The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-13

THE SARAH GRAHAM MURDER.
Beginning of the Preliminary Examination Of
Mrs. Emma Molloy and Cora Lee Graham.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, March 12-The prelimi-
nary trial of Mrs. Molloy and Cora Lee before
Justices Sailage and Rountree, drew out, to-day,
more women and men than could find standing
room in the courthouse. In the forenoon the
witnesses were sworn, and in the afternoon those
who discovered the corpse were on the stand.
Joseph Dodson. a policeman, testified that, in
sompany with several others, he went to the
Molloy farm yesterday, explored the cave, and
found several articles of Mrs. Graham's ward
robe. In the pasture between the cave and the
residence, he found pair of knit drawers cut
into pieces with scissors, and strewn along
the ground. He also found old buggy tracks and
q piece of spoke, or shaft. sticking in the
ground. He further testified that before the
body was found, he. with Mr.. Breese and others,
went to the Molloy residence. and Err Breese
tried to talk with the Graham boys about the
missing woman, but Cora Lee was unwilling
The State will also attempt to prove that Mrs.
Molloy was not in Kansas on the night OF the
murder, but that she and Cora Lee were follow
ing In George Grahams footsteps, through
Springfield and Newton, and if they did not
actually participate in the murder, that they
were present when it was committed.
The course of the defense will be to prove an
alibi for Mrs Motley and challenge the prosecu-
ton to submit evidence duplicating Cora Lee.
Z The prosecution has been diligent. and has made
thorough search of the Molloy farm. The
wel1 or cave in which the body was found was
again explored, and an additional number OF
articles of apparel found. Among these are the
bodice of the silk dress worn by Mrs. Graham
on the night of the murder, her stockings,
hoop-skirt pair of scissors and thread. The
bodice of the dress is perforated by bullet-hole
corresponding with that found in she chemise
and corset, and proves that she was shot. and
not killed with knife, as recounted
hv Graham in his confession. The
prosecution have repudiated Graham's
statement in that document as TO the metnods
employed in the murder and hold to the theory
that Sarah Graham was shot. In Grahau's con-
fession he stated that he and his wife walked
from Springfield to the farm on ths nlgnt OF
Sept 30. It will be shown that it rained all tnat
night; that the roads were muddy and the creeks
which they were obliged to cross swollen. The
shoes and underclothing bear no trace OF mud:
On the cont: ary. there is an entire absence OF
any evidence in their appearance that wouio
verify the story as to the walk The prosecution
Is convinced that George and Sarah Graham TOOK
the train that night and went to Nicholas juno
tion, about two miles from the farm; that tney
were met by Cora Les with the spring WAGON be-
longing on the place, and that on the way to the
farm house Sarah Graham and Cora Lee
Graham quarreled, and the former was shot.
They are confident that testimony will be
adduced sufficiently strong to hold Mrs. Molloy
also, at least an accessory after the fact. Ora
ham maintains characteristic nonchalance, and
stubbornly maintains the truth of the improba-
bic story of his confession. He has at times
. given vent to communications indicating that
he would turn on the women and tell the whole
truth, but has stopped short Of statements that
would impicate them.
Public interest has been aroused to remark
eble degree in this city and county. and in fact
throughout the entire country wherever Emma
Molloy has evangelical and preached temperance
reform. 1t Is asserted on authority that an or
ganization has been formed in the county to
lynch Graham Immediately upon the conclusion
Of the preliminary examination of the women.
Thus far the promised additional statement,
which appeased the mob on the night of the 1st
inst, has not materializsd, and he is diligently
scheming to arrange for q defense for himself