Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1901 — The Lyda Murder Tria'. [ARTICLE]

The Lyda Murder Tria ' .

Evidence for the Defence. Mrs. Sarah Pummell testified that Lyda’s grandfather suicided. Several reputable people testified to Cox’s good reputation Lr morality etc. Five or six near neighbors and estimable people testified as to Mr. and Mrs. Lyda’s excellent relations to each other, to Mrs. Lyda’s good reputuation for morality, peace etc., and as to Mr. Lyda’s good opinion of Cox as a farm hand.

A. L. Howard, W, M. Field and G. A. Mathews, prominent merchants of Fowler, gave evidence that they saw the Lydas about every weex, that they were kind and affectionate; and no change had been noticed in Mr. Lyda’s actions in the latter part of his life, Mr. Matthews had assisted in testing, at the Lyda house, as to hearing kissing in the kitchen from the basement, or from the kitchen to an upstairs room as per Ella Heisler’s testimony. Said it could not be so heard; but somewhat weakened his testimony on cross examination. Considerable evidence was inintroduced to show Lyda was in debt. Also that he was in continued poor health and talked at several times in a manner denoting thoughts of suicide. Also that Mrs. Lyda’s objections to an autopsy were based on Mr. Lyda’s own request.. That she would not have objected had she known murder was suspected. Mrs. Alice Foster, a sister of Mrs. Lyda, denied a number of injurious statements that had been attributed to her by witnesses for the state. Said Lyda’s health had been poor 6 months. That Mrs. Lyda wanted him to send for Dr. Thomas, at St. Anne and his insisting on waiting till the end of the week.

Dr. R. J. Clarke, of Monticello, was called as an expert. He had thirty years’ experience, and at one time was connected with the Cincinnati hospital. He had treated one case of strychnine poisoning in his practice, and also had a little personal experience not enjoyed by many physicians, having taken a dose of strychnine once himself. He corroborated the views of Dr. Peters, that if Lyda was suffering from strychnine poison he most have taken three separate doses; one at Dr. Mavity’s office, one at Mrs. Foster’s home, and the other at his own home in the evening preceding his death. Dr. Clarke also testified that he had treated several oases of uremic poisoning, and gave it as his opinion that Lyda died of of uremia.

The defense also introduced an affidavit from Ella Heisler, the the domestic, the state’s star witness, that she had never seen anything improper between Mrs. Lyda and Cox. Defendant Cox was then placed on the stand. He detailed his life from his birth in Tennessee to the present time, and said he was thirty-eight years old. He came to Indiana when twenty one, and worked in Fountain and Tippecanoe counties some years. He worked at ditching and farming for several years in Benton county, and went to work for Wm. Lyda in 1899. He never had been alone with Mrs. Lyda, never had improper relations with her, and never thought of Lyda being poisoned until rumors started after bis death. Cox made a good witness for the defense and created a most favorable impression. The cross-examination of Cox failed to change his testimony. His testimony on direct examination was gone over but he did not change his story in the least, He answered in a nervous manner and

o*ten became angered but ened his case a great deal. Ke answered questions for five and one-half hours. Miss Heisler’s affidavit that she was financially unable to attend triaj was introduced to impeach her as she testified that she had f7O in the bank. In herstatement she aho said that Lyda took a resting powder himself, Thursday morning, July 19. Mrs. Lyda then went on the stand. She gave her age as 42 years and her birthplace as Benton county. She had known Lyda five years' at marriage in 1878. The different places where they lived and the time were gone over. She testified that Lyda had been complaining for two years of his kidneys, pain in back and his stomach; was sick by spells; that in-the last year he often quit work, sometimes for one-half dav;that he was taking a patent medicine, being opposed ta doctoring. She had provided sos the table for the last twelve years while Mr. Lyda was trying to lift the mortgage on his farm. Their relations were always good up to time of death. Cox never did anything improper around their place; Mr. Lyda was not satisfied unless Cox was there and Cox was always working; told of visit to Danville, 111, in July and of Lyda expressing his opinion of suicide; also heard Lyda tell Mrs. Ferrell that he was not coming back and Chas. Collier that if he never saw him again the horses were in the stable and harness on the fence; made but one trip to town with Cox, and at Lyda’s request; denied telling Martin Lux she was so mad at Lyda a dozen times she could poison him; Lyda took sick Sunday, July 15, at 9 o’clock; sent for Dr. Mevity on Monday morning against Lyda’s wish: Dr. left medicine; sent for him again Tuesday morning but the‘doctor did not change medicine. Dr. Mavity came again Wednesday morning by previous arrangement; she was to go to town Thursday for binder fixtures and Lyda insisted on going along. Just before starting Lyda said he had taken some tea and resting powder; told of trip to town ; took Lyda to Dr. Mavity’s office and left him there while marketing, being gone 25 minutes; she and Dr Mavity assisted Lyda to an inner room where he could lay down; denied telling Mrs. Mount that she gave Lyda a resting powder in the morning: She gave Lyda no medicine on Thursday morning. The remainder of Mrs. Lyda's testimony was practically the same as that of Mrs. Judy, Geo. Austill and Star Cox.

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