The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-25
THE OSBON TRIAL.
Sixty Douglas County Citizens
Summoned on the Jury.
History of the Murder of Chas.
HANDLE.
OTHER KANSAS NEWS.
Prof. Dyche Received $500 from
the State University.
r. s. Lille of Winchester Shoots
His Head Off.
KANSAS NEWS.

May being hung Jury with eleven 1or
conviction and one for acquittal The
trial last May lasted eight days, and it
is expected that it will be much longer
this time as there will be considerable
new evidence introduced by both prose-
cution and defense.
Captain Joseph G. Waters, of Topeka,
County Attorney A. c. Mitchell, of Doug
las County Attorney A. E. Crane, of
jackson, and Lawyer s. D. Bishop, of
| Lawrence, will conduct the prosecution.
The defense will be conducted by Eugene
Hagan, of Topeka, and Judge George J.
Barker, Lawrence. j. r. Burton may
not take part. Sixty of Douglas county's
citizens have been summoned on the jury
list for the case. It is thought that it
will be very difficult to select jury as
the case is now pretty generally known.
Judge A. w. Benson, of this district, will
preside.
Concerning this case there is an inter-
esting history. Clinton c. Osbon was
harness maker living at Holtou, Kansas.
J He lived with his wife and two children
in a coy but humble home in the out
skirts of the town. His son died about
three years ago This left the harness
maker with but one child, the idol of his
heart. Her name was EstelIe. She was
particularly bright girl of perhaps 10
/ yours Z VI d WnlIC SIG Taught SCAOOlV
and later learned stenography. She was
employed at one time by Charles Ham
BILE rising young lawyer of Holton. He
was highly respected and had the conf
dence of Mr.. c. c. Osbon, the father
| There had been a few words between
Handle and the Osbons in regard to his
marrying Estelle. Finally Estelle was
/ taken i'll, and seemed to have a great
trouble on her mind. Her parents beg
! IF hor 70 oil fhn, ~,
cause of her sorrow. She ad-
mitted that HANDLE had had criminal
relations with her, and that he had
abused her when she begged him to
marry her. With this great trouble upon
his mind, Clinton c. Osbon few days
afterward, June IA, 1894. met Chas.
! HANDLE and a brother on one of the
I streets in the suburbs of Holton and &C
cused him of having ruined his daugh-
ter, at the same time pointing a double
barrele1 shotgun at his heart and ex-
claiming that he was going to kill him
right there, Hamblc threw up his
hands and said he WAS unarmed, and
that if he had done anything to wrong
/ Estelle he would make it right if he
| (Osbon) would go down town with him
Osbon agreed, but stipulated that Ham
BILE must walk down in front of the shot
gun. This Handle refused to dc, and
Osbon shot him in the breast with both
barrels.
Handle died almost instantly, and
Osbon went down and gave himself up
to the sheriff He was soon removed to
the Shawnee county Jail for safe keep
ing, as mob violence was feared. EstelIe
was arrested but released after time.
The trial was set for hearing at the
May term of the Douglas county district
court, as a change of venue was asked by
the defense. The trial was held here,
in May and continuing for eight
days. The defense entered q plea that
! the defendant was temporarily insane
when he did the shooting, and evidence
was Introduced to prove it. Upon seve-
raj occasions during the trial the defen-
dant showed sigma of intense excite
ment when certain circumstances con-
| nected with his daughters condition were
mentioned. Upon first ballot the jury
stood s for murder in first degree, for
murder in second degree, and one for &C
! qulttal.
Tie ballots after that were changed
/ but little, and the jury was discharged
after several hours of balloting. That,
! of course, necessitated a new trial. and
! the case was set for the November term
of the Douglas county district court.
/ Public sentiment has changed in this
vicinity. Last May Osbon was con-
! demned upon every side as a cold blood
| ed murderer, but this fall the feeling
| seems to have changed somewhat.
/ 1t is the general theory here that Gin
/ ton c. Osbon will go free from the charge
| of murder which now turks over him,
and that his method of protecting his
home will be indicated.
A STATE JOURNAL reporter saw Clinton
| c. Osbon at his room in the county Jail.
Sheriff Hindman has been very kind to
his prisoner, and his good care of the lit
tie man is proven by the fact that Osbon
now weighs 20 pounds more than he did
last May.
'You see I keep Osbon over in this
room because be lost his appetite in the
Jail room there, and was getting very
thin" said the sheriff. 81 feel just as
sure as l do of anything that ii l had
left him in there he would either have
been raving crazy or dead" and the kind
hearted sheriff shook his head know
ingly.
Osbon is confined in a room joining
the main jail corridor. Two old men ara
over the door, but it has paddock on the
on side.
! Osbon was a quiet man and the sheriff
was not afraid of his attempting to es-
cape. When the reporter entered the
room Osbon held out his hand cordially
and welcomed him.
"Yes, remember you" said the little
harness maker.
When it was suggested that he was
looking remarkably well, Osbon said:
| "Yes feel very well. Mr.. Hindman
has been very kind to me. l weigh 25
pounds more than l did last May. l have
| done some work and my muscles are hard
now"
One of the old men ventured. "I'd like
to see 20 goin' to de depot after you're