The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-11
his OWN ATTORNEY.
For q crazy Man Turner Does Very
Well
As LAWYER IN HIS FORGERY CASE
The Testimony Onerea i'm Detail ia
the Trial which Opened ia the dis
trfct Court This u ornIng.

The second trial for forgery Of Martin
r. Teal. OF Ralph b. Turner as he now
calls himself, is in progress in the district
court today before Judge Haken.
This case was called last evening and
the court remained in session until
o'clock for the purpose of empanelling
the jury, and was called again az 500
o'clock this morning.
Judge Hazen is trying TO push business
and IL is succeeding.
The first witness called was Mr.. d. II.
Griffin, the proprietor of the Fourth
street meat market, upon whom Turner
passed the forged check which LED 10 his
arrest.
Mr Griffin told Of Turner's purehas-
ing % cents worth Of steak and d loaf Of
bread and Offering the check for $500
drawn on Swift & Holiday in payment.
he at first refused to accept the check,
finally did take il as it was for such
small amount that he thought it must be
All right.
soon after Turner left the store he
made MP his mind that the check was
forgery and went ont on the street and
saw the rig III which Turner had driven
away from his store, crossing jefferson
street on Fifth street. q block away. He
overlook Turner, charged him with have
ING forged the check and demanded
return Of his money.
He saids Turner pleaded with me not
TO have him arrested, and said it was his
first offence, and that he did il because
his wife and child We're starving
Before SIR. Griffin was turned over for
for crOss-examinatl0n, County Attorney
Stafford introduced the check for eI20,
drawn on Swift 81 Holiday III favor Of
81. r. Teal.
on DISCRIMINATION Turner. who is
conducting his own defence, asked Mr.
Griffin what he said and v hat was said
Eli the store.
The check was handed to the witness,
and Turner asked: "Isn't il fact that
when I handed you this cheek L turned
to 60 out without saying anythlngt'
mo, il is not fact"
sWhy did you refuse to cash the
checkT
Because [ was little suspicious
about cashing check for a stranger"
@Why did you not ask me to give YOU
my name and address,
fl supposed I had your name on the
check
Mrs Mary @. Turner, mother of the
defendant, and Mrs. Lee, relative with
whom she is staying, entered the court
room and were seated near where Turner
was conducting his case.
When Judge Hazen sustained an OBJ
lection to a question asked. Turner said
to SIR. Griffin. els your business affected
by your consciences TO which the wit-
ness replied, s.It is"
Mr. Griffin told Of having caught Tip
with Turner's rig, and of having said; II
want you 20 give me nay money back.
Turner asked. "DIUnt you say TO me-
For one cent / would take YOU oat Of
that buggy and whip you 90 deathe' "
s-4es, I did say that during our CONVEX
sation.'-
Then d suppose that for i've cents you
would try a man to DEATH"
Turner asked. eAIr. Griffin, how much
money and goods did you give me for
that checkg
sTo the amount of $7.20."
GLOW much did you return To me9"
Then was entitled to I'VE cents, was
I notr"
dyes"
why did not you return that i've
cents to meI
II did not think Of it,
sWhy did you not return it to nae at
the last term of cOurt9"
II did not think Of it,
s'Why do you not return it to me
nowg"
You can have it,"
sThen give it to me-
When Mr. Griffin left the stand he
opened his purse and rendered T. Tur-
ner dime. Turner said, u have not
the change" and Mr. Griffin replied,
Then you viii have to wait awhile
A. W. Knowles, vice president of the
Bank of Topeka. was placed on the stand
and asked regarding his connection with
the bank upon which ihe check was
! drawn, but was excused with a notice
that he would be recalled.
Police Captain Gish, who assisted in
making tile arrest, was the next witness
called. and gave his story of the case,
which included his statement that while
on the way to the police station with
Turner in the buggy, Turner admitted
having forged the check, but said he did
e4 sx4 D. GA IA .I. FH