The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-22
  OF INSANITY Breakdown Brings Sud- den Halt To Murder
 Trial ANOTHER WOMAN"
 FIGURES IN CASE s"That D-m Woman Shot
 Me-" Lieutensnt's
 Dying Words COURT CROWDED
 AS TRIAL OPENS Pretty Widow Testifies That Husband Left Her
 Without Support
COURT CROWDED
 AS TRIAL OPENS
(Anniston Bureau

ANNISTON, Ala, May 21.--Col- lcrsn or the witness stand of Mrs. Evelyn Sue Rickner, pretty widow or Lieut.. James C. Rickner, who went on trial in federal court here today charged with staying her hus- band at Camp Mcclellan last June, furnished the sensation of the first days hearing of the case.
 Mrs. Rickner tainted after hav- ing been on the witness stand for almost two hours while being ex- arnined by Neil P. Sterne, counsel for the defense. Judge Clayton ad- journed the case until 9 o'clock to- morrow morning immediately after Mrs. Rickner's breakdown,
 Attorneys for Mrs. Rickner en- tered plea of not guilty by req son of insanity.
 Big Crowd Present
 The large crowd was being held spell bound by the recital of the many dis dressing events in the married life of the young widow when the fainting oe- cured. Mrs. Rickner was telling of the events of, the evening before the killing and how she felt when she was ordered by her hRsbana to leave when She SeeminHlN bqttiile overcome hy emo ton and eIntchins hef hands neFvauss ly to her breast emitted T low gasp and tainted. She wpnld have fallen from the witness chair had 1t not been for spectators standing nearby who rushed to her aid.
 The effect of the immense crowd was electrical but good order was main tained and Dr. A. H. Steele, physician in the court room rendered first aid. Judge Clayton ordered the jury to re. tire first, and then ordered the crowd to file out slowly. None of the curious were allowed to stop and gaze upon the body of the unconscious young lady which lay directly in front of the wit ness chair. Mrs. Rickner was rushed to local hospital, where she is said to be suffering from a serious nervous breakdown. It is not known whether she will be able to appear at, the trial Thursday.
 Judge Clayton called the Rickner case at II o'clock Wednesday morning fol- lowing the organization of grand jury and the sounding of a docket. No time was lost in starting the case and a jury was selected before adjourn ment for lunch, which came at 12 :30 o'clock.
 Insanity Claimed
 When court reccnvened at 2 o'clock Assistant District Attorney James c. Smith read the indictment to Mrs. Rickner and Neil F. Sterne, one of the . attOrneSs for the defense, put in plea of. not guilty by reason of insanity at the time the act was committed,
 The first witnesses called by the state testified as to the purchase of Camp McClelland by the United States government and as to- the location of barracks No. 2102, in which the fatal shooting took place. The first witness was Lieut., R: T. Foster. who was fol lowed by W. ID. Box, a Calhoun county farmer, who gave testimony as to the sale of the land
 Captain Charles F. Craig of the Enited States army testified having seea Rickner immediately after having been shot. Captain Craig testified he had been sitting in Rickner's. room in the barracks reading magazine and playing phonograph when Mrs. Rich- ner came to the door and asked for her husband. He stated that Lieutenant Rickner was in the bathroom at fine time giving his little daughter a glass of water and that he went to hime ana stated his wife, wanted him in the room. A few, seconds after Rickner left the 'athroom, Captain Craig stated he heard shot and rushing to the front of tho
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