New-York tribune., 1922-10-14
Ga Nun Letters
Heavy Blow TO
Mrs. CibersOll
State Reads a Plea From,
Wife of Enginecr TO
Leave Husband Alone
and a Threat of Suit
Attack on Alleged Slayer 10
Applauded; Defense Not
Ready, ColsrE Adjourns
s'rosn q ssor Correspondent


quick and domineering personality,
Mrs. Ivy Richmond Giberson is almost
sphinxiike as she gathers all her
forces for the time next week when
she will take the stand to defend her
self on the charge Of having murdered
her husband, William r. Giberson, au-
tomobiie liveryman, at their home, in
Lakehurst, on August IL.
To-day the state concluded the pre-
sentation Of it's case. The defense was
not prepared to begin, 80 the court or
dered an early adjournment until Mon
day morning. Blow after blow was
dealt Mrs. Gibsrson's case as letters
addressed to her by Harold "A. Ga Nun,
an electrical engineer living at 1l0s
Hoe Avenue, the Bronx, and his wife,
were introduced in evidence. An enc
tional climax swept the courtroom
when Prosecuting Attorney WilfYed II.
Jayne ir. read two letters from Mrs.
Ga Nun, the first begging Mrs. Giher-
son to sleave her husband alone," the
second threatening to cue her for
alienation Of affections.
You are disgrace to womanhood."
The words drifted over the court
room. AS their sting was felt there
came an involuntary burst Of applause,
suppressed almost before it began. In
the background sat Mrs. Ga Nun, the
author of the charge. Her cheeks were
pink with excitement as he read. She
leaned forward, her gray hair escaping
from under her rust colored duvetyn
hat. Although young, aAe is prema-
turely gray. There was genuine sym
pathy in the look she cast ct her hus-
band. who was literally writhing on the
witness stand.
Ga Nun Hears Own Story
1t was trying morning for the
handsome and smooth-spoken Mr.. Ga
Nun. II, addition TO hearing his wife's
defense of him--she admitted he was
susceptible to hattery, but morally
respondence with Mrs. Giberson be-
tween June, 1921, and August, 1899. AL
though the letters were carefully word
ed, they had bald and foolish ring
the Eager spectators we're quick to
catch. They laughed and Mfr. Ga Nun
flushed uncomfortably in his chair.
There was rapid change Of mood
when the mother of the murdered man
took the stand. Her name wac Martha,
she said quite simply, and her age
sixty-nine years. She had seen the de-
fendant a month before the murder,
she testified, and on that occasion she
quoted her daughter-in-law as saying
that "there Is no justice In Toms
River. Any one could murder and got
clear"
Whatever her emotions all through
the Somber and sometimes ridiculous
proceedings of the day, Mrs. Giberscn
was poised and defiant figure. She
scarcely invites the pity Of the crowd
that gathers to watch woman fight
for her life. She is not the yelled, sod
den figure that women defendants
charged with murder usually are. Her
demeanor 20 like crystal, cool and hard.
seemingly immune from shock or i'm
preston. Sitting with her back to the
morbid gallery, all her attention To-
cussed on the witnesses, she has an ad-
mirablc grip on herself and her ease.
Although surrounded by four clever
lawyers, she handles tho papers, makes
numerous suggestions and is on the
alert at every point. Entering and
leaving the court, she walks with a
quick, self-conscious stride, her head
thrown back at defiant angle, her
eyes cooily levelled at spectators.
He Destroyed Her Letters
All the letters addressed to Mrs,
Gibefson by Ga Nun began "My dear
friend" and ended always Sincerely
ne admitted, rather shamsfscedly.
that they were his and that some Of
tnem were addressed in care of his
sister, because his wife would not
understand that they were merely
,iaends, .;0 .. In one Of them helaeseribed
ms 8. w'ia I as q ",nagsing person
the letters written to him hv Ms
ehberson. He admitted that she man
yoree ssssAnS W.
=, me iirst of tho letters addre ssed 10
.nss, @ uinerson by Mrs. Ga Nun. which
haae such q stir in court, was datad
AugSse l., 1921, and read az fo1lnws.
At MT Ga Nuns request I'm writing
w ask thac you stop trying to COM
thhuhicase ,h with him. He has confessed
thor,,I tho whoie :, miserable thing to me,
Lrn,sr :. was unnecessary, for have
were down there. I refrainad '4,.rss gras, .
any action because felt Il he really %
cared Tor me and for our little ons ~
ne mad always declared. that s,ss~s,s as
.hihR would turn out all right. and if
ne did not. then there was no uss -
! 1ny nothefing.
out perhaps my strongest feel;np
was gath in his wholesoYnene snS
amorality. Harold Is susceptihle -
ii1attery' but he is not n,oraiIv weaL
ne says he felt sorry for YOU In va,,r
trouble and liked you as a rood -ha.rtsa
woman and that is all; that il he avsr
dreamed OF turning from me YOU worid
not be his type. sN "o11u
inrough mistakes of both each of
~ asi. .hat the other had ceassd TO
ssa,t .arg, eus AZ as he has told you, h.
49, 70 SEND mo money, /, on thu
ssuea nana, saved il for him in Joint
accepted the money and layishAa ays T.
upon myself and friends, but I asn;.a
myself many things (and he viii, sdraif
thls ~ ne is .truthfuD in order tn n,st
earnings in the bank. s1s
didn't, what would we hara
done when he returned from Lakehmrst
without q position? He was home Ava
weeks without position, and ali the
time your ambassadors were phoning
Tor news Of him he was here with n
be had told you that he was roinr
away Just to stop your attentions. You
had almost succeeded 10 parting ms.
as ! was tired of waiting FOR him ID
tell me and he waa afraid to tell FOR
fear would not understand. Finally.
be got UP courage after writing You
his last letter, and told me the whole
fhlng and nsked me to write.
- dont feel from what Harold says
that yeu are a bad woman and, in a
way, | am sorry for you. but you are
dishonorable. end that 10 shame
enough. That you should stoop 60 low
AS To 4y-y "A infn tnatA a xrar rrk& d.