The Washington times., 1923-07-14


ways had looked upon them as q
happy and loving couple.
"'welI, there 10 no love between
US now Evard told me-"
Miss Houck also told Of another
conversation. this one with Mrs.
Kepner. She testified that her
sister told her 81 am no good to
anybody" She said that her sister
was constantly tnquir1ng whether
anybody loved her. These converse
tons took place q short time after
the dead woman had undergone a
very serious operation in a local
hospital.
The day Mrs. Kspner's body was
found, Mrs. Houcl told the corof,sf's
jury, her sister wAs unusually care
full and went about her domestic
duties, which were few. in 4 very
happy manner.
az last saw my sister alive about
1885," she related. MY other sister
and I left the house to 50 TO Hood
College. Grace waved a& US and
wished as a happy ana pleasant
trip" 1884,.
Ezra Houck, father Of the dead
woman, in q firm BOT weak voice,
told the fury that Kepner came
home on that afternoon about a
quarter Of and went upstairs.
He had been upstairs about ten
minutes and came down and told
me Grace had shot herself. went
up and found her dead"
Witnesses at the inquest resumed
in the court house here today are
expected to oppose their own
stories Of the shooting against the
one which Kepner, weeping, told
the jury yesterday in attempting 10
prove his innocence Of completely
in the deed.
The outcome of the inquiry de-
ponds entirely upon the testimony
taken today. A verdict IL expected
before niShtfau.
Mas Houck's story 70 one Of long
smouIdertng enmity. which famed
into q climax yesterday when Keep
ner blamed her for driving hts wife
to take her own life.
Miss Lulu v. Ricketts,. pretty
Frederick waitress, recipient OF
Kepner's gifts and attention for the
past year, has stated that she win
tell the jury that she had no I'm.
proper relations with the married
man. It Ia said that Miss Ricketts,
will supply certain interesting de-
tails which Kepner may have over
looked in hts story to the Jury yes
terday.
One of the most important wit
a. -
Kahler, OF Baltimore, who has in
vestigated the case. His testimony
10 believed to be Of a surprising
nature and probably will consider
ably influence the jury in its de-
| cision.
Seeks Kepner'S Letters.
The State today pressed the
search for letters Kepner is said tc
have written to Miss Ricketts, In
the year Of their companionship
The significance OF fho Ietterz
Hes in the fact that, according &c
authorities, Miss Ricketts, told tE1eni
the missfves were affectionately
worded. She has denied that she
loved Kepner, and in his testimony
yesterday, he said he did not love
her.
Miss Ricketts, has said that she
has destroyed the letters, but State
Attorney Aaron r. Anders is not sat
isfied that they are unavailable. II
the letters are discovered at the last
minute, and are found TO confirm
Miss Ricketts, statement as to their
] general content and tenor, they viii
/ prove an important link in the chair
OF circumstAntial evidence which
the State hopes to forge to solve thu
mystery.
Leo Weinberg. Kepner's attorney
will strive today to show, through
cross Questioning members of tn,
Houck family, that Mrs. Kepner sur
Tered from nelancholia and this ali
ment, aggravated by unpleasant
home conditions, caused her to corn
NIT suicide. Weinberes suicide the
DRY is not accepted By investigators
although he has maintained thus faJ
that he can prove hts contention