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Show HOLMES, DYING, ABSOLVED GIRL, CHIMES Witness of Death Bed Scene Says Victim of Wil-lard's Wil-lard's Anger Protested His Innocence. SLAYER, IN JAIL, IS GRIEF-STRICKEN Counsel for Accused Man Seals Lips to Interviewers; Interview-ers; Murder Charge Is Lodged at Bingham. In agony from Lis mortal wound, but conscious because of his splendid physique, phy-sique, Cecil Holmes, with his last words, declared that he was innocent of any wrongdoing with Mrs. Elizabeth Wil-lard. Wil-lard. ''She is a good, pure, clean girl," ho whispered spasmodically to Clyde Countryman a moment before the merciful mer-ciful needle of the operating physician eased the pain and gave him the unconsciousness uncon-sciousness from which he never awoke. Until last night Couutryman held the words of his slain friend sacred, but persuaded by the publication of stories to the effect that Holmes had been intimate in-timate with the wife of Arthur Willard, Bingham school principal, wbo hilled him Wednesday afternoon, he related the incidents of the last few moments of Holmes' life. In the belief that statements which he said Holmes had previously made in his presence and that of George E. Marshall, Mar-shall, a Bingham boy now in the marine corps, would help in clearing the name of Holmes, Countryman telegraphed to Marshall at tho Mare Island training camp. Marshall, however, is confined to his bed with measles and was unable un-able to answer. Interviewed at Mare Island last night, Marshall declared that "it was town gossip that Holmes was unduly intimate with Mrs. Willard." Judge D. N. St rail p. attorney for Willard, Wil-lard, still refuses to allow his clieut to be interviewed. Confers With Counsel. But Willard yesterday afternoon, following a conference of more than an hour with his lawyer, seemed torn between the necessity for obeying implicitly im-plicitly the cold and impassive commands com-mands of his counsel and the almost overwhelming desire to let the world know his story. Unshaven and collar-less, collar-less, but erect and almost commanding at times, he stood behind his attorney, gazing, seemingly fascinated, at the little lit-tle circle which surrounded him. At times there was a glance of defiance which was succeeded the next moment by a dreamy look of a forlorn hope. Momentarily his lips would quiver and forbidden tears filled his eyes and turning away he covertly wiped them away. Impulsively as tho little company left him Willard reached out and grasped the hand of the reporter: "Please, I just want to say that I am heartbroken over it all," "he cried, and turned with a sob to the waiting jailer. And it was not said with the air of one making an excuse, but with the deep passion of a man lost in the depths of despair. Willard is charged with murder in the first degree in a complaint which has been filed wjth Justice of the Peace Green at Bingham. Next Wednesday has been tentatively set as the date for his preliminary hearing, but Judge Straup said yesterday that tho time may bo postponed and that it iva? not without with-out tho range of possibility that a changu of venue might be soueht w the ease. Judge Straup said that he had not determined whether to waive the preliminary hearing. Cites State Statute. When told of Mrs. Willard 's statement, state-ment, that she would defend her honor to the last, even though it might cost hor husband's life, Judge Straup recited recit-ed to his questioner the state law which forbids a wife testifying against her husba.nd. t developed also vesterday, according to J. Golden Kimball, the father of the girl, that. Judge Straup had telephoned him seeking an appointment to talk over the case. Mr. Kimball said that he had ini oiaucd the attorney of his daughter's intention, but expressed a willingness to have tho conference. Mr. Kimball iud that so far the conference has not V.ei,n held. Mrs. Willard has somewhat recovered recov-ered from the shock of the tragedy, avd while she still refuses to be interviewed inter-viewed on the mat tor was able iat nitrht tc jo for an automobile ride with her parents. At a late hour last night she was reported re-ported to be sleeping fretfully, while Willanl, on his jni cot, slept soundlv. According to the story told by young Countryman bust night. Holmes" substantiated sub-stantiated the story which Mrs. Willard has told, through her farhe.', and in which she claimed that she was enrirolv innocent of any indiscretions, either intentional in-tentional or unintentional, with Holmes. Countryman s statement was as follows: fol-lows: Dr. P Hasoman. who senior! to be in .charge, had pone to liis office tf;-t h instrument. Dr. Putton had soue to another corner of t !ie room for i. lie ether. In. Flynn had taken (Continued on Pago Two. IQ1ES, DYING. SAYS WOMAN IS Hull (Continued from Page One.) a place near the window and had lighted a cigarette and had started the gas under the water wa-ter boiler. 1 was leaning over 'Holmes. restraining him, as he whispeied during his sobs of pain: "For God's sa"ke uivc me something some-thing for this pain. I can't stand it. I know 1 am going to die. 1 am in-nucent in-nucent of any wrongdoing with Bet-tie. Bet-tie. .che is a good, pure, clean girl. 1 t's all a lie. I am innocent, I tell yon." As proof of his contention that Holmes was con si ions at the time of the statement state-ment Countryman declares that when Or. Klynn lielited the cigarette Holmes said: "For God's suke take that cigarette mil or" here." "A fev moments n fterwatd," Countryman Country-man (.-nil tinned. "Pr. HuLrenmn arrived with the instrument mid lie Immediately Imme-diately bared Holmes's left breast and inserted a needle, which lonked to me like a very large one. Holmes then hipsed into the unconsciousness from w'lh'h he never rallied." In explanation of the 'Megrani which he sent to George I-:. Ma: sh:i 1 at the Mare island marine corps : raining camp, young Countryman said: Just before I frdmes left Hi n: ham at tl-.c orders of Willard. who had m-- used him of imniocr relations with Mrs. Wilinri. Marshall. Ilo'mes and 1 were talkim?. Ibthnec told us n ' that time tii:-'.! lie was innocent of the charges and that there never hn d beon Mi'v improper word or act between him and the cirl. I f?.-m the tele-urn tele-urn m to Marshall with the idea of having him give hjs tesrimnnv in sun-port sun-port of mine to the protest of Holmes. Marshall's Statement. The tel.rn m received last nic! t from San Francis. 'o. reln:ini; to the interview with G f i ' c Marshall at -Mare island, is as foilows: Georwre K. Ma rs hail is con fined tn his bed with nu'.si.-s at Mare inlaid and wh-n interviewed st.it.-. that he wa s well a- n ua !n d with A r: Iv.r 1 Wiliard. Mrs. UY.lard and 'i V. :1 'lolmis. ar.d that it was n n .mvsiji t'-at Unlives was undnlv in i i "..a: e with Mrs. Wilhu.i. Marshall states that hohu.-s stavvi at the W'il'rd ' omt a wav t -,e lart'rpaii of Jl.uch or early |
