The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-06

house?
A-Yes. some letters from Nevels to
his wife, dated at Houston, Tex, Decem-
ber IS.
These letters were introduced as evi-
oence without being read, MIR. Ems
Munger protested against allowing the
letters in evidence on the ground that
correspondence between husband and
wife WAS inviolable. This point was
overruled by Judge Hazen.
Q-Was Nevels arrested that night?
Ale was.
Q-After he was arrested did you go
to see him at the county jail?
A-Yes, great many times.
Q-What was your object in seeing
him?
A-Wanted to see if I couldn't get him
case,
Q-What was the result?
Ale finally talked to me. He made
what he said was confession.
Q-What did he say?
A-He began by saying that
he had nothing to do with the
actual murder, His part was
to get some valuable papers
including Mrs Matson's will, and turn
them over to Mr.. Matson. He said he
had done "his part of the work" He
said further that Matson had two agents
who had called to engage his services in
the work. One was called "Ross" and
the other poker Dick" They arranged
that Novels was to get the papers and
some others were to do the killing. New
els said he was to change the will to
conform with another WILL copy of
which was sent from California After
getting the papers and putting them in
tin box that belonged to Mrs. Nj Matson,
hn rot uhn q
| affair and turned them over to Josie
Novels, his former wife, who lived at
Argentine.
II asked him if he saw the killing, and
he replied that he saw it through the
window opening onto the porch. He
says that Sam Milton and his wife
brought Mrs. Nj Matson to the house in
buggy. She was unconsciou, and her
| head was wrapped tight in the shawl.
| When they were carrying her from the
| buggy to the house Mrs. Matson began
to revive and Mrs. Milton hit her on the
face with the slung-shot, which quieted
her. Then they dragged her into the
south room and Sam Milton hit her
twice on the head with the axe and
piled the things on top of her."
Q-Who did Nevels say assisted him
in his part of the job?
Ale said that his former wife did,
| Josie Novels or Josie Fisher. He also
said that Hayden and B. Adams were in
| the robbery.
Odd he describe Josie Nevels or
Fisher to you?
A-Yes, he said she was light mulat-
| to.
Odd you go to Argentine after herr
A-Yes, Sheriff Burdge and went to-
| gether, but failed to ind her.
Odd you ever see Josie Novels, or
| Fisher, after that?
A-Yes, 1 saw her at the county Jail.
| Sheriff Burdge found her near Junction
| City. When we made Novels face her
he admitted that she had nothing to do
with the case, and that he had lied to u.s.
Cross-Examination.
Here the state turned the witness over
to the defense, ana he was cross-exam-
ined by Mr.. Ensminger.
Q-What official position did you hold
in December last?
A-None.
Q-You were just plain John Wilker-
son?
Al was.
Q-How much of what Nevels told
you was true?
| A-Not much of it.
| Q-When Nevels was in the county
| Jail and you were trying to get him to
at your order.
Al had no authority to put any one
| in the sweat box.
| Q-As a matter of fact wouldn't any
thing you said at the county Jail go?
Your word was law, wasn't it, John, with
the sheriff and every one else?
! Al am on friendly terms with every
| one there.
Q-Was Novels put in the sweat box?
/
the prisoners for awhile.
| Q-Was the cell he was put in used as
a sweat box?
A-No, we merely used it to contine
unruly prisoners in.
Odd you ever make any threats to
| Novels?
Al did not
Odd you ever offer him any induce
ments to confess?
A-No.
O-Didn't you tell Nevels that you and
Burdge had plenty of money and didn't
| want the reward-that he could have
that-all you wanted was the honor OF a
| conviction?
Al never said anything of the sort
Q-D. .dn't you tell Nevels mob was
going TO take him out and hang him, and
| the sheriff wouldn't do anything to stop
them if he didn't talk?
Al don't remember saying that
may have intimated that there was talk
of lynching him
Q-Was there any such talk?
"A little.
Odd you ever try to prejudice Mrs.
! Nevels against her husband, and get her
to tell what she knew?
A-No, sir.
O-Didn't you tell her it would be a
good scheme to send Frank Nevels tc
the pen SO she could get white hus-
band?
Al never said that I may have
asked her why she married colored
man.
Q-You were a candidate for chief al
this time, were you not?
A-No, sir; was not l never asked
for the appointment. My friends sug-
gested my name. I could manage to get
along very comfortably without the of