
holiceman bad been in Higgins cell for
four deys in an attempt to gain the
confidence Of the prisoner.