New-York tribune., 1922-09-28
Greasy Swears
He Did Not Kill
School Teacher
Kentuckian Tcssifies He
First Received Letters
Fro,nEdithL Through
"A Matrimonial Agency
Former Smitor of Girl Is
Put Out for AppIauding,
SPECTATOR Break Loose

william VI. Greasy, of Fort Thomas,
KY, on the witness stand yesterday in
his trial before County Judge Smith, at
MSheola, for the alleged staying of his
sweetheart, Edith Lavoy, Freeport
school teacher, shouted his reply when
he was asked by Henry A. Uterhart, of
counsel for the defense, whe~her he
had shot her.
Il did net Kill her." was Creasy'ss
answer He thrust out his chin and
faced the jury as he made this deciara-
tion of innocence.
For the remainder of the day Greasy
identified one by one letters he re-
ceiyed from Miss Lavoy, beg nning with
@ letter written in March, 1870, IN
which the young woman said she had
been furnished his name and descrlp-
tion by a matrimonial agency and m
vited him to open spondence.
More than $50 letters written by MISS
Lavoy TO Greasy between that time ana
May, 1922, are to be put in evidence
By the defense. Greasy Identified forty
before court adjourned.
Later in the afternoon George DaW-
son, former suitor Of Miss Lavoy'
was elected from the court a-ter ne
had epplauded ar Uterhart's reading
Of letter by Miss Lavoy, in which
she referred to trip taken by Davi-
son and herself when they visited the
kissing bridge" Dawson was clapping
His hands when the court officer selZed
and dragged him from his seat. Ihe
Young man was led away in vlsibly
agitsted state. Perspiration poured
down his face and ne struggled to ad-
dress the court. Later Dawson said he
forgot momentarily where he was.
Greasy took the STAND following SEN
gational charges against the prosecu-
tion made by Mr. Uterhart in opening
the defense. Pointing to Assistant Dlse
trict Attorney Elvin M. EDWARDS,
Creasy's lawyer declared the assistant
prosecutor was animated in his conduct
Of the case by personal motives. Miss
avoy. UteIhart said, had been close
friend of Mr.. Edwards ard an intimate
associate of his famil She had been
q constant visitor at the Edwards home
and frequently accompanied the family
to places of entertainment.
Uterl art further charged that the
letter alleged to have been written by
Miss Lavoy 20 Greasy in which ap-
reared the sentence: You would not
want a wife who did not love you,"
was fotgery. He charged the letter
had never been written Ly Miss Lavoy
Hul 0GO DGPH EOOkSu up LO DOISLGI
the state case, of which it would fur
nish the keystone. but for "a fortunate
circumstance which would permit the
defense to prove it forged
Another striking episode in the days
proceedings came when Dr., William H.
Puncie, OF Freeport, was testifying for
the defense. DR.. Runc.e's testimony
was at variance with statements by
Mrs. Ella Sheldon and others to the
effect that Miss Lavoy's body was
moved after death and adjusted in
position to make it appear she had shot
herself. DR.. Runcie swore the body
was not moved except in such slight
degree as might have been necessary
for an examination of the head wound
made by him and DR.. j. A. Newton i'm
mediately after death.
The declaration caused an extraordi-
nary demonstration. Spectators shouted
approval and clapped loudly. District
Attorney Weeks demanded clearing of
the court. He said it had been packed
in the defendants interest and char
acteri2ed the outburst as the most out
raReous ever witnessed in a law court
during trial of criminal case.
Mr.. Uterhart contended in his pres
sntation of the case for Greasy that
Miss Lavoy had objected to his break
ing off the engagement to wed her.
There was no doubt he said, the young
woman killed herself in fit of de-
epordency because of the broken en-
gagement. In denying that Greasy was
responsible for the girls death, he
poilted TO the absence of any motive
for sucn a crime.
A night session will be held to-day
in an effort to conclude the trial this
week. 1t is believed the case VIII be in
the jury's hands by late tomorrow.