Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-14
UNITED STATES COURT.
the Lane Case on Trial all Day-Arguments at
the Evening SessIon-The Townsley
Case Will Come Up this
Morning

1
At O'Clock yesterday morning court
was called TO order and after some minoi
details had been attended to in regard *
setting cases for trial the Lane case was
then called. The jury was called and aftel
some excusing panel was secured which
consisted of the following: a. R. Down
ing. G. W. Friend, w. a. Aekerman
Sames McClain, Thomas J. Kirker, r. A
Dowell, J. E. Lucas, f. r. Mckinley. O.
c. Ingmire, J. Gillespie. J. w. Richard
son and Samuel Rodgers.
District Attorney Perry appeared for the
prosecution and was assisted by j. S.
johnson, OF Oklahoma, o. n. Violet, OF
Oklahoma, and t. +. McMechan, of this
city. Mr.. Order conducted the examina-
ton Of the witnesses which occupied
nearly three hours after which Attorney
johnson arose and started the case.
at seems, - said Mr.. johnson. that on
or about the 18th day of last July, the de-
PENDANT, Charles Lane and Miss Skeed did
reside in Oklahoma City Lane
was connected with the Oklahoma
Journal. The prosecuting witness was
living in the home OF her father. Lane is
a married man, but at the time the crime
was committed he was living apart from
his wife. The victim is thirteen years old.
After Lane became acquainted with the
family he was in the company of Miss
Skeed several times prior to the time the
crime was committed. On the day Of the
crime Lane procured carriage and was
driving about the city and seeing Miss
Skeed On the street, he invited her to ride
with him to the place where the Fourth Of
July celebration was held. Returning to
the city he placed the carriage in the liv-
cry stable He then walked back to the
| city in company with Miss Skeed. In the
| course Of their walk they passed block OF
buildings wherein Lane had his room and
| IN which building there was also dental
Office. He made an excuse, upon reaching
the stairway leading to his ROOM that he
had business in the dentists office
and he prevailed upon the
child to accompany him up the stairway.
| On arriving on the second floor she found
/ herself in the room of the defendant and
| the crime was then committed by force.
Attorney Order then spoke to the jury
! in favor of the defense. In the course of
! his remarks Mr.. Order said that the
prosecutrix had gone to Lanes room on
he Tues lay Immediately before the Thurs
day mentioned in Indictment and what
wac done there ne did not think it was
! necessary for him to dwell upon. He then
detailed the circumstances the defendant s
witnesses would testify to and closed up
| by asking the jury to give close attention
to the evidence which would be given by
the witnesses. court then adjourned until
/ 100 p. IN.
| AFTERNOON SESSION.
At 100 Judge Foster again took seat and
| the witnesses in the Lane case were called.
Frances N. Skeed was placed on
the stand Lives in Oklahoma City
Has resided there with her parents since
May last. Is Il years old Is acquainted
with Charles Lane. Has known him since
May. Was employed for short time at a
restaurant in the city. Saw Lane in the
| forenoon of the Fourth of July. Said that
she again saw him about 5 O'Clock in the
afternoon. Lane was in a buggy at the
time and asked her to 90 to the celebra-
ton. Stayed there about an hour. Re-
turning from the grounds they stopped at
livery stable where Lane had hired the
horse They then walked down Grand
arriving at the building where Lane
roomed he asked her to go up to the
dentists Office which was on the second
floor. Said that on arriving in the hall
Lane opened the door of his room and
pushed her in. Then told her if she made
loud noise he would shoot her. Lane
then locked the door and threw her into
chair. sat down on her lap and COM
menced to unbutton her dress. Despite
her struggles he succeeded in removing her
dress and skirt and then threw her on the
bed. He then removed her shoes and also
all of his clothing but an undershirt, after
which he cotton the bed and accomplished
his design. After remaining on the bed
for about fifteen or twenty minutes he got
up and went outside for pitcher CT water.
| While he was gone she threw on her dress
and ran down the stairs TO the sidewalk.
On arriving there she saw three men and
told them what had occurred and also
asked them TO get the remainder OF her
clothing. A man by the name of Ross
went up to the room with her and got her
clothing, She then went home. She
stopped first at the house of man named
Frost. where she expected to find her sis
ter, but on not finding her Mr., Frost &C
companied her home. Was confined to
her bed for about n week. o. II, Violet
conducted the cross examination, but
nothing contrary TO thesabove was brought
out. The witness told the story
Of the crime in straightforward, honest
manner and the cross-examination Of Mr..
Violet failed to shake her testimony IN any
point.
DIR. Bennifield lived in Oklahoma City
since April Is practising medicine. Knew
Frances NJ. Skeed, having become &C
quainted with her on the night of the
Fourth of July At about midnight he
was called to attend her and found her in
her fathers house. The girls mother was
present when he made an examination of
the girls person at the request of her pa
rents. The indications showed that she
had had recent knowledge of man and
found the patient very irritable and fever
ish.
y. T. Ross, of Oklahoma City, was then
put on the stand. Testified to being in
Oklahoma City on the Fourth of July last
and was one of the party who were on the
sidewalk when Miss Skeed appeared and
asked him go get her clothes. He went to
the room and Lane opened the door. The
latter was in partly dressed state.
The witness remained in the room
but a short time. Thought Lane had been
drinking some.
H. C. Hunter was called and said he was
in Oklahoma City on the 4th Of July last.
Saw the girl when she came down the
stairs and that she was excited somewhat,
- !