Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-07-12
THE FLORA CASE.

The court room OF Justice EObOs was
filled with large and eager crowd at an
early hour yesterday morning, to hear the
trial of NJ C.Ecrs. who was charged with
sbamefully assanltiny his wife. Frank
Dale and R. N. Piatt appeared for the pros
ecution and T. B. Wall for the defense.
Court was called 10 order at about 10
O'Clock and Mrs. Flora was the first wit
ness to take the stand. She has the ap-
pearance OF a woman who has seen mucn
trouble, but is disposed to look upon the
cheerful side Of life. She is some thirty
five years Of age, We should judge, and 10
above the average in comliness. Her right
cheek vet bore evidence Of the severe blow
she had received from her husband. Bhe
was calm and gave her evidence In q
careful manner, which at once i'm
pressed the court and spectators
that she was combining herself to
the truth She said that the
assault occurred one week ago last Sabbath
at her home on the corner opposite the
Presbyterian church, where she has been
and is now engaged in keeping boarding
house. Owing to the extreme cruelty OF
her husband they had separated and we're
not living together for the three weeks
prior to the assault. On the Sunday morn
ing in question Flora came to her house,
| took the keys, and ordered the boarders
| OUT later he took knife and swore that
| he would kill he,, but she broke away
| from his grasp and the neighbors came to
her aid Flora then went away, but re-
turned for the fourth time. She refused to
| let him in and he bf oke In the back door.
He drew a knife and asked her if she would
| live with him, and swore that if she refus.
| ed he would take her life. She refused his
request, ahd ran towards the front OF the
| house and out into the yard, followed by
Flora, who seized her by the back hair
lust as she stepped off the porch, and
struck her three hard blows, telling her to
the ground, where she laid for some min
utes unconscious, until picked up by the
neighbors. From the effects OF his blows
she was confined 10 her bed for several
days.
TT. Fuller was next called and testified
that he heard the fuss at flora's house and
drew aknife on him, but failed to use it,
and finally acknowledged that he (Flora)
was a liar, etc. Later in the forenoon, and
as people were going to church he heard
another disturbance, and saw Flora in the
act of striking his wife.
DR.. Raw swore tina, he saw Flora draw
his knife on Mr.. Fuller and also strike Mrs.
Flora two heavy blows. one OF which
knocked her down.
Flora, on being put on the stand. swore
that he was fired by Jealousy and poor
whisky, and didn't know what he was do
ing. He said he got up in the morning AZ
ter a restless night, took two glasses OF
whisky, and didn't know anything that
transpired afterward.
The cais was then argued by
the counsel on either eide, all
three of the attorneys making good speechs.
At the conclusion OF the arguments Judge
Hobbs delivered a few timely remarks, CIV
ing MIR Flora to understand that il he
Flora was a man Of property he would
| fine him to the FULLEST extent of the law.
But as he was poor man he placed his hne
at 500 and cost, which will aggregate $130.
In our judgment the action Of the court
was: extremely lenient. ard Mr.. Flora can
thank his stars that the case was not tried
before Jury for had it been he would new
er have got off so easily. He wishes us to
say that the reason that he did not offer re-
but ting testimony was because he did not
want to injure his wife. bu. .hW plea l.
most too thin in view Of the vie letter he
has written to his wife threatening to do
her injury, and which letters are now in
the hands of her attorneys. W hope how
ever, that the lesson may do Mr.. Eloia good,
and that he will be better man Tor the ex-
perience which has cost biu dear. We
understand that he paid HI aie lust even
ing. Mrs Flora has began 81, Gree proceed
ings in the district court and will probably
be granted Il legal separation from her hus-
| band al this te rm.