Evening star., 1948-01-21
More AIibi Witnesse!
Called by LaughIin
To Bolster Defense

OdlllCS Cs idQS1l44ii coAoy NNAASa
two other attorneys to the witness
stand to support his defense in his
9 District Court trial on abortion
charges.
Mr.. Laughlin is being tried with
DR.. Henry L. Peckham, jr., in two
count indictment charging that
Illegal operations were performed
: on Mrs. Esther Pickard Hobbs, Mr..
Laughlins former f1ancee. The Gov
ernment charges Mr.. Laughlin, who
is helping conduct his own defense,
was an accessory.
The two attorneys called as alibi
witnesses today were Grille C. Gau
dette and Robert w. Mccullough.
Charles Flasphaler, Mr.. Laughlin's
law associate, testified yesterday.
Mr.. Gaudette testified that on the
night of last March 18, Tuesday,
Mr.. Laughlin was with him from
about pm. until 1880.
According to Mrs. Hobbs testi-
mony, given earlier, it was on that
night t. : Mr.. Laughlin took her
for the nrst time to the home of
Mrs. Irma Petrain, a nurse, at 2215
H street NV.
Tells of Office Meeting.
She testified they reached there
at about 7 pm. and that she was
introduced to Miss Gertrude Lillian
Ford, also a nurse, who lives at
Mrs. Petrain's home. She quoted
Mrs. Petrain as asking Miss Ford
whether she would handle an illegal
operation case as nurse and that
akYes Fondis answer was mo"
Mr.. Gaudette <corroborated testi-
mony given yesterday by Edgar P.
Carroll, 4240 Reno road NV. Mr..
Gaudette said he, Mr.. Laughlin and
Mr.. Carroll conferred all evening
about litigation in which Mr.. Car
roll was involved.
Mr. Mccullough testified 'Mr.
Iaughlin was in his Office the night
of March 10.
1t was on this night, according to
Mrs. Hobbs, that Mr.. Laughlin
again took her to Mrs. Petrain's
home. She testified that from Mrs.
Petrain's home she went to the
Office of DR.. Peckham at 428 Eighth
street Sc. and that Mr.. Laughlin
was still at the Petrain home when
she returned there.
Mr.. Mccullough testified, however,
that Mr.. Laughlin got to his office
around 7 pm. on March 19 and he
named others VINO were present. He
said they conferred on the case OF
James ODonnell and Robert San
ner, defendants in a Maryland race
horse case.
He said that all who were present
left together at about 1890 or IL
pm.
The Government charges that
after the visits to Mrs. Petrain's
home on March 18 and 10, two op-
erations were performed on Mrs.
Hobbs on March 20 and %. The
Government charges that the first
attempt, in DR.. Peckhams office,
was unsuccessful, but that the sec
ond was successful at Mrs. Petrain'S
home.
Mr.. Flasphaler, however, testified
that Mrs. Hobbs came to Mr.,
Laughlins Office at about 6 pm. on
March 20. He said Mr.. Laughlin
was not there, so Mrs. Hobbs wrote
him a goodby note and said she was
going to her home in Pittsboro, N. c.
She was employed here at one time
in the Agriculture Department.
Mr.. Flasphaler said Mr.. Laughlin
came in later and left with two
daughters, the Misses Mary and
Betty Laughlin. Mr.. Laughlin is
" divorced.
/ Mr.. Fiasphaler testified that on
Saturday, March %, he and Mr..
Laughlin drove to Romney, w. Va,
In connection with some litigation.
He said they left Washington at
about 1870 am, arrived in Romney
at about 4 pm, transacted their
business that afternoon and the
next day, Sunday, March 2S. and got
back to Washington ut about II or
1880 pm. Sunday.
In cross-examination Of Mr..
Tasphaler, Assistant United States
Attorney Arthur ]. Mclaughlin
brought out Mr.. Flasphaler had
+ been convicted Of criminal libel In
J Corning, N. T., in 1888.