CINEMA STAR IN CELL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 176, 26 July 1919, Page 19

CINEMA STAR IN CELL.

POISONED HER LOVER'S WIFE. FATAL FRCIT DRINK. Pretty as a cinema star. Ruth Garrison, an eighteen-year-old girU who poisoned the wife of the man she loved, has made many friends since she has been connned behind the srlm walls of a prison. Eer little cell i was always filled with the odour of fresh flowers, and the tabic was covered with. Many of the presents were sent by women who had become interested in the girl's sad ! pUgnt.

The Sheriff has been her friend in time of need. He had her removed from the srfiol to a house where she may be more comfortable. This action has been, sharply criticised by other officials, who declare they see no reason why the girl "should not be treated as any other murderer.' , When Euth Garrison was employed in Peattlo courthouse, U.S.A.. as a clerk, she was known as "Sunshine." There was always a smile for callers at the lawyers' information bureau, where Ruth was employed. Dudley Storrs. then a deputy sheriff, young, rather handsome, and dlssatisSed with his home life, came within range of that smile. And there was the beginning of the triangle which is having its end cow — with Mrs Dudley Storrs dead o" poison. Ruth Garrison facing life imprisonment for murder, and Dudley Storrs charged with abduction.

"I'm afraid it's all over with mc. I'm sorry. All that really matters now is whether he still cares for mc." said the girl a few hours after she had confessed to putting the poison in a fruit drink which she had ordered for Mrs Storrs when the two met to try and solve the tangle which hail become woven about the three lives. "I'm going to try to get that little girl out of the til she's in." Srorrs declared soon after he gave himself up. THE MEETING IX THE CAFE. Few confessions, according to Seattle police officers ever have been made more calmly than that of Ruth Garrison. The police had learned of her meeting with Mrs ritorrs in a cafe: how the giri arrived rirst. stirring one, but not. the one left in front of her own place at the table. A few minutes after Mrs Storrs arrived and hart sipped the drink the woman was dead. At nrst it was believed she was J. victim of heart disease, but an examination showea her death to be due to strychnine.

Mrs Storrs kn.-w of the intimacy between | her husband ami Ruth Garrison. She knew the zirl had gone to visit Storrs at Okano- j gan. where he was employed by a motor | car company. Ami Mrs Storrs. desponde.it . and grief-stricken, bad contemplate'! j suicide. That was proved by a letter whten j she wrote to her mother, hut never posted, a lettpr later found among Storr's effects. It said:— "Dearest Mother. —I hope that wl> n yon receive this I will be past all misery thac I have suffered since I married that low every side, and I cannot see any other way j out. although I know that it is a coward's ! his abuse and neelet»t any longer. Xow can go with that low woman he is so crazy over, and I wish him only luck.— Grace." "The girl is not bad—only foolish and young." was the comment of Folic* l '"aptaiti Tennant after his questioning had brougnt

her confession. Under the provisions of the I Washington law, Ruth Garrison can be givtfn only a life sentence if she pleaii3 charge that has been placed against her.