The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-14

Il come here voluntarily to
tell the jury that Kepner
made false accusations" she
said.
She further contradicted
the previous witnesses who
testified that Mrs. Kepner
was melancholy before her
DEATH. a reason which has
been advanced for the theory
that Mrs. Kepner committed
suicide.
Put Poison In Room.
Miss Eleanor Houck, sister of
the dead woman, told the jury
that she did not believe it pos
sible for her sister to have killed
herself. She accused Kepne- of
| putting razor. revolver, and
| poison in his wife's room, there
BY furnishing means by which
Mrs. Kepner might kill herself.
She related in detail her diff
ferences with Kepner who she
declared deceived her sister"
Addie Tyler, colored maid at the
Houck estate, where Mrs. Kepner
met her death, told the jury that
at Kepner's direction she burned
Mrs, Kepner's clothing and the bed
linen on which the dead woman
was lying when found. She said
| that although she was in the house
at the time of the death, she did
not hear any shots.
Complained Of Nagging.
Ezra Houck, jr., brother of Mrs.
Kepner, related how Mr.. Kepner
told him and others in the house
that his wife had committed sui
eide. He declared emphatically that
no one but Kepner himself spread
the rumor or gave out reports
that the dead woman took her
own life.
Miss Lulu Ricketts,, the pretty
Frederick waitress with whom KEEP.
ner has been keeping company dur
the past nine months. denied to
the jury that she had any i'm
proper relations with Kepner. She
said that Kepner has given her
about $500 within the last nine
InOnIAS anu IudL no HAS SuOWSASu
her with flowers, jewelry, and
lingerie.
She says that several times he
asked her to make trips with him
to Texas, and further declared
that he continually complained OF
| being nagged at home.
Practically the entire session this
morning was devoted to hearing the
testimony Of members Of the
wealthy and aristocratic Houck
family. Many of their statements
contradicted the story told by Keep
ner on the stand yesterday. All Of
them declared that 1t was unthink.
able that their relative. Grace KEEP
ner, had taken her own life.
Ezra Houck, ST., was the first
witness to take the stand. Houck,
father Of the dead woman, and
himself eighty-four years old. told
Of Kepner's coming home at S:45
on the afternoon the body was
founde He said his son-in-law went
upstairs and returned ten minutes
later, calling out: "Grace is dead"
Together the two men rushed up
stairs to where the body lay.
The next witness called was Miss
s. Elizabeth Houck, sister of Mrs.
Kepner. She paid high tribute to
Kepner and said that he had always
got along well with his wife.
He has told me several times that
Grace nagged him about money mat
ters, He said that at times he could
not sleep with his wife continually
worrying him."
Feared to Make Trouble.
One Of the star witnesses Of the
day, Miss Eleanor Houck. another
sister, who Kepner yesterday told
the coronerAs Jury was tone Of the
Vilest women In the world. Her
story follows:
st always thought good deal
of Mr.. Kepner up until year ago.
when I found out he was deceiving
my sister and running around with
othef women. I didn't want to
tell my sister about it and start
a lot Of trouble. I could not. how.
ever, continue to treat him in the
manner / had been and began
to be cool toward him. I spoke to
=. ~ d.