davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21

Mrs. Matson's hairpins, bloody, IN a
bucket which stood on a low bench at
the left Of the door. 1t is reasonable to
suppose that the body was dragged into
the vacant room, and the fact that the
head was wrapped SO many times in
cloth would explain the absence of blood
marks leading from one room to the
other. The fact also that the cloth was
so firnly embedded in the faco and
wound, would Indicate that the robbers
gave the woman a number of blows with
the axe after it was bandaged, to make
their work doubly sure.
Then they resumed their search of the
house. They did not touch the large
spare room upstairs, although every
other room was thoroughly ransacked-
This proves to those working on the
case that they found what they were aft
or before reaching It When the rob
bers went out they locked the kitchen
door. The key found IN the door was
covered with blood. Then they went
out through the window through which
the Journal reporter and the policemen
crawled in. This is the theory which in
view of the facts seems most probable
At first sight Sergeant DOnO-
van believed the woman had been
murdered upstairs. This IS an
absurdity. chiefly because if she was
murdered there the murderers would
have left her there. Nobody could have
detected their victim through a window.
Again, there were no traces of blood up
stairs as there surely would have been
had the murder been committed there.
Had Mrs MatsOn been upstairs she would
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21

Mrs. Matson was a highly educated
woman, aud had many classic works in
her library and full set Of the Encyclo-
psedia Britannica. She was q native Of
Ohio and graduate of Antioch college
at Yellow Springs, in that state. Her
maiden name was Doty
Mr. MatsOn was known in Kansas as a
Congreg gational preacher. He preached
at Brookville in 1875, and Carson, Brown
county, in 1880, and subsequently, in Do
YER
". c. Gilpatrick, of No. 921 Fillmore
street, used to know Matson and didn't
think much Of him" His wife, who re-
Gently died. and Mrs. MatsOn wero very
intimate. He says that Mr.. and Mrs.
Marson quarreIled over selling the four
lots on which Monroe school now stands.
~On Que occasion" Mr.. Gnpatrick
says: Mrs MatsOn asked me If 1 sup
posed her husband really was infatuated
with another woman. l told her | didn't
know But about a year ago l was in
San Diego with my daughter On Sun
day we had hour TO spare before
church and we thought we would
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21

about her She was great reader and
her library is worth At least $500
Mira SAin said that she last saw Mrs.
Matsou on the sire els two weeks ago.
Mrs C. F. Peck is the mother of
Walter Peck who helped clean out Mrs.
MatsOn's cistero. She said that the work
was done fully a month go and that her
son and boy named Q. Wiikerson did
the work Walter Peck is now visiting
on farm in Jefferson county aud his
mother says that he left for that place
two weeks ago today
The coroner's jury met this morning
and viewed the remains at Knights un-
dertaking rooms but reached no verdict
because no Witnesses were examined
The jury adjourned until o'clock to-
morrow morning.
l. n. Wood was foreman Of the jury
and the other members were Fred en-
ness, Nels Mcconnell. Frank Ellison,
John Rogers aud j. ". Bailey.
The body lay in the back room Of the
establishment in almost exactly the same
position in which il was found yesterday.
The head was split open from the top
down almost to the bridge of the nose
and the blow that split the head was un-
d0ubtedly done with the sharper edge Of
the old ak found there There were
other bruises aud cuts about the head
and on the hands The hands looked as
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21
WHAT MISS LOWELL Knows.
An Intimate Friend of Mrs. NIatson Con-
tributes Information.

tributes Information.
Miss Sue l. Lowell of 1925 Harrison
street. teacher in the public schools
was one Of the most intimate friends OF
Mrs. Matson. Several times when Mrs.
Matson was out of town Miss Lowell at
tended to her business affairs She
says that besides the property
ia the vicinity Of Walnut Grove.
Mrs. Matson owned the larger part of
some valuable Lincoln street property.
She owned jointly with her husband
some farms near Salina. Mr.. Matson
was her second nus band, and she was
left her property by her first husband.
1t is intinated that Mrs. Matson had a
viii which ignored her husband in the
disposition of her property. 1t was un-
derstoOd between them that she should
leave her property to her relatives,
and the husband might beGueath his
share If the estate to his relatives.
There is one person in town who
claims to know where the will is. and
that she .scan lay her hands on it, when
ever it becomes necessary that
document was taken by the murderers.
Miss Lowell had repeatedly cautioned
Mrs. MatsOn regarding her personal
safety. Mrs Matson never expressed
any fears. but gave the names Of some
'sOad men" IN the neighborhood whom
she said had given her a great deal of
trouble as tenants and in other ways.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21
DEEPLY SHROUDED.
Little Comes to Light Tending
Who 50 Brutally Murdered Mrs
a. j. MataOn.
Suspicious Directed Toward Her
Long Absent Husband,
ARE D5RPELLED TODAY
BY a D. patch From San Diego
California,
Saying That He Is Now in
That City.
PLAUSIBLE THEORIES.
The Terrible Crime Was Tn
doubtedly Committed
By Some One Familiar With
Mrs. MatsoR' Habits.

The horrible murder OF Mrs A d.
Matson. ia her home at the corner of
Fifteenth and Monroe streets, an account
of which was published in last evenings
JOURNAL, is the principal topic on the
streets today The horror that the deed
has created in the public mind is intense,
aud there is a general demand that no
time or expense be- spared to capture the
murderer or murderers and mete out the
punishment deserved. An extra edition
of the STATE JOuRNAI, at 500 last even
Ing, gave some later particulars Of the
crime, that the regular edition did not
contain. For those who did not see that
edition. we recapilulate the following.
Mrs A. d. Alatson was found dead on
the floor Of one Of the rooms Of her house
at Fifteenth and Monroe at 3:3O o'clock
by Police Officers Charles Lindsay, Tim
Donovan. and a JouRSAL reporter
The body had evidently lain there for
at least ten days. as it was stiff and cold.
and there had been NO life about the
house for ten days.
a boy who delivers milk at her house
had noticed that the can he left about ten
days ago had stayed on the back doorstep
and he gave the alarm to the police. The
boy was an employe Of the John g. Otis
dairy
The house is a two-story stone one and
has about ten rooms It is nicely fur
nished and had been ransacked from one
end TO the other.
Mrs. Mats0n lived there alone. Her
hu sband is in California She lived
in good deal of seclu-
sion as regards her neighbors
who are mostly colored people. and it is
not known whether there was any money
ILL the house or not
She lay in little back room on her
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21
SOME or THE THEORIES
or Those Who Are Working on the Case
Given Below.

or Those Who Are Working on the Case,
Given Below.
There are half a dozen theories and
plausi ble ones regarding the mysterious
murder of Mrs. Matson. 1t should be
remem bered that her house is in a local
ity which invites to deeds of violence,
being only a short distance from the
Missouri Pacific freight depot and
tramp shack. The theory that 1t is the
work of a passing tramp has few ad-
herents. The work appears to have been
done By persons familiar with Mrs. Mat
sons habits and aware of the belief that
she kept money in the house.
theory which seems to be the most
reasonable. is that two men went to the
house when Mrs. Matson was away, and
began search for the money which was
kept at the bottom of Il little trunk up
stairs. While they were ransacking
the house Mrs. Matson approached
the kitchen door The robbers
heard her. They stood guard
over the door with uplifted axe. and the
moment Mrs. Matson entered she was
struck dead All the disarrangement of
furniture aud articles IN the house when
it was first entered by officers add
strength to this theory. 1t was there the
axe was found. The only place IN the
house where there were any traces of
blood except in the vacant room where
the body was found, was by the kitchen
door. a JOURNAL reporter found one Of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21

back ahd ID q pool of her own blood,
which had CS led
The milk sat covered where it had
been left. and STATE JOURNALS Of d ates
ranging TO a week ago were strewn
about the yard as the carrier had left
them. The house was locked and sew
eral keys were tried
As the officers stood az a back window
on the porch they could look directly in
on the body as it lay on the floor with
one foot sticking through q door
It was covered with clothing and rags
and couple Of sacks Of sweet potatoes
had been placed on her head She lay
in an easy position on her back with her
arms at her sides, her head tzrned to the
right. her right limb straight out and the
other drawn up a little.
Her clothes were thrown up over her
head and clotted blood held them to the
ho0r
The entire top on her head was crush
ed in as though she had been struck
dead with one fearful blow
The crime must have been committed
very early in the morning or late
at night. as the house was en-
tirsly locked and yet Mrs. Matson
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21
MRS. j. G. OTIS sUsPIcIoNs-
Led to Discovery of the Murder of Mrs
1LatsOn.


1t was Mrs Bina Otis, wife OF ex-Con-
gresham John G.. Otis. who led to the
discovery of the crime Mrs. Otis was
seen by JOURNAL reporter last night
and she said:
's4iy son Foster delivers milk at Mrs.
Matson's house and he told me last Sat
urdav that nObods seemed to be at home.
He found the bucket in the same place
on the kitchen porch every morning with
the milk untouched l said then l feared
something was wrong, and told him
to look in the windows and see
if there seemed to be anyone at
home. He was sensitive about 'prowling
around as he expressed it, in places
where he had no business and he didn't
do so. l kept thinking about it all week
and it worried me, so yesterday after
noon l reported it at police headquar-
tiers. ] felt rather guilty for reporting it,
and thought maybe / was meddling in
something which did not concern me-"
Mrs. Gus was not aware of the result of
the investigation which she started un til
a JOURNAL reporter told her.
She was greatly horrihed, as might
have been expected. She knew Mrs.
MatsOn we'll
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21

20 down towards the beach and
see how the fishermen lived. We had
gone several bloc0s when we met Mat
son face to face There could be no
doubt Of his identity He was wheeling
a baby carriage l pretended not to rec
ognize him and 1 have never mentioned
this to a soul xcept my daughter until
now OF course il may have been some
body else's baby carriage. but it fastened
a lasting suspicion in my mind There
was nobody else in sight"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21
STILL ~ CALIFoRNIA.
The state journal Gives Albert AEatson tho
First News.

Inc stats J OI IlrnaI II lAIDert NIatsOn the
First News.
This morning the STATE JOURNAL sent
a message to San Diego where lives AL
bert MatsOn, the husband of the muir
dered woman. The facts were briefly
told and the questions asked: rs Albert
Matson at san Diego aud has he been
there continuously for several weeks; if
not when did he leave California, as he
was expected in Topeka about this timer
The following reply came this after
noon:
ALBERT Matson is still in this city, but
has heard nothing of the murder. We
have sent your message to his house.
about two miles out. He is a music
teacher here"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21
PEACE.

WAsHINoToN, Dec. 21.-Minister Den
by today cabled the state department
that the Chinese have appointed two
peace commissioners, Chang Yin Huan
and Fhao, who will proceed at once on
their mission from Pekin 10 the Japan
ese capital
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21
TO PHOTOGRAPH THE RETTNA.
Perhaps the SHurderer's Picture May Be
Found in Mrs. 1Iatson,s Eve.

Perhaps the Murderer's Picture May Be
Found in Mrs 8Iatson's Eye.
1t was decided this afternoon that eye
photography should be resorred to as
possible means of finding a cluet to the
murderer. Scientists say that when
death is met facing a murderer, the muir
derer's features are indelibly transfixed
on the victims eyes after death. In
event that Mrs. Matson was struck from
behind. this theory will prove useless
A case Is cited in the Associated Press
today from jamestown, n. Y. where a
murderer is detected in thiB way. The
dispatch says, in part:
The existence of the impression Of
the murderer on the eye first din-
covered by means of a powerful micro
scope. Unfortunately the features of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-21
BISHOP M'NAMARA.

To sNren Only Tonight
In Hamilton hall gives his second
private lecture tonight TO men only
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-27
HE EAENEp Us TIrLE.
Colonel Hanback, Tells an Incideat in
Major Hoods Record

Colonel Hanback, Tells an Incident in
Major Hoods Record
Major Hood who IS considered the
leading candidate for nlted States sem
atOr, has won his military and civic hon
Or5 by ability and merit lie Is modest
and unass umlng, and incidents ia his life
are not easily found in print. dis friends
and comrades occasionally bring out one
Of the many worthy deeds IN which
Major Hood was the actor one Of these
was related at EmporI4 this week IN 4
war lecture delivered by CJL Lewis
Hanback, and is given below.
"Just at noon Van Cleave's division at
the battle Of stone River was thrown into
the breach. The whole right was in c
dreadful smash aud everything, aDpar-
the line until the broken column could
be reOrganized. In the rear Of Van
Cleave the second battalion of pioneers,
500 strong, had been put in position by
Captain, afterward General St. Clair
Morton. His orders to the commanding
officer of the battalion were 10 hold that
position at all hazards to stop, as far as
possible. the straggiers and under no
condition to leave unless he received
orders from him. In a very short time
the assault on Van Cleave's lines
was 50 heavy that they were
forced to fall back and at one
time the retreat assumed the condi-
ton Of rOut- Regiment after regi-
ment broke through the line of the
brave pioneers, who found it impossible
to halt them but the Seven1y-ninth
Indiana, moving back in better order,
halted and formed on the risht Of the
pioneer brigade. General Van CIeave,
brave and gallant man as he was, rode
ID the commander of the pioneers and
asked him what troops he commanded
lie was told Then Van Cleavs said:
n on are too far TO the front; YOU must
go back 10 the re r 10 which the officer
replied Il eau uOt do that, for my
ders are 20 stay here and hold this pO-
sition at ali hazards, and III necessary
to give the enemy the cold steel ust
then the Eleventh and Fourteenth
Texas broke from the woods into the
field, yelling and charging, over a thou
sand strong. They moved not directly
in front ct the battalion, hut I'd its right
Immediately the captain commanding
the battalion changed front, and ia con
junction with the Seventy-ninIh fired one
v0iley into the Texans and with great
cheer charged them aud drove them
away. This ended the movement in this
immediate part of the field. La his re-
port General Morton pays 4 very high
com pliment 10 the com mauder 1t ought
to be "A matter Of interest TO y1u citizens
of Emporia TO know that the officer who
commanded the battalion that day. and
held his position at ali hazards. is your
honored townsman, Major Calvin Hood,
soon after promoted to be major for gal
liant and meritOrious service on that
day"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-27

Republicans Have Record to Make In
Kansas and tIte Nation.
Ex- United States Senator Ingalls, has
struck the right chord when he says the
Republicans OF Kansas have q record to
make.
In a letter TO The Alma Enterprise
Senator Ingalls, says.
'.Ne are now cn trial ia Kansas and III
the nation. We have great oppor-
tunito and we shall be judged with mex
Orable Justice By economy OF admins
tration. by wise, courageous and CON
servatlve policies. we may commend our
selves TO public favor. and onr tenure Of
power may be Indefinitely prolonged
Bat If we prefer 10 perish by precedent
rather than be saved by innovation Ou-
eXdltatiou VIII BE- brief
The issues of today are we'll defined
and must BE met with viEor. The ques-
tiun Of protection il settled Blmetailism
is at the front. as the basis Of a more
elastic, cCDlOus and stable circulatin.r
medium. 10 this. must be added the es-
tahllshmeut 0i Justice ia the relation be-
tween employers and employed, and a
more eQuiGalta distribution Of the bur
dena and hane&ts cf s0cietv.
The hepn ltFean psr,y is competent to
deal with t1ese greet problems of the
present aud the fu.ure. as il has success
fully met and solved the problems Of the
past 1t has histcrv. Ia has great ex-
perience and trained leadership Irrep-
resents the courage. the conscience the
convictions, the aspirations and the
brains Of the American people We
shall succeed beca use we have succeed
ed Our ultimate miss ion Is to secure
the Industrial inde pendence of a coDti-
mental republic Yours very truly,
"JOHN j. ISGAIIs.s
Senator ingalls, is more than half right
when he says Of the Republican party:
I'VE are now on trial in Kansas"
The Republican party in Kansas is A
nuw party. The Old Republican partv
with its ..Bills" and '.Jims' and ~GeorgesS
was wiped out Of existence in 1892 IT.
record has been bad and the people re-
pudiated it,
The new Republican party with new
men at the front has found favor with
the people and victory mas crowned the
efforts of the new leaders The new
party has its record to make and that
record must be made BY the house Of
representative aud the governor during
the coming session Of the legislature
AZ the new Republican leaders look
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-27
THE WOODMEN.

The Preliminary Organization Made This
Morning and Committees Appointed
1he Modern Woodmen are mere, so of
them, from nearly every town in Kansas.
l. he " oodmen are not ike Otner secret
societies. Ihey have no state organ I'd
tiOn and meet only once IN Two years IN
the states when tney elect delegates 10 the
main camps wnIcn axe Aeld "a q place
central Tor the membership.
Sunhower camp, wnIcn has 800 mem
bers, - entertaining the visitors. AT the
meeting last snt the local camp exem-
pinned the secret work, aud the resi- Of
the time was taken up Dy snort addresses
by prominent members.
line morning session commenced at 10
O'clOck. l.. r. Dickinson OF Everest,
Brown county, was eIec.ed chairman,
anu +. 9. CnuDDie, .. q. Brett aud u. >.
GIln secretaries.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-27
Topeka CLUB IN IT.
Iopeka's Big SOeialOrganizatiOn
Hard at Work
For J. r. Burton for United
States Senator
COURTESlEs OFFERED.
Members Of she Legislature
Dined and Wined
And Naae Much of By tie
Club Men.

The fight for the election OF a United
States senator which has been waged
with several intermissions during the
last si1 months, is now on in earnest and
until the legislature definitely settles the
matter on the 22ad Of January there
viii be no cessation in the battle Of poll
tics.
All the active candidates are repre-
sented at the Copeland either in person
or by proxy q w. Ady, j. r. Burton,
Cy Leland and a. W. Smith arrived yes
terday.
Mr. Smith was forced to return to his
home AT Mcpherson on account of an
accident which befel his son. who broke
his arm liza "A fam from "A horse.
Major Hood il expected this afternoon.
but has headquarters are already open
and in charge of Frank Fleuniken.
Soion O. Thacher Is expected to come
% Topeka the first Of next week, but his
manager. Repre- sentative elect i. II.
Caldwell. is here looking after his
interests
The candidates for speaker ure also
hustling Tor position. S. $. Benedict and
j. y Beekmau arrived last night. and
4. T. LoDdal got ia today
Many of the politicians who have been
here Oft and pa during the last few weeks
are discussing the position of the Topeka
club in Legislative affairs.
The members of zhe topeka club. or
az least SOME of fhem. are active Repub-
lican politicians, and they are using the
influence oi the club to assist the caudi-
dAcv of few cAudi 1ates.
J r. Burton is member Of the To-
peka club and K Is not strang that the
influence of the club should he for him
Tor United States senator, hnt just why
the club inhurnca should be thrown TO
N. As Benedict fer sneaker. some of the
politicians ds noE understand
lt IS not "a secret-lAiss ter several weeks
pcka club have. in p studied way. sought
and obtained intro'lucri1as - the new
members elect Of 1ne legislature. esDe-
cially from the t#r western 14rt III the
state. These new menb berz. unAccus-
toned TO the usages Of society
as exempifed 1T the Topeka club
have been dined and "luueaed" at tae
popular cilo house, corner OF Sixth and
Harrison streets. With great regularity.
Cline or two menbers-eiect from the
coyote districts have been indiscreet
enough 90 show in .hs lobby Of the Cope
land. Topeka club tickets. emitting them
20 All the privileges Of the club house for
ten days
These coyote members have given it
out THAT while they are being dlnel and
feasted at The club. their hosts continual
ly pump Burton and Benedict sentiment
into them.
What the influence of the Topeka club
in politics is to he may be determined ID
some degree by It's success in booming
the two candidates it is now champion
ing.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-27
WHEW!
That's What Everybody said when They
saw the Ttaernlo1netel.


saw the TtaernloH oHneter.
There was good big drop in the
mercury since the sun went down last
evening and it IS very much colder over
the west today. The lowest temperature
here for the last twenty-fOur hours was
zero and we are just at present just out
Of the zero belt with thermometer reg
istering two degrees above. Others
register SIX degrees above ana eight de-
grees above. Tonight it viii 60 below
zero.
In the states north Of us with South
Dakota for cold wave center inc tenn
perature ranges from 10 to "a degrees
below, and for only the fifth time ia the
history Of the signal service the barome-
ter has reached height of thirty ono
inches.
1T i5 generally clear. however. except
ing what little snow has fallen Id east
ern Missouri and III southern Colorado.
There has been little snow too in most
OF The northern states.
The winds in the mountain states are
mostly sOutheriy.
Weather Observer Jennings says tho
indications are tnat it VIII De fair and
colder tonight ana slightly warmer by
tomorrow evening.
The trains in Colorado and the states
north are delayed by snow and high
winds and the east bound santa Fe tram
that should reach Topeka by O'Clock
viii not get here till after today.