The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1926-08-12
PROSECUTOR IN
MURDER TRIAL
WINS HIS POINT
Relationship Between Father
and Daughter Being
Brought Out.

SEATTLE, Aug. Iz.-Late yester-
day afternoons Superior Court Judge
Robert NJ. Jones ruled that evidence
by which the prosecution declared
it would show efforts of Miss Sylvia
Gaines to terminate the strange
unnatural relationship with her
father, and which is alleged to have
been the cause for the murder,
would be allowed. This was after
Mrs. Olive Memmer, Bob Gaines
neighbor, testified regarding an
incident in the home life of Sylvia
and her father.
Evidence ,Creeps In
Concerning Mrs. Wallace C.
Gaines attempt at suicide, Mrs.
Memmer testified that it was on a
Sunday that | saw Bob standing
near the cellar entrance. Bob said
his wife had tried to bump herself
off. Bob and Sylvia were there.
Mrs. Gaines was on a bed, appar-
emily unconscious.
Sylvia said she could not stand
it any longer and was going to
leave with her father They had
their grips packed ready to go.
hit me. III be good TO her
Bob said she was just rayng'. d"
Judges Ruling
The court then ruled that the re
lationship" evidence would be al
lowed
Following the ruling of Judge
Jones, Robert S. Macfarlane, one
of Gaines counsel, asked the court;
Are we to understand that casual
connection has now been established
between the defendants relations
with the deceased and the murder?"
The court said: Yes"
Were Prepared to Leave
George Memmer, Mrs. Olive Mem
mer's husband, testified that Bob
Gaines and Miss Sylvia Gaines had
prepared to leave the residence and
live elsewhere when Mrs Gaines
tried to commit suicide last Novem-
Der.
Memmer said after Sylvia was
killed. Gaines declared he knew who
slew her Memmer said: Gaines
said something about prison bars.
could not quite make it out"
Memmer swore that Gaines chang
ed clothing between $50 O'Clock
and 1870 O'Clock on the night of
the murder. Memmer said Gaines
told me that he and Sylvia intended
getting an apartment downtown
when his wife came home"
In Night Attire
Mrs. Memmer, in further testi-
mony, said she saw Gaines one day,
peak out from the front window
and did not answer the door when
visitors called.
Il cannot remember whether he
wore a bathrobe or not. Sylvia was
wearing a silk night gown and
peaked out of the window also
They finally unlocked the door when
| called and | went in. Sylvia re-
arranged the covers mussed pillows
on the living room COUCH" said
Mrs. Memmer.
The day after Mrs. Gaines shot
herself, Mrs. Memmer said Gaines
remarked that ''he was not sleep
ing with Bessie, but was sleeping
With Sylvia
Spectators Barred
Judge Jones barred spectators yes
terday for the rest of the trial ex-
planning this was to keep the at
mosphere fresh for the jurors.
Colvin's Statement
Prosecuting Attorney Colvin said
in explaining testimony Of witness
es, that fathers have killed their
daughters before but under entirely
different circumstances. The State
has shown the man was dissolute
ma wouldn't he think Sylvia would
tell her mother, whom he deserted. y
Tells of Arrest
Patrolman Davis testified he once
arrested Gaines and Sylvia in a
Seattle park, sitting in an un-
lighted auto at l o'clock in the
| morning. Gaines talked about
Sylvia. | did not believe she was
his daughter. | did not think any
father would have his daughter