The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-13
TALE OF BRUTALITY
Brought Out by the Raper Divorce
Case.
MRS. RAPER'S STARTLING EVIDENCE.

Homo Life Full or Morrors-The
Younx son Threatens the Life OF His
Father.
There was a somewhat sensational
scene in the district court during the
trial Of the divorce case of w. B. Raper
against Leila z Raper now on trial.
Willie Raper is boy about Is years
old who sides with his mother in the case.
His father was on the witness stand tell
Ing q story that would not bear repetition
in these columns, when Willie Raper is
said TO have exclaimed in voice not
audible to the court Pm going TO shoot
the cd - -" and ran out of the
court room
Mrs. Raper is a large woman but she
jumped up hastily and followed her son.
and she was followed by the other Raper
children and Andy Miller, the "hired
man" who is also mixed up in the case
Lawyer w. R. Hazen who represents
the defendant in the case, called >. b
Isenhart. the plaintiffs attorney to one
revolver to shoot the old man. think
he's crazy; he has made similar threats
before. He may make a stray shot and
shoot one of US instead. l think we'd
better notify the sheriff"
Mr.. Isenhart agreed with him and
Deputy Sheriff Dan Jones was notified.
The Raper boy went up the street and
when he came back Jones cOrralled him
down stairs and is reported to have taken
q revolver away from him.
On the witness stand later on, how
ever. the boy denied that he intended to
shoot his father. He shed tears, and
when the cross examination was the hot
test he mildly suggested that she
thought ii was time for court to let out"
The fact was developed, however, that
Willie Raper, with some other assistance
once put rope around the "old mans"
neck, The is referred to in this way by
everybody about the court, lawyers and
alb and tried TO hang him, and Willie
did drag him and give the rope "a few
twists" He says proudly that when he
old man." Andy Miller, the hired man,
did click" him last winter, and it cost
him $3S IN Justice Chesney's court.
The case is one for absolute divorce,
but it also has involved in it a petition
for a receiver for the property of Mrs.
Raper, as the property is all in her
name 1t consists Of 440 acres of land
five miles west OF Gown and about twenty
head of cattle.
The ground for divorce is that Mrs.
Raper is too friendly with Andy Miller.
The two are at present living west of
Washburn college, In the defense Mrs.
Raper and the children, all of whom took
her part in the case, accuse Mr.. Raper of
having an ungovernable temper and
they say that one of his favorite tricks is
splitting In peoples faces.
Mrs. Raper was put on the stand late
in the afternoon and told a story quite
different from that of the '-Old man" She
said:
"All that he says ia false. 1t is lie,
all of it. I am 50 years old, and was
never in girlhood or womanhood guilty
of a misd meanor."
"Does your husband abuse you frs
quentlys"
'Yes, every time any little thing goes
wrong he scolds and swears at me and
often beats me. He has a high temper
and very Jealous disposition, and when
ever l don't get home when he expects
me he accuses me of running around
with other men,"
ais Mr.. Raper a christian?"
81 guess he is. He reads his bible all
the time. He searches the scriptures
while 1 search for bread He is engag-
ed in hunting up Campbellite doctrines
and he is always willing to stop what he
Is doing and argue with Methodists or
Presbyterians."
as your property incumberedf"
"4es. My taxes are not paid yet and
Kansas Trust company due last week,
and have good many bills past due"
"HOw do you liver"
willie works for 80 cents a day and
am allowed to run bills at little grocery
store. hate to say it but really don't |
new dress for two years. l wear mems |
shoes and had to stay up late
last night and sew and patch to make |
the children tit to appear here in this |
court
y on say your husband abuses your"
Yes; once he struck me in my face |
and knocked my false teeth out and the |
children picked them up ten feet away. !
And again he beat my head against the |
Kitchen wall, and there happened to be /
nail in the wall When he got through l
there was bunch OF my hair tangled on /
that nail as big as my fist, that had been |
1erked out l remember another time |
went through door to get away from |
him and shut the door behind me. He /
struck the panel with his fist and knock |
ed IL in five pieces, and they bounced !
clear across the room and tore a hole in /
the curtain"
Mrs Raper frequently shed tears while |
{ ne was on the stand and hid her face |
behind large palm leaf fan
The evidence in the Raper divorce /
case and the petition for a receiver for I
the property in Mrs. Raper's name was /
concluded in the district court this morn |
ing, and Judge Hazen took the case un- /
der advisement until 1870 Monday after /
noon.
A CHARMING CONCERT
Given at Washburn Co1Ia~a ch.,.1 r..