Evening star., 1939-04-19
Stinson Trapped
Rich Widow, Says
Wife, e'sCounse|
Final Arguments
In AnnuIment
Suit Offered

Counsel for Mrs. Lola Crounse
Stinson, delivering to Justice Oscar
r. Luhring in District Court today
final arguments in her suit for an
nulment, depicted her husband, JOS
eph Whitla Stinson, as man with
a suave approach and an artistic
temperament" who trapped a
wealthy widow into marriage for her
money.
There has been much talk in this
case about the social register" said
Alvin L. Newmyer, the Wife's attor-
ney, but, according to the evidence,
Stinson was in the cash register far,
more often"
The lawyer declared he had proved
the charge that Mr.. Stinson con-
spired with the then Mrs. Croune's
nurse and trusted companion, Miss
Jessica Shoemaker, to have her
drugged with sedatives until she
didn't realize what she was doing
when she went through the cere-
mony at Bar Harbor, Me.
RecOunts Testimony.
Summing up his version of the
evidence in the five-week trial, Mr.,
Newmyer said it showed clearly that
Mrs. Crounse had revealed to nu-
merous witnesses all the symptoms
of being under the influence of seda-
tives during the summer she and
the nurse and Mr.. Stinson spent at
Nova Scotia before the wedding Sep
tember q, 1887. The attorney
charged that Miss Shoemaker had
been impeached by many witnesses,
some of whom he cited, and that Mr..
Stinson had been contradicted fatty
in numerous phases of his testimony.
Carroll L. Beedy. attorney for Mr..
Stlnson, was to follow with his argu-
ment this afternoon.
Hearing on the annulment COM
plant is due to be completed by to-
night. But another issue in the suit
and other suits connected with the
large estate which Mrs. Stinson in
herited as the widow of William
Livingston Crounse-remain to be
heard at later dates.
Mrs. Stinson on Stand.
Testimony in the annulment suit
as originally drawn was concluded
yesterday with another appearance
OF Mrs. Stinson on the stand in
rebuttal.
Mr.. Newmyer asked her if it was
true, as Mr.. Stinson testified, that
she once got down on her knees and
begged him to marry her.
No she said, Il didn't think I
had to, considering the number of
times he had asked me to marry
him."
After sharp tilt with the witness.
Mr.. Beedy ended his cross-examina-
ton abruptly with the remark: IF
there is any doubt in the mind of
the court as to the mental COM
potency of this plaintiff"
There never was any doubt as
to her present condition. Mr..
NeWmyer retorted.
Nor her condition at any time, in
my opinion" Mr. Beedy added.
Drugs an Issue.
The issue which Justice Luhring
will take under advisement first is
whether the marriage should be an
nulled on the ground that the then
Mrs. Crounse was incompetent to
enter into it because her mind was
clouded by sedatives.
Another issue which Justice Luh-
ring injected into the trial when
certain evidence came out is whether
Mr.. Stimson was free to marry when
he was welded to Mrs. Crounse Sep
tember q. 1887. 1t was brought out
that the first Mrs. Stinson had OBJ
tanned a Reno divorce the previous
March Is. A transcript of the
Nevada court produced by the plain
tiff's attorneys indicated that she
had remained in Reno only the
statutory minimum of six weeks. A
hotel reported that she left the day
the divorce was granted.
Recognition Here Questioned.
Justice Luhring questioned whether
such a divorce could be recognized
here, and the present Mrs. Stinson's
attorneys said they already had
planned to amend their complaint
to include this additional ground.