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News Article

Canadian County, Oklahoma


Ruby Alexander
The Oklahoma
10 Sep 1918
Submitted by: Emily Jordan

GIRL SHIELDS HER LOVER AT DEATH
Ruby Alexander Did Not Want Warren Punished, She Told Nurse.

DIED WITH PRAYER
Soldier Sweetheart Overcome When He Hears of Plea for Him.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil."

These were the last words spoken by Ruby Alexander, 20-year-old school teacher who died in an El Reno sanitarium March 20, following an operation, according to Miss Margaret Denham, a nurse.

With a prayer on her lips that she would soon join her mother and asking that her father and all those she loved forgive her, she expressed a wish, Miss Denham said, that Jess Warren, her sweetheart, not be punished, saying that he had done all he could to get her out of her trouble. She told Miss Denham that Doctor Lovejoy performed the operation, the nurse testified.

The testimony was given yesterday afternoon to Judge Clark after the jury had been ordered from the courtroom and attorneys debated late in the afternoon over the admission of the evidence into the records.

Warren, in soldier's uniform, sat by the side of his father, showing no emotion throughout the day, until Miss Denham gave her testimony. He visibly was affected by the nurse's testimony of the girl's plea for him and made no effort to hold back the tears.

The defense scored heavily in the cross-examination of state witnesses, getting admittances from two physicians who attended the girl that she told them she had committed the crime herself and that no one else was to blame.

Dr. T.M. Aderhold of El Reno said he had examined the girl and that he found that a criminal operation had been performed. He said the girl told him that she alone was responsible. Dr. H.C. Masters of Minco, formerly family doctor of the Alexanders, gave about the same testimony.

John H. Cochran, sheriff of Caddo county, told of investigating the charges against Warren and arresting him. He said the young man told a straight story of the affair and admitted that he had given an Oklahoma City physician $100 to perform the operation. He was with Sheriff Johnson when Doctor Lovejoy was arrested and he said the doctor admitted taking $100 for "treating the girl," but denied that he had performed any operation.

The state attempted to spring a surprise late in the afternoon by making a motion for the dismissal of the charges against Warren and calling him as a witness for the state. The defense objected to the testimony of Warren, saying that they had not had the proper legal notification. Judge Clark had not ruled on the motion when court adjourned last night.




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