Evening star., 1939-03-28
Justice Luhring
Questions Trust Deed
Al Stinson Trial
$225, 900 Fund
Under Fire in
AnnuIment Case

Justice Oscar R. Luhring, hearing
IN District Court the annulment suit
OF Mrs. Lola Crounse Stinson against
Joseph Whitla Stinson, questioned
closely today the manner in which a
trust deed was executed before the
marriage setting up a fund of $685.
600. the income to 60 to the wife
during her lifetime and to the hus-
band after her death.
Mr.. Stinson had testified that al
though the name of Miss Jessica
Shoemaker, then Mrs. Crounse's
nurse. appeared on the document as
witness, she was not present at the
bank when the wealthy widow signed
it. Carroll L. Beedy, attorney for
Mr.. Stinson, explained that Miss
Shoemaker and one or two other
witnesses signed it later, because
trust officers of the bank wanted
independent signatures attesting
later to the signatures already on
the trust.
In other words" Justice Luhring
commented Indignantly. "it was
signed In the presence o. witnesses
who were never there"
Mr.. Beedy said the banks officers
wanted this.
That's no excuse to me-" the court
retorted.
I'm not defending the procedure"
Mr.. Beedy said. I'm merely stat
ing what happened.
Justice Luhring said he had meant
no criticism of Mr.. Stinson, but
merely had commented on the i'm
preston the matter had made on
him.
Tells Of Courtship.
Mr.. Stinson, defending himself
against a charge that he and Miss
Shoemaker conspired to bring about
the marriage by plying Mrs. Crounse
with drugs the spring and summer
preceding the wedding in September
OF 1887, continued in a quiet, cool
voice to recount his courtsnip of
the comely widow and the events
leading up to their marriage. A
crowded courtroom listened intently.
Now and then Mrs. Stinson leaned
forward and gasped at certain of
her estranged husbands statements.
Declared every Happy"
Mr.. Stinson insisted that Mrs.
Crounse was in good health and ap-
peared very happy" that summer
In Nova Scotia. Contradicting the
testimony of number of plaintiffs S
witnesses, the husband said they
went to many parties at the sum-
mer colony. He said he never saw
her IN tears except on a few occa-
sions when they had rows. He also
denied that she was unable to walk
without assistance, explaining that
she had always had a slight defect
IN gait, owing, he took it, to her
small feet and the high-heel shoes
she wore.
Asked whether she had appeared
"dopey and groggy" that spring in
Washington when they became en-
gagged, Mr.. Stinson said no, she had
seemed normal and her memory was
absolutely vivid from childhood"
The husband added:
She told me of her childhood in
Mexico. I recall that she said her
particular delight was to burn her
dolls"
The middle-aged attorney-artist-
architect told Of starting for the
Crounse summer home at Chester
Nova Scotia, June 10, 1897, with Mrs
Crounse and Miss Shoemaker, Mrs
Crounse had him cash a check for
$500 drawn under his power of at
torney over certain of her funds to
oefray their expenses, he said. Asked
about this power of attorney, Mr..
Stinson explained:
1T was entirely Mrs. Crounse,s
idea. She wanted us to have a Joint
bank account after our marriage
She wanted to be relieved of those
details"
She was to keep $500 out of the
check, Mr.. Stinson said, and he was
to use the rest for their expenses,
But when they stopped in New York,
Mr.. Stinson recalled, Mrs. Crounse.
occupying a suite with Miss Shoe
maker, sent for him after she had
retired and asked him for her $500,
He gave 1t to her, he saids but she
then asked him to take it back and
keep 1t for her, saying she had not
meant to hurt him.
"Didpt fhot ctriLo 1,o,, -, ~>.,,,,