The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-05

Q-Relate the circumstances of it
A-Jlmmle Harlan and I went over to
! Novels house Jimmie did all the talk
| ing. he asked him if he had paid Mrs.
| Mstson her rent He said not for the
last month. Jimmie asked him if he had
said yes. and said he could show the re-
ceipt He then hunted for the receipt,
but couldn't find it.
Looks bad for Novels.
Tony Smith, who is probably the most
important witness the prosecution has,
was examined at considerable length.
Smith is mulatto, and he and his white
wife came up from Coffeyville to testify
IN the case. He is q cook in hotel there.
He testified. in part. as follows:
Q-When did you leave Topeka for
| Cotfevville?
A-On the 9th day of last September.
Q-Where did you live when you were
in Topeka?
A-On the south side of Fifteenth
street, between the tracks and the creek;
l don't know the number.
Q-Do you know Novels?
Ayes.
Q-When did you get acquainted with
him?
A-When was porter at the Throop
hotel about year ago.
Odd not Novels come to live at
your house?
A-Yes, few weeks later.
GLOW did Novels happen to go to
your house?
Ale came to me and said he was in
hard luck, and he wanted place to live
and keep his wife. l told him he could
have half of our house.
Q-Have you ever seen this piece of
iron before? (Handing witness the
slung shot found by Ward.)
A-Yes. l found it and kept it at
the house several months.
Q-Where did you find it?
A-Near the Missouri Pacific depot in
the middle of the Santa Fe track.
Q-What is this piece of iron?
Al judge it is the top part of pin
used to couple the bumpers of a passen-
ger train to the coupler.
Q-Was this piece of iron in the same
shape then that it is now?
Ayes.
Q-You are positive this is the same
piece of iron?
Al am sure of it I used it around
the house six months to drive tacks with.
Q.-How long before Novels came did
you have this piece of iron?
Al think Novels came to my house
in August, and l found the iron in April.
Q-After Novels came to your house,
did you ever see him with this piece of
iron?
Ayes.
Q-What was he doing with it?
Ale had cut piece of rope off the
end of my clothesline and was making
a slungshot out of it.
Q-Is this piece of rope on the slung-
shot now the same piece he cut from
your clothesline?
Alt is.
Odd you have any conversation
with Novels about the slungshot?
A-Yes, l asked him what he was 60
ing to do with it. He said he had had
some trouble with Mr.. Hayden and
might need it. (Hayden is a we'll known
colored professor of boxing in Topeka)
Odd you have any conversation
with him about other weapons?
A-When l went away he wanted me
to leave him my revolver, and l wouldn't
do it,
Q-Was this cloth wrapped about the
rope on the sIung shot when you last
saw it?
A-No.
Q-Do you recognize this cloth, or
have you ever seen any exactly like it
before?
of that cloth over two years ago. After
the dress was worn out she made two
aprons of it.
Q-You were arrested about this time,
were you not?
Ayes sir.
Q-On what charge?
A-FOr beating my wife. was fined
$40 and worked it out on the rock Pile.
Q-Who was in charge of your house
while you was in jail?
A-Nevels and his wife.
Q-Where was your wife?
Ain Kansas City, Kansas
Odd you ever see Mrs. Novels wear
ing these two aprons OF your wife's?.
Ayes.
Q-When you went away did you
make any arrangements with Novels
about shipping your household goods to
you?
Ayes, he promised to ship them any
time l sent for them.
Odd you send for them?
A-Yes.
Odd he comply?
Ale sent part Of them.
Q-What part did he keep?
Ale kept a cook stove and two
tables.
Q-Among the things he sent did you
find those two aprons?
A-No, he kept them.
Q-Who went down to Cofeyville to
see you about this case?
A-John Wilkerson.