The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-01
EVIDENCE ALL IN.
Taylor Brothers Case Closed as
to Evidence.
Testimony of the Defense's Best
Witness Impeached.
HAS. A STRONG CASE.
Prosecution Expected to Get a
Verdict of Guilty.
HAS. A STRONG CASE.

CARRoL1ToN. Mo-, Aug. AT 2:5o
o'clock yesterday afternoon the taking
of testimony in the Taylor case closed.
The state occupied most of the day IN
rebutting the testimony introduced
for the defense and succeeded in con-
tradicting nearly, if not all, of them.
The first witness called was Miss
Van Wye, who is the principal re-
lance of the defense to establish Bill
Taylor's abb. Her testimony had been
impeached by three witnesses and her
recall was to lay the foundation for a
further denial of her statements.
Mr.. Bresnehan made number of in
uuiries as to whether witness had not,
in conversations with Mrs. McPhet-
ridge, for whom witness had worked
after she had left Browning, declared
that she believed the Taylors guilty,
and whether she had not told Colonel
Myers she did not know a thing in
the world that would do the TaylOrs
any good
To such of the questions as she was
emphatic denia1s.
On cross-examination Mr.. Conlzling
led the witness to zorro borate her
mothers testimony as to the alleged
threats of prosecution by Mr.. Bresne-
han, if she and her mother testified
against the Taylors, and offers of
money if they would leave the country
to escape testifying. She declared
Dr. Van Wye made the threat and of
fered the money
When E. Fl. Schooler's name was
men toned, Miss Van Wye cried from
anger.
Mrs. McPhetridge was called to the
stand after Miss Van Wye had stepped
down Mrs. McPhetridge is the wife
of Rev W. D. McPhetridge, a Baptist
clergyman, at Brookfeld, and in
whose family Miss Van Wye was for
merly employed. Mrs. McPhetridge
said: ''Miss Van Wye worked for me
about three weeks. She told me that
Colonel Myers had received a letter
from Will Taylor, telling him (Myers)
to see her and that if she knew any
| thing to do him (Taylor) any good she
wouldn't lose anything by telling 1T.
Two DAYS afterwards she told me she
remem bered seeing Taylor at the bank.
Previous to this she had told me she
knew nothing about the Taylor case"
did Miss Van Wye tell you she told
Colonel Meyers that she didn't know a
single thing that would help the lay
lors?" asked Mr.. Bresnehan.
''She did, said the witness
George GOoch was introduced by the
state for the purpose of impeaching
the testimony of the Bailey sisters.
They had sworn that they saw George
Taylor driving home about 9 o'clock
the night of May 10, and that the wit
ness passed just ahead of him. They
also said it was just after dark and
that they were going to milk the cows.
| Gooch declared they had finished
milking the COWS when he saw them
and that it was still light.
George Gooch's testimony was cor
roborated by his brother, Walter, who
saw the Bailey girls at the same time.
| The GOoches are honest looking boys
and their testimony did much to throw
discredit upon George Taylor's claim
for an abb.
A. B. Bond of Linn county was
called from the audience by Mr.. Bres-
nehan to testify as to the reputation
| for truth and veracity of D. B. CLANCY.
| Bond swore that CLANCY was Come
| thing of an Ananias. Bond also said
| that Jim Harris, an important witness
for the defense, was accustomed to
| deal roughly with the truth.
Mr.. E. L. Jones of Browning also
knew something in regard to the char
acter of CLANCY for veracity, which he
declared to be very bad.
William Ready, S. Fl. Lenhart and
John Huber testified that DR. Craig's
reputation, who testified for the de-
tense that Jim Harris was a stranger
to the truth, was worse than Jim's.
One of the most important witnesses
for the state in rebutta1 was Garnett
Atkins of Green City, who testified as
to conversation he had held with
Mrs. Dave Gibson at George Tavlor's
house, May 21, 1894. George and his
| wife, and Dave Gibson and his wife
and Orvil1e Shelby, a son of General
10 Shelby, were present at the time.
''Did Mrs. Gibson say to you,
They've got George implicated in the
murder, but don't know whether he
is guilty or not?'" asked Mr.. Bresne-
han. after consulting his notebook
'She did" eTnphatically replied the
witness.
Ibid Mrs. Gibson also say that she
sat up the night of May 10 until 10
o'clock waiting for George to come
home and that she went to bed before
he did return?"
f'She did"
.'state what Mrs. Gibson said to you
as to the time George did return"
t'She said she opened the door and
let George in and that it was after 4
o'clock"
Atkins testimony was not shaken
by cross examination. 1t is the most
damaging rebuttal the state has pro-
duced. 1t refutes the testimony of the
relatives of George, and fatty contra
diets the story of Mrs. Gibson, George
Taylor's mother-in-law, who testified
| that George returned at 9 o'clock. and
that she saw him in bed at midnight,
when she went to his chamber to quiet
the crying baby. Colonel Hale en-
deavored to show that Atkins and
Mrs. Gibson were girl and boy lovers,
and that he took advantage of this
fact to secure evidence against the
Taylors.
Nothing of the kind, colonel - said
the witness, as he scratched his bald
head. Mrs Gibson was quite smart
of q girl and was little boy at that