Evening star., 1939-03-22
Mrs. Stinson Seemed
In Daze,' Friend
Testifies
Shocked at Appearance
Shortly Before Wedding,
Mrs. Law Tells Court

Mrs. Lola Crounse Stinson
"seemed in daze" at her summer
home in Nova Scotia shortly before
her marriage to Joseph Whitla
Stinson on September 27, 1887, JUS
tice Oscar Luhring was told in Dis
trict Court today at her trial for
annulment on the ground that she
was drugged into consent.
This testimony came from Mrs.
Stinson's next-door neighbor at the
summer colony at Chester, Mrs.
Lucy c. Law of Philadelphia, widow
of William A. Law. who was presi-
dent of the Penn Mutual Life IN
surance Co.
II was quite shocked at her ap-
pearance," said Mrs. Law, lit was so
unnatural. She talked disconnect-
edly. 1t was evident from her ap-
pearance that she could hardly walk.
Her ankles were swollen. She wept
a great deal. At times she seemed
in a daze."
The witness said she had known
the then Mrs. Crounse for many
years, but never had seen her like
that In the summer of 1888, after
her brief marriage and separation,
she was her old self again, her
mind as clear as bell" Mrs. Law
added.
Never Left Alone.
Mrs. Law said Mrs. CrounSe never
was alone that summer OF 1887, but
was attended constantly by either
Miss Jessica Shoemaker, her nurse,
or Mr.. Stinson or both. The pend
ing petition charges that Miss Shoe
maker and Mr.. Stinson consplred to
bring about the marriage by
fraudulent means to obtain Mrs.
Crounse's estate.
The witness said Mr.. Stinson told
her he was in Nova Scotia with
Mrs. Crounse as her attorney try
ing to protect her from the inherit
ance taxes of the Canadian govern
nent.''
Alvin L. Newmyer, attorney for
Mrs. Stinson, brought out in support
of his charge that she was pied with
drugs in the months that preceded
her second marriage the testimony
of David L. Maxwell, Washington
pharmacist.
Mr.. Maxwell identified records Of
his drug stores showing that one
prescription for hypnotic drug.
originally filled June Is, 1886, was
refilled by telephone from the
Crounse home 10 times between then
and October IA. 1887. On october
II, 1887, Mrs Stinson's physician
instructed the drug store not to refill
this prescription for her again, the
druggist said.
No Restrictions on Sale.
It was brought out. from Mr.. Max
wells records that during II days
of October, shortly before Mr.. and
Mrs. Stinson returned home from
their wedding at Bar Harbor, Me-,
enough of this sedative to have pro-
vided 1913 doses in 10 days-or II
doses a day-was ordered. During
the period under inquiry, sedative
of another type, having the same
effect, also was ordered at times,
according to the druggists records.
Justice Luhring asked whether it
was true that the more you took of
these barbituric preparations the
more you needed to get the same
result.
That is the history in a great
many cases." Mr.. Maxwell said.
The druggist explained that there
was no restriction on ordering these
sedatives without prescription or by
refilling prescription.
$4,000 Settlement Accepted.
The IL days when the largest
amounts of medicine We're ordered
shortly preceded a violent illness
described by Mrs Stinson on the
witness stand and by registered
nurse. Soon after that the couple
separated, and Mr.. Stinson accepted
a separation settlement of $4,000.
Mrs. Crounse was inaccessible dur
ing the spring of l937--a few months
before she married Mr.. Stinson-to
one of her oldest Washington friends,
according to testimony of Mrs
Arthur H. Tirrell of 2314 Wyoming
avenue NV. She said she had
known Mrs. Crounse 18 or 20 years
and for the first time during their
friendship Mrs. Crounse was in
communicate so far as she was
concerned.
She never was able that spring to
get Mrs. Crounse on the telephone,
Mrs. Tirrell said, explaining that
every time Miss Shoemaker, her
nurse, would answer and say Mrs.
Crounse was not well or was resting.
Personal calls at the Crounse home
always elected the information that
Mrs. Crounse was out, the witness
added.
No Lessening of Regard.
There was, however, no lessening
OF Mrs. CrounSe'S regard for her
Mrs. Tlrrell said, for the plaintiff
was as friendly as ever when they
met on three occasions during that
period at teas. One of the times,
the witness said, Mr.. Stinson was
introduced, and Mrs. Tirrell, taking
Mrs. CrounSe aside, asked if she were
going to marry him.
What, you asked that the first
time you met him?" asked Justice
Luhrlng.
Yes, I had heard that she was
going around with him." the witness
explained. She said no. that she
had no intention of marrying him
told her was very glad"
Mrs. Tirrell said Mrs. Crounse
looked very languid and listless
that spring, unlike her usual viva
cious self.
Mrs. Stinson's attorneys are charg-
Ing that Mr.. Stinson and Miss Shoe
maker conspired to force her into
the marriage through drugs and
trickery.
Bank records showing deposits of