The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-18
ORAL CONFESSION
IS INTRODUCED IN
TRIAL AT CHICAGO
Attorneys for Dr.. Wynekoop Oh
jet and Jury Is Excluded
Pending Decision
LEGAL CONTEST RAGING
Defense Would Exclude Evil
dence; Insurance Angle
Of Case Is Probed
LEGAL CONTEST RAGING

Jan. 16.-(AeTne CONCESSION OK DR..
Alice Lindsey Wynekoop that she fir
ed q bullet into the back Of her
daughter-in-law, Rheta, on the at
ternoon Of Nov. 81 was admitted into
the court record Thursday by Judge
Joseph B. David.
The confession was introduced by
testimony Of Police Captain John
Siege. The jury had been excluded.
The confession. which was practic-
ally q duplication Of the written con-
fession signed on November "a by DR..
,Wynekoop and repudiated by her a
few days later, was made on the morn
ing OF November "a, In the presence Of
Capt. Siege and DR.. Harry w. Hoff-
man, psychiatrist Of the Behavior
clinic, Siege testified.
The dramatic moment came a few
minutes after Siege had been called
to the stand.
Captain Siege told Of making . call
at the west side mansion where the
body Of the 23-year-old wife Of the
defendants son, Earle, was found on
an operating table. Then, with DR..
Wynekoop and other occupants Of the
house, he went to the Fillmore street
police station.
Prosecutor Charles 8. Doherty ad-
dressed the bench:
Offers State Exhibit
II desire to have this statement In
troduced into the evidence as states
exhibit"
The three members Of the defense
counsel sprang to their feet with OBJ
jections.
Excuse the jury" ordered Judge
Joseph b. David tell them to be at
ease. As they probably will be out q
long time"
While the attorneys battled over the
advisability Of the evidence, one Of the
jurors, Fred Marsh. was being speed
ed to . dentists office for emergency
treatment.
More insurance agents were parad-
ed to the stand Thursday by the state
IN its effort to prove that DR.. Wyne-
koop murdered her daughter-in-
and that the chief motive for the
crime was . desire to benefit by poll
cies issued on the girls life.
The 62-year-old defendant appeared
in better physical condition than We'd
nesday Is she started the second week
Of her ordeal. She declared she had
a good nights sleep and that . severe
headache had left her during the
night.
Continuing the line Of attack begun
khn s@eMNnAiv@m Ao0v hA atoko 10nA tA
the stand Miss Esther A. English. an
agent for the Commercial Life Insur-
ance company. Miss English testified
that on October 30, 1888. three weeks
before Rheta Gardner Wynekoop was
found slain on an operating table In
the basement office Of her mother lin
laws home. she had gone to the
Wynekoop home and written q 81 900
double indemnity policy on Rheta.
Health Worries Family
Meanwhile. Is the state was push.
ing its case rapidly toward its climax.
DR.. Wynekoop's state Of health was
causing her family and attorneys
some alarm.
Hosts Of murder FANS are pushing
their way into the criminal court
room each day. eager to catch every
word Of testimony and eager to watch
every emotional change Of expression
that comes to the gaunt face Of the
62-year-old woman defendant, whose
IRON will to sec the trial through is
a. much an enigma now as it was In
the beginning.
Her chief attorney. w. w. Smith.
pictures her as woman who may
Ole at any minute" from heart dis
ease. Her daughter. Dr.. Katherine
Wynekoop. also . physician. gives It
az her opinion that DR.. Alice viii not
be able to 60 through with the case.
But DR.. Wynekoop herself Is carry.
ing on and she is doing 50 without
the moral support Of her son. Earle.
IN whose behalf the state hopes the
fry will believe she killed Rheta to
rescue Earle from an unhappy mar.
riage tie. He Is still among the miss
ing, giving rise to speculation among
some Of the murder fans" on the
question g to whether the dsfense
win introduce him later as ! surprise
witness.