The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-04


nothing about her personally.
Captain Waters asked if he had not
known that she was for several years
employed at the Dutton house as head
waitress; to which the witness replied
that he had not known anything about
her residence except q general under
standing that she had lived in Topeka
for several years.
DR.. England said he had had a talk
with Warden Chase about Miss Will
liams a short time before she left the
penitentiary. At that time Chase said
she came well recommended and showed
him petition signed by NJ. Fl. Dutton,
Noah Allen, R ]. Macxey and others.
Before DR.. England left the witness
stand Captain Waters said j. ]. Raney, a
man who formerly lived at Meriden but
who now resides at Kansas City, had
written letter. to DR.. England which he
wanted introduced as evidence at the
proper time.
DR.. England said he had the letter in
his pocket but as it was OF private ma
ture he did not want to give it up.
Capt. Waters then asked him to place
it in the hands of the committee or the
chairman of the committee, to be used
only if they thought proper. DR.. Eng
land objected and the committee said he
would not be compelled to give up his
private correspondence, although
subpoena may be issued for him at another
time.
The committee then at 6 20 p. m, ad-
journed until o'clock this morning.
TOdRy's Hearing.
Miss Abbie Matthews, a plump little
woman with silvery hair and a motherly
face, was the first witness called in the
Chase investigation this morning.
Miss Matthews says she now resides at
the State Industrial School for Girls at
Beloit, where she is matron. She first
went to the penitentiarv in 1898 as as
sistaut matron. aud in May of that year
was made matron of the institution
Lou Williams became assistant matron
when the witness was made matron.
Miss Matthews then told of Miss Will
Jams coming to the penitentiary, and
said Warden Chase said she had waited
on the table at the Dutton house, where
he boarded, and was only casual ac-
quaintance of his.
"PleASe tell the committee what you
know about Miss Williams character?"
was the question put to the witness by
Prosecuting Attorney GODDARD.
''Well, Mr. Chase made frequent visits
! to Miss Williams"
"Did you ever see anything improper
! between them?"
81 saw him once in the act of kissin e
her in the lower hail.
! When cross examined in regard to this
| kissing affair Miss Matthews said: sit
| was in the lower hall I saw MIR. Chase
| put his arm around Miss Williams waist.
Her face was turned up to him aud their
lips were very close together.
where were you that you saw this?"
II was in the hall and had just come
! out of the work room"
what happened then?"
"There was little commotion when
they saw me. Miss Williams passed into
/ the laundry and Mr.. Chase went out of
/ the house."
"How often would Mr.. Chase visit Miss
| Williams" asked Mr. GODDARD.
"Four, five and six times day"
"Where would he visit herr"
HE would visit her sometimes in the
| yard, sometimes in the laundry and
sometimes in her ROOM
"Where would they generally meet?"
''They would meet more often in the
] yard than anywhere else. She would see
him coming through the tower gate and
she would 90 to meet him"
did you ever see Mr.. Chase and Miss
Williams go to her room together?"
"Yes, sir; have very many times"
"How long would they stay in her
! room on such occasions?"
'sThey would generally stay a half
hour and sometimes longer"
''Were the visits of Warden Chase at
any time more or less frequent?"
AFTER the middle of June his visits
were not so frequent"
ibid you ever notice anything about
the conduct of the warden and Miss
Williams when they were together?"
"They always seemed pleased to meet
and seemed to be interested in each 9TH
er's conversation"
did you ever see anything else be-
tween the warden and Miss Williams
aside from what you have already told?"
"Some time in July 1 think it was
saw Miss Williams come out Of the bath
room and meet Mr.. Chase in the hall"
''How was she attired at that timer"
"She had on one skirt only and had
on neither an undershirt nor chemise."
what did they do when they metz"
"Tney went into Miss Williams room
together and locked the door,
allow long were they in there with the
door locked?"
.sAbout twenty minutes that time, l
think"
"Was Miss Williams ever sick while
she was at the penirentiary?"
81 think it was about the 1st of July
that she was sick"
ibid Warden Chase visit her while she
was sick?"
"He did"
"Did you see anything out of the way
between them while she was sick; if SO
tell about it,"
son one occasion I was going to my
room when in passing Miss Williams
door which was open I saw Warden
Chase inside bending over the bed
where she lay. l hesitated a moment
and saw him kiss her twice"
Miss Matthews said Miss Williams told
her Warden Chase was worried most tC
death about her while she was sick.
On cross examination Miss Matthe ws
told about being .dressmaker and hav-
ing travelled two seasons with Miss Helen
Potter, an impersonator, as her seam
stress and waiting maid. She had lived
s.about five years in Kingman county.
Captain Waters produced a letter writ