"DEATH OR £6000."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 62, 4 September 1911, Page 3

"DEATH OR £6000."

\ MILLIONAIRE ENTRAPPED. I A STRANGE CASE. In a temperature of 100 degrees the trial opened of two beautiful girls, Jllss Lilian Graham and Miss Ethel Conrad, who are accused of attempting to murder Mr. William Earl Dodge Stokes, a well-known New York millionaire. Mr. escaped from a remarkable encounter in Miss Conrad's rooms with two bullet wounds. 'The fair prisoners laughed gaily as, gazing straight at them, the millionaire gave his remarkable testimony, beginning his recital by saying that Miss Conrad telephoned to him asking him to call on her and get some letters he had written to Miss Graham, who, she said, had just sailed for Europe in the Baltic. "I went," Mr. Stokes proceeded, "and was received by Miss Conrad, who showed me into the drawing-room. A minute later Miss Graham glided into the room with a revolver 'behind her back and vehemently accused me of circulating derogatory tales concerning her." " 'No one knows you are here,' the girl exclaimed. 'We" two are witnesses against you, and behind the wall there, are three men witnesses, who can see everything you do and hear everything you say. Many prominent New Yorkers as well known as you have disappeared, and no one lias gone to goal for it. We have made all arrangements to get rid of you.'" Mr. Stokes declared that the girls then commanded him to sit at the table and write a retraction of what they alleged he had said about them, and also sign a cheque for £501)0. "It's death or Miss Conrad cried. "If it's death or one cent." Mr. Stokes replied, "T choose death." Miss Graham J fired and hit Mr. Stokes in the leg. He described how he grappled with the girls and succeeded in wresting away Miss Graham's revolver as the weapon went off a second time, inflicting u wound in the hand, which he exhibited. The prisoners smiled broadly as Mr. Stokes narrated how Miss Conrad fired several shots and finally tlirem the revolver behind the sofa. He escaped from the room, both girls hanging to his neck and beating him. Afterwards three Japanese assaulted him outside. He was taken to the hospital, where he remained for ten days. The ease was adjourned.