The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-08
HOW ROSS WAS SHOT
Witnesses Who Were Present
Saw the Killing.
Mrs. De BarrOws Had Hatchet
in Her Hand
BUT WAS LED AWAY.
The Court Room Packed With
Spectators Today.
The Trial Brings Many Rossyille
People Here.


The DeBarrows murder trial is Great
ing great interest at the district court.
The largest attendance at any trial OF the
term is in the court room. A large
number of Rossville people are present
and take lively interest in the case
Their sentiment is about equally di-
vided. Some are very bitter against
DeBarrows because he shot Mr. Ross
when the foreman and his party had no
arms and had removed all weapons from
the house purposely to keep the peace.
On the other hand many of the Ross
vile people think that DeBarrows was
justified in defense of his home.
DeBarrows is much calmer today. He
has not cried at any time His forehead
is continually wrinkled, however, and he
leans forward in his chair 10 catch every
word that is said. DeBarrows has never
smiled or betrayed any appreciation of
humorous incidents, though this morn
ing his wife laughed quite heartily sew
eral times. DeBarrows himself is too
nervous TO laus b.
The raaI trial Of the case began yes
terday afternoon.
Mr.. Stafford gave a detailed account of
the shooting. DeBarrows, he said, came
home from Rossville and found Ross and
three of the men in his home for the
purpose of evicting him and setting his
furniture out of doors. DeBarrows Sc
cured pistol from his wife. lie
snapped it once. Then it went
off and the first shot struck
Desnoyer, one Of the men, through the
fager and cheek. The second grazed
Ross left temple. The third struck Ross
in the left side of the abdomen. The
fourth lodged in the ceiling. The fifth
went through one of Ross arms while
they were struggling.
Mr.. Isenhart for the defense told how
thsee men had gone to DeBarrows' home
at daybreak the day before and tried 10
put him out. How be had been forced
to defend his homo for four hours. How
Ross and his party went to the tenants
home when they knew he was away and
forcibIy put Mrs. DeBarrOws from the
house, tearing her dress. That it was
the last shot fred that struck Ross in the
stomach and killed him aud this was
fred accidentally in the struggle over
the pistol.
Joab MuIvane's Testimony.
Joab Mulvane was the first witness
called. He and John r. Mulvane are
the owuers of the Mulvane ranch where
Ross was killed.
Q-Were you acquainted with Joel D.
Ross during his life?
! Al was.
Q-How old was he?
About 80 years. I think.
Q-How long had he been in your
/ employ at the time of his death?
Al think he was in his third year.
Q-Do you remember ever having met
Richard DeBarrows?
Ale came to me one day at my
Office and SAID that he was employed at
the place. That Mr. Ross had discharged
him and that he wanted to see me about
it. | did not know who he was then and
didn't know that he was employed on
the place until he told me. 1 said to him
that Mr.. Ross had entire ch arge of the
farm and the full power of employing
and discharging the men. l was in
great hurry to catch a train and told him
l didn't have time to talk to him.
Coroner BaiIey's Testimony
Coroner f. W, Bailey went to Ross
vile to hold an inquest over the body of
the dead man, He testified in regard 10
the wounds.
Q-What were the wounds?
A-One in the right forearm, one on
the left side of the head. and one IN the
left abdomen. The last one was the
fatal wound.
Odd the bullet range upward or
downward in the wound in the stomach?
Q-Were there any powder marks on
the body?
A-There were not
j. L. Ross Testifies.
The son of J. d. Ross was then called.
His name is james 4. Ross. His hair
and moUstache are red and he has a
florid countenance. He is probably 21
years of age.
Q-Were you a hand on the NuIvane
ranch on last July?
Al was.
ODD you see your father aad 9TH
ers come down there on July 4?
A-Yes, sir; Ed Desnoyer, John Baird,
Henry Carter and my father.
Odd you see Mrs. De Barrows?
A-Yes; she was near the house with
one of the little girls. When the men
came she went into, or attempted to, go
into tho house. Father took her and led
her away
Q-How was she acting?
A-Mrs De Barrows was yelling 'mur-
der'' and 'oh my husband"
Q-How often did she yell that?
Aust as fast as she could hollow.
Q-Then what did you see?
Any father took her by the wrists
and led her away.
Odd you see anything more before
the shots were fired?
A-Ed Desaoyer brought De BaTrovs'
y Manchester into my room and l laid il on
the table. Soon after heard three shots
fred.
Q-What then did you dc?
Al took my shot gun and ran into the
other part of the house.
Q-As you ran in did you see any one
going away?
A-Yes, sir. Desnoyer.
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