The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-10
TELLING THE STORY
TESTIMONY NOW BEING TAKEN IN
THE KEEFE MURDER CASE.

Witnesses from Kingman County Give
Plain Straight Forward Testimony
Frank Hardesty Gives George AstIey's
Last Words-santa Fe Agent at New
Murdoch Tolls About sonnd at the De-
pot Window-Did keefe Say He Did Not
VaIue His Own Life-Judge Reed Wants
to Make Cost Light for Kingman County
The proceedings in the Keefe murder
ease caused a good deal of interest yes
terday. John Keefe sat in his accus-
toned place in an arm chair some dis
tance back of his council and not once
mas he prompted his attorneys.
The prosecution yesterday said they
might want to use some Of the witness
es Tor the defense in rebutal when
Judge Reed gave notice that he would
not delay the trial for witnesses for
either side who had not been subpoe-
naed. He said that Kingman county
would have to pay the expenses and he
considered it his duty to see that the
costs were as light as possible.
nouncement the defense had a subpoe-
ha served on Frank Hardesty who was
at that time giving testimony for the
uefense and il was understood that the
prosecution had ordered two siIbpoenas
tor witnesses who were present for the
defense.
W. NJ. Wallace of Kingman county,
conducted the examination of witnesses
Tor the state and j. Z. Lydecker of the
same place for the defense. Mr. Wal
lace is straightforward and has a
peculiar faculty OF getting a witness to
tell all he knows in the shortest pos
slble time. Mr.. Lydecker is very quiet
IN demeanor and has complete control
of himself but witnesses have to keep
themselves continually on their guard
10 prevent him from leading them over
a smooth road unconSciouSly into a
pitfall of contradictions.
L. NJ. Evens was the first witness call
ed and in answer to questions stated
his story very deliberately frequently
hesitating to reflect before answering
The following is the evidence taken in
the case yesterday.
1. NJ. EVANS.
Il live in Kingman county. I was
present at New Murdoch on the 23d
day of December, 1893. when a dispute
OhtI d SdIllt Oh
I'VE were disputing over how many
points had been made. Keefe and Asst
ley disputed about it. Mr.. Keefe said
we have made certain number of
points. Ashley said you did not have a
Jack in your hand. He then offered to
bet keefe ten dollars that he could
name three cards now in Keefes hand.
we then proceeded to play another
hand. We played several hands when
Ashley again said he could name the
cards in Mr.. Keefe's hand and offered
TO bet ten dollars. They took out their
money and then Ashley offered to raise
the bet twenty dollars. Mr. Keefe said
no, L will bet you ten dollars. Then
Mr.. Ashley said no, 1 will bet you
twenty dollars.
Mr.. keefe 1 think did not have the
money with him and he said he would
bet if he had his check book but he
did not have it. He asked me for
check book. have forgotten all that
was said. l got UP and went out. Mr..
McCollister. think, went out with me.
l went up to the lodge room over which
We had been playing. 1t was a call
went up to the lodgesednchoarooJ
meeting of the order of Odd Fellows
after the lodge meeting we came
down and went to Jones' grocery We
then came back to the lodge room to
attend regular meeting. Ashley went
back with us. l think we remained at
the lodge room about an hour. After
the regular meeting / went over to the
depot and saw Mr.. Ashley in the front
room of the depot. He was on the
south side of the waiting room lying
there dead. He made motion with his
mouth once or twice after 1 went in.
I went over to the depot because heard
q al AZ t,a ,Ff
Ashley was lying on the floor kind
OF one side and his overcoat was on his
arm. He lay on his overcoat and arm.
AS near as l can remember it was about
Z o'clock when / went to the depot. !
Seven in the evening. / had known Mr..
Ashley but was not well acquainted
with him. live four miles from New
Murdoch. Ashley lived three miles east
of New Murdoch"
Cross examination-'I never had any
trouble with Ashley. / first saw Asst
ley that day in the afternoon. There
was a. shooting match in New Murdoch |
that day but 1 did not know it until
/ came in. 1 came in TO attend lodge
Yes, L went to the barn and saw Mr. |
Keefe. Mr.. Astel. Mr.. McCollister, Mr. !
Struble, and 1 think Mr.. Sullivan was
there too.
-Four of the men were playing cards. |
] sat down and played with Mr.. Keefe !
as partner. There Were four of us play |
ing. L had not played more than ten |
minutes when Ashley offered to bet that |
he could tell three cards in Mr.. Keefe's |
hand. Keefe said if you can do that |
there is no use for me to play cards |
with you. We ate oysters after lodge. /
Ashley paid for them 1 heard Ashley |
say that he got the old mans ten"
FRANK DUNKLEBERGER.
~ live seven miles northeast of New |
Murdoch. / was in New Murdoch on |
the 23d day Of December, 1898. 1 saw /
a game of cards played on the east |
side of Main street in a little building |
that belongs TO Music. l saw Keefe !
and Ashley after that in front of Mus !
to's hardware store.
''Mr Keefe said don't you think that |
is an honest man George? They We're |
referring 10 me. Mr.. Keefe said-well |
in fact he didn't say much Of anything. |
Ashley said L got the money fair.
Keefe said You are a liar Ashley said |
You are another Mr.. Keefe.' Keefe /
acted as though he was riled up q little. 1
Ashley did not seem 10 be much riled |
ND. He might have been a little warm
ed up
Il saw Mr.. Keefe after that half /
block north. He was in his wagon /
and l was standing on the ground. He |
called me and said that he had SIX
2 ,,N A-~1 e