The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-05
TRACED TO NEvELS.
MurderOuS Instrument Found
By doc" Ward
In the Clothing About Mrs.
Matson's Body
WAS MADE BY NEVELS.
Two Witnesses Trace Its Own
ership to Him.
How Did It Get There, is the
Question.
MUCH DEPENDS HERE.
Did Nevels Leave It After Kill
ing Mrs. MatsOn?
Or Was It Placed There, Sub
Sequently.
Two Witnesses Trace Its Own
ership to Him.
MUCH DEPENDS HERE.
Did Nevels Leave It After Kill
ing Mrs. MatsOn?
Or Was It Placed There, Sub
Sequently.

Interest in the trial of Frank Nevels
for the murder of Mrs. A. D. Matson IN
creased today. The states evidence
took tangible form and shows Nevels in
a somewhat bad light. The ownership
of the telltale slungshot found in the
rags over the murdered woman's head
was traced to Nevels by two witnesses,
and there are others who will testify to
the same thing As TO how the slung-
shot got there was not developed,
whether left there by Nevels or placed
there by someone else.
Two of the witnesses saw Nevels
make the slungshot.
TIE attendance was even larger than
yesterday, and every corner of the court
room was packed
The Matson murder trial made good
progress in the district court yesterday
afternoon.
Three important witnesses, Police Ser
geant Tim Donovan, Coroner Bailey and
L P ("Doc') Ward, were examined. The
testimony of the first two was chiefly
in relation to the details of how the body
of the murdered woman was found, and
the condition of the house when they
arrived. "Doc" Ward told about finding
the tell-tale slung-shot in one of the
rags thrown over the dead woman, and
tracing its ownership to Frank Nevels,
the accused.
Something of stir was created in the
court room when deputy sheriff Dan
Jones brought in a big bundle as large
as family's weekly washing. 1t was
the bedding, shawl and carpet which
were wrapped about Mrs. Matson when
her body was found.
They were still clotted and discolored
with blood. Many of those in attendance
seemed pleased when the rags were held
up to full length in all their repulsive
ugliness before the jury
AT the close of County Attorney SAT-
tords statement of the states side of the
case, which was complete and effective,
all of the host of witnesses were called
and sworn.
They were then ordered excluded from
the court room by the motion of Joseph
Ensminger, in order that they might not
be familiar with what those preceding
them had testified to. Sheriff Burdge
for the prosecution and Mrs Nevels for
the defense, were allowed to stay.
Mrs. Nevels moved her chair from the
back part of the room to the side of her
husband, the prisoner Their baby was
in her arms, and the youngster cried oc-
casionally and had to be taken up.
Tim Donovan Testitiss.
Sergeant Tim Donovan, the first wit
ness, testified in part:
Q-How long have you lived in To-
peka?
A-Twenty years.
Q-What official position do you hold?
A-PoIice sergeant
Q-Were you sergeant on the goth day
of December last?
A-Yes.
Q-On day or night duty?
A-Day duty.
Q-Did you know Mrs. Matson?
A-Only by sight.
Q-How long had you known her?
Al can't say.
Q-YOu know where she lived?
A-Yea; on the northwest corner of
Fifteenth and Monroe streets.
Q-What kind of a house is it?
"A square stone house, with three
rooms upstairs, and a frame kitchen on
the west
Q-How far is this from the railroad
A-The tracks are less than a block
east.
Q-How far back from the street il
the house?
A-Eight or ten feet.
Q-Did you go down to the house OF
the goth day of last December?
A Les, sir.
Q-How did you happen to 90 down
A-Mrs. John G. Otis had stopped a
police headquarters and left word tina
Mrs Matson had disappeared mysteri
ously. We went down to see about it.
Q-What preparation did you make
before starting?
Al took a big bunch of assorted
Keys, so l would be able to unlock the
doors of the house if necessary.
Q-Who accompanied you?
Aired Badger, JOURNAL reporter
and Charley Lindsey.
Q-How did you go to the house?
Ave took a South Topeka car Al
lar as Fifteenth street and walked eas
the rest of the way.
GIN what condition did you find tn,
house? -
A-The doors were all locked. tn,
closed.
Q.what did you do when you go
there?
Al went across the street and lef
Lindsey and the JOURNAL reporter look
ing in the windows While T was gon
shey discovered what they thought wa