Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-29
STORY Of NE:LMS
MYSTERY REVIVED
III TRIAL Of |NNES

The story OF the disappearance vi
the Nelms sisters alOmst ten years
ago-one of the battling cases in
the history of the American courts
was revived Tuesday in the fed
cral court during the trial of Victor
f. lines, alleged principal in their
who is facing a
charge of using the mails to de-
fraud.
The charge grows out of lines
alleged misrepresentation of funds
belonging to Mrs. Eloise helms
Dennis after he had induced her to
intrust him with the money for in
vestment.
Marshall Nelms, brother of the
two young women who dropped out
of sight so mysteriously in San An
tonic, Tex, in 1914, and the only
surviving member of the immediate
family, took the witness stand
Tuesday and related the whole
story of his sisters disappearance.
judge S.bley, after considerable ar
gument by counsel. refused to admi.
as evidence the transcript of evI
dence in the larceny after trust case
in the state courts. in which Innes
was convicted.
Counsel for Times objected siren
uously to the testimony of Mr..
Nelms regarding the disappearance
of his sisters. contending that 10
rehearse the case would prejudice
lines rights with the jury, and
also insisting that such testimony
was immaterial and irrelevant.
Judge Samuel H. Sibley, however,
overruled these objections and ad-
mitted the testimony, holding that
it was permissible to show that one
of the women who disappeared was
alleged to be the victim of lines
operations.
Quotes Endearing Note
Mr.. Nelms quoted from memory
portions of a letter he said he saw
in the hands of Mrs. Dennis. This
letter. he said, was written in Car
son City, New, June /, 1913. and
was signed by Innes. 1t contained
endearing expressions, he said, and
advice to intrust him with certain
sums of money for investment. The
letter was lost, according to Mr..
NeIms, when the helms home was
visited by burglars some years ago,
and a number of valuable papers
taken.
The witness also said he last
heard Of his sisters in 1914 when
he received a letter from Beatrice
saying she and Mrs. Dennis were to
meet Innes in San Antonio, receive
some deeds to properties Mrs. Den
mis- had purchased through him,
and Mrs Dennis was to marry him
Mr.. Nelms was subjected to strict
cross examination by the defense,
but did not vary his testimony I'M
der fire.
A feature of the trial is the pres
ence of Mrs. Viola Sickles Innes,
first wife of InneS, who has been
subpoenaed by the government. She
arrived in Atlanta Il day or two ago,
and Monday afternoon talked with
her former husband in the court
room. She was one of the important
witnesses against 1nnes when he
was convicted in the state courts of
larceny after trust and sentenced
to serve seven years in prison.
Judge Sibley adjourned court at
2 .. M, until 9:15 o'clock Wednesday
morning. At the time Of adjourn
ment, Marshal helms was still being
cross examined by the defense at
torneys who were trying to shake
his testimony by comparing it with
the transcript of his testimony in
the state case against. Innes.
Nelms also was closely questioned
as TO his ability to identity the hand
writing of the defendant. z