New-York tribune., 1922-09-26
Story of Slain
Girls Flight
Thrills Court
Woman Principal Tells of
Edith Lavoy Hiding FROM
Greasy in Shrubbery Day
Before She Met Death
Efforts of Defense Counsel
To- Check Dramatic Out
burst at Trial a Failure

/ Edna M. Shoemaker, principal of
( Grove Street School. Freeport, l.. l.,
/ testifying yesterday in the trial before
+ Judge Lewis j, Smith at Mneola Of
/ William NJ, Greasy for the death Of
Edith Lavoy, teacher in the school,
brought courtroom spectators to their
feet with a dramatic recital of Miss
Lavoy's efforts by hiding in shrub
/ berries and crouching in doorways to
! eyade Greasy on the day before the
! tragedy.
Miss Shoemaker told of her efforts
way because she was aware that the
/ young woman feared him. In relating
how Miss Lsvoy had brought her an
automatic pistol left behind by Greasy
on previous visit to Freeport, she
extended her hands palms up and
stared at an imaginary pistol with dis
tended eyes. This, she said, had been
the maner of Miss Lavoy.
Re-enacts Death Scene
When asked to describe the demean-
or Of Greasy az she observed it in
Miss Lavoy's apartment an hour after
the young woman's death, Miss Shoe
maker swayed in her chair, hid her
face in her hands and moaned realistic
ally.
''My Godl" she screamed ooh, my
Cod Edith, why did you do it?
loved youl loved you! l loved you! j"
Attorney Uterhart, the defendants
counsel drove to denounce the witness
dramatic display but was overruled.
Miss Shoemakcr's story caused many
women TO weep, She was interrupted
momentarily by objections from Crea~
sy's lawyers and subjected to severe
DISCRIMINATION, but replied to Mr..
Uterhart's satircal questioning with
even more satirical replies,
Creasy's demonstrations of grief the
witness said irritated her, because of
her familiarity with the situation pre-
ceeding the young woman's death.
Pointing to the defendant, she ex-
claimed:
IL told him he was TO blame and
urged him to be man if he knew how.
For the time being his loud outcries
subsidized, but they soon we're resumed
Gives Vacation Plans
Miss Maude f. Lockerby, a teacher
| in the same school and an intimate as
sociate of Miss Lavoy, testified to plans
made by her and the dead girl to go to
their homes when school closed. Miss
Lockerby said these plans called for
their departing the last week in June
on a boat for Albany From that point,
Miss Lockerby declared, Miss Lavoy
had planned to visit friends in Glovers-
vile, N. y, for one week before pro-
ceeding to the home of her parents, at
Tupper Lake. The witness had never
known Miss Lavoy to speak of suicide
or suggest that she was tired of living
On the contrary, she had been antici-
pating her visit home, planning for it
enthusiastically
Captain William A. Jones, former in
structor IN pistol practice of the New
York City Police Department, was ques-
toned more than two hours as to the
mechanism of the automatic pistol with
/ which the dead girl is said to have been
| shot. Through his cross examination
| 1t was revealed that Greasy possessed
photographs of thirty young women.
! When has belongings were searched
| after he had been arrested on the night
| of June 23 a notebook was also found
IN which the state charges were names
and addresses of girls in many parts Of
the country. 1t is said several girls,
originals Of photos in the collection,
! will be called to testify.
Ndlhue! bIcln, an attorney or Hunt
ington, W., testified to having brought
suit for divorce against Greasy at the
request Of Mrs. Greasy. He told OF
several visits to his Office by Greasy
after Mrs. Greasy had been granted an
/ interlocutory decree. Greasy wanted
to know, the lawyer said whether he
could legally remarry. He was in
formed that any marriage he might
contract would be illegal anywhere in
the United States.
The states case will be concluded to-
day The defense will open late this
afternoon or early tomorrow.