Evening star., 1931-12-09
POWERS, ON STAND,
BLAMES TWO MEN
~TWo Other Fellows" Killed
Women in Torture Chamber,
He Tells Jury.
~ the Associated Press.

mass murders charged 10 MN, by
placing the blame on two other fel-
lows
Still chewing gum, but with, much
grimmer expression than he wore dur
ing the other two days of his trial, the
so-cslled matrimonial merchant" took
the stand in his own defense after the
State had rested.
He recounted In detail his relation
ship with Mrs. Dorothy Presler Lerake,
Northboro, Mass, divorcee, for whose
killing he is on trial.
Failed TO Find Men.
The two mysterious strangers he
named were Charles Rogers and Cecil
johnson, He admitted long search
had failed to disclose any trace of them.
Rogers, he said, introduced Mrs.
Lemke TO him, had key to the win
dowless garage with subterranean
chambers, where, the State contends,
the crimes took place, and was fire.
ouent visitor at the garage.
johnson. he testified with a hurt
tone, stole" Mrs. Lemke from him. He
and his mail order sweetheart were on
an automobile trip and when they
ic&tLCQ OillO43b0Wll, SllC Ndil43llC1y
he said He told Of, finding her with
johnson later that day and leaving
them together That was the last he
ever saw of her, he claimed.
Left Suit Cases In Car.
Mrs. Lemke left three suit cases in
his car, Powers said, when she deserted
him in Uniontown. He took them
home a tr..
He was handed the eharred pieces Of
Mrs. Lemke's bank book, found among
ashes near the Quiet Dell Garage. He
said he never had seen the book be-
fore.
In describing his garage, Powers said
the basement was entirely underground,
that 1t had four rooms and could be
entered only by a trapdoor.
Powers identified the two checks on
Worcester banks introduced yesterday
bearing the Endorsements Of A. r.
Weaver and Mrs. Lemke. He said the
one he cashed was for .s1,533.oi.
@. Why did you indorse them with
the name OF Weaver. ,s.
A. 1t sswas Johnson's. suggestion. I
didn't want to be responsible
G. DID Johnson advance the money
on the s2,754 check.
A. Yes, -,.s.tt s-y -.4.a
Q. DID you ever see Mrs ibemke aiter
that time. @ +
A No. have not seen her since.
@. What happened to the trunks after
You put them in the garage?''
A. went TO Chicago on August IL
and returned on August 49, When I got
back at the garage found the con-
tents of trunks on the door. ] had to
draw my conclusions as TO who did it.
! decided that place WASN'T safe for the
things. had been told about that
neighborhod-that twas suspicious. Sc
] took the things home.
On August "a, he testified, he went
to Detroit and returned several days
later.
Q. Did you see the local paper when
you came back?
A. Yes, read that c. O. Pierson wa.
wanted by Park Ridge. III. police.
couldn't figure It out. sfknew it was
for me. went home. My wife said
the police wanted nae. said was
going over TO ask the police what they
wanted, but Carl Southern, the detec-
tive, came and arrested me.
c. Have you ever tried to find Rogers
or Johnson since your arrest?
A. / gave ofncers all the information
could.
Q. Did you ever receive letters from
Rogers?
A. Several. ..-....-
Testimony Summarized.
Tn. parade Of State witnesses in
ciuoed.
Two express men who testified they
had delivered Mrs. Lemke's trunks TO
Powers.
Two oil workers and a gas company
employe who told Of seeing him dig
ging grave.
Two photographers who identified
pictures of Powers and Mrs. Lemke
taken from camera confiscated at the
Powers home.
A contractor who built the Quiet Del
garage and told of the sharp watch
Powers maintained while trap doors and
gas pipes were being put in.
Two farmers who described how they
had dug up the five bodies.
An officer who produced Mrs Lemke',
charred check book, found in the ashes
Of bonfire near the death house
Two hotel employees, who said Mrs
Lenlke was brought to q Clarksburs
hotel by Powers, spent night there and
then vanished, never to be seen alive
again.
Three employees of the Second Ma
tonal Bank of Uniontown. Pa-E. I
Kemper, Wallace H. Teets and William
H. Fike-who told Of cashing two checks
for Powers, whom they knew as A. r
Weaver, one Of the checks made out on
the Worcester (Mass) County Institu-
ton for Savings to Mrs. Dorothy Lemke
for $2,754.22 and the other on the wor-
cester Mechanics Savings Bank 10 Mrs
Dorothy Pressler for sl,533.0l.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Flemming
brother-tn-law and sister of Mrs. Lerf1ke
also told how they found a picture OF
Cornelius o. Pierson" on the divorcee's
dresser.
Said He Had = Ranch.
I'VE are going TO get married" Mrs.
Flemmfns quoted her sister as having
Esid
"Ee has q big ranch at Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, and is going to give me every
thing my heart desires"
The Massachusetts, couple, still show
ing signs Of grief, told how "Pierson''
had arrived at their home with Mrs
Lenlke. talked proudly of his ranch and
his plans for the prospective bride and
then drove of with her the next day
Both sought to avoid the cold stare
Of Powers. but when they were re-
Quired TO identify him, Mrs. Flemming
looked him in the eye for full min
Ute before speaking, then said:
"That-is-the-man
Around Mrs Fleming, as she sat or
the stand, were bundles of her sister.
possessions which she identified with
occasional sobs. They were coats
dresses, shoes, camera, an umbrella
photographs and checks.
Saeater Is Crowded.
AS the grief-stricken woman left tht
stage of the opera house where tn,
trial is being held she gave Power;
cold star and then buried her fac'
in q handkerchief.
The TRIAL opened with the orchestrs
pit. the balcony and even half Of th'
stage filled with spectators. Hundred
OF other curious townspeople nilles
about IN the street.
The first witness exhibited q rottet
piece Of betting shaped like 4 moose
which had been knotted around Mrs
Lemke's neck. AS it was held up, al
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