Evening star., 1942-05-28
Attorney Compares
Miss Webb S Romance
With History's Great
Relations With Shonbrun
'InexpIieobIe,' Defender
Says in Argument
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 28.-Tall and
graying James Matt Springer. the
former saltwater (OklaD judge,
cited some of history's most famous
romances today in an attempt to
explain the "inexplicable"-the love
of Madeline Webb for Eli Shonbrun.
Mr.. Springer, who came to New
York to assist in the defense of the
28-year-old model accused with two
men of first-degree murder in the
strangulation of Mrs. Susan Flora
Reich, began his summation before
a General Sessions jury today with
this:
mo one knows why Cleopatra had
her Mark Antony. Why Elizabeth
had her Essex. Why Madeline Pol
lard had her Breckenridge, or why
Wally had her King Ed, who stood
up and said to the world I abdicate
my throne at long last that I may
marry the woman I love-
It say that these things are in
explicable-and so my helpless, client
found her Shonbrun."
Miss Webb, a graduate of Okla
bona A. e. M. who came to New
York in search of a stage career,
has been on trial, together with
Shonbrun and John D. Cullen, for
the last three weeks for the March
Staying of Mrs. Reich, wife of a
New Jersey manufacturer. in Hotel
Sutton suite. The State charged
that she was slain for the $4,000 in
jewels that she wore.
Describes Saltwater.
IN an eloquent style, Mr.. Springer
declared the girl he had known
'..since childhood" came to New York
In 1899 as IAN obscure, unknown
child" because she was interested in
dramaticS.
Finally she met Eli Shonbrun,"
he said. "She met him under
suspicious circumstances through an
Introduction by lady she had
known for six months. There was
something that grew up between
two people, thing most people can
not understand"
As the lovers sat quietly with
downcast eyes, Mr.. Springer de-
scribed to the all-male jury the de-
lights of rural Stillwater-"a beauti-
full city filled with churches ard fine
educational institutions" where, lin
a Christian home, this client I
represent was born"
Working up to the day of the Slay-
ing. Mr.. Springer asserted that Miss
Webb left the Hotel Sutton at noon,
going to a spot where Shonbrun had
told her he would meet her later
and then take her to a show.
, The Oklahomen attacked bitterly
the testimony of Murray Hirschl,
Shonbrun's uucle, who also is under
indictment for the crime but was
granted a separate trial to become
the States chief witness.
Talks 81 Minutes.
After "a minutes Mr.. Springer
concluded his appeal with this:
Send her back home to her Chris
tan mother. Let her answer the
prayer of broken heart. Gentle
men, I thank you"
Miss Webb was in tears and the
court called an hours recess.
The case is expected to 60 to the
jury tomorrow.
The 28-year-old model who has
denied the States contention that
she lured the wealthy Polish refugee
to the hotel suite had to be re-
strained in her courtroom chair yes
terday when Peter Springman,
hotel bell captain. testified he
saw Miss Webb about four houses
away from the hotel = about
Ills pm" last March 4.
1t is the prosecutions contention
that Mrs. Reich was strangled at
Ebout 1:20 pm. on that day in a
suite occupied by the model and
Shonbrun-who. like Cullen, is
petty thief-under fictitious names.
Angry mutterings by Shonbrun
and Miss Webb were audible during
Mr.. Springman's testimony. and his
story also caused several verbal
clashes between the opposing attor-
neys, Chief Defense Counsel Jacques
Buitenkant and Assistant District
Attorney Jacob A. Grumet
During the two-week trial Shon-
brun testified that Miss Webb had
nothing to do with the Staying and
that he and murdered the
woman entirely alone"
The third defendant, Cullen, did
not take the witness stand.