The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-22
A DEEP SECRET.
Mystery Surrounding the Kill
ing of Charles Hamble,
For Which Father and Daughter
Are Imprisoned
IN THE TOPEKA JAIL.
The Girl an Educated and Ac-
complished Woman.
A Statement That She Instiga-
ted the Murder
BY FALSE STORIES.
BY FALSE STORIES.
Talks With the Important Wit
nesses at HOltOn.
Some Sensational Revelations
Are Expected Soon.

The arrest of Estella Osbon for COM
plicity with her father in the murder of
Lawyer Charles Handle at Holton on the
18th, has created no slight amount of in
terest The novelty of the situation ap-
peals strongly to the public and there rs
growing demand to know more about
the case. That father and his daugh-
ter, an accomplished young lady, should
be lying in the same Jail awaiting trial
for murder, gives the public license to
be more than ordinarily curious regard
ing the story. Realizing this, and also
the fact that the entire story of the MUIR
der has never yet been fully published,
the JOURNAL sent reporter to HoltOn
yesterday to learn the facts.
The girl herself is named Estella Os-
bon, and is twenty-One years of age.
She is rather tall and slender and is
passably good looking She is said to be
% very quick witted and intelligent, and
has a very fair education. She has been
a school teacher of late. aud taught in
the country near HOlton at time.
She is an accomplished musician, and
after her arrest Wednesday,, while at the
hotel waiting for The train in charge of
the sheriff, she sat down at the piano
and played several jolly selections with
rare skill.
A Call on ATrs. Osbon-
The reporter called on Miss Osbon's
mother, the two brothers of the murdered
man, some of the i'm portant witnesses in
the case and talked with several disin-
terested citizens who are acquainted with
all sides of the story that have been made
public and a good many of the particu-
lars that have not been.
Mrs Osbon was found at her modest
dwelling in the southeast part of town
just after supper. The reporter was
taken there and introduced by the young
man kennoyer, who will probably be
important witness for one side or the
other as he was reading law in the Ham
BILE law office for several months previous
to the murder at a time when Miss OsbOn
was also there as a stenOgraPher and
was also very well acquainted with the
young lady.
Many people believed they were en-
gagged. but Kennoyer would say nothing
about that He is pleasant but not par
ticularly .prepossessing young man, and
a good many people believe he knows
more about the case than he cares to tell.
He certainly knew something about the
trouble days beforehand, but failed to
warn the victim
The Girrs Mother Wary.
Mrs. Osbon did not care to talk, and
though the reporter tried to lead to it
with other things, she warily avoided the
subject of the murder.
Il feel too bad to talk about it yet"
she said; 81 will keep what / have to- say
until the time comes. 1t is a terrible
thing My husband and daughter are
notorious enough now, and l will not say
any more"
She is thin little woman with a reso-
lutte face, and though she may be con-
cealing a great sorrow she does. not show
IT by her talk or manner.
On the way back to the main part of
the town Kennoyer talked quite freely
with the reporter and said he believed
that both the father and daughter would
be convicted. "If they had brought
OsbOn here this morning as they at first
intended, and not sneaked him in Yes
terday, he would undoubtedly have been
lynched- The crisis would have come
on the night of the murder if there had
just have been leader"
kennoyer seems to think there is little
doubt that the whole family knew about
the murder before hand.
Public opinion IN the matter seems to
be almost wholly with the Hamble side
of the case The murdered man was
very popular personally with nearly
everyone who knew him aud while ONE
or two we're found who believe he may ]
have been intimate with the girl pub
lie sentiment Is that the. story of his
wrong doing is entirely untrue. Handle
was not much of a lady's man
Il had more chance 10 know than any
body said hennoyer. "and don't be-
lieve there was ever anything between
fhem."
The Rrothers or HambIe-
The reporter found John and Jack
HANDLE at their home and took supper
with them There is so much about this
horrible affair that will not do for publi-
cation yet" said John sWe shall make
it our business, however, to convict the
murderer OF our brother. It WAS done
with an idea OF blackmail. probably. The
girl is a sharp. scheming woman and
used her father as tool. 1t was either
money, marry or kill, with her. She had
not borne the best reputation in the past
and thought it was time to settle down
and marry some good man. The idea
that Charley ever had anything to do
with her is preposterous. She
told about town that Charley was
engaged 10 her, but am am as sure he