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

PACK yar0 we found this rag that just
matches the rag on the slung- shot (The
state looks upon this as important, as
Novels was in charge of Tony Smiths
house for some time prior to the murder.)
Q-Where next did you go?
A-As I remember it we went to
Nevels' house.
Q-What did you get there?
Ave got this clothes line, which is
the same kind of rope as the handle of
the slung shot is made Of
/ Here the state turned Doc Ward
over to the lawyers for the defense.
Joseph Ensminger realizes the necessity
of spelling Wards story if he can, SO he
went after him this way:
Q-You were running a detective
agency over across the street. weren't
you, you and Art Wellman and Dee Will
| kerson?
A-Not at that time. We didn't run
Q-Let's see, the election was just
over, wasn't it?
| A-Yea
Q-The Pops were defeated. and you
were trying to get job on the new po-
lice force, weren't you.
/ A-No, wasn't doing anything of the
sort l never made any application to
| get on the new force.
Q-There was reward offered for the
Al don't know.
Q-Didn't the governor offer $500 for
the detection of the parties who COM
mitted the crime?
Al heard 80 on the streets but
never saw it advertised
Q-What time did you say you went
to the Matson house that day?
A-Between and 10 o'clock in the
morning.
O-Tho ooroporJa INV, ,,ro. 49,. - a.
same time you were, wasn't it?
Al was told 80.
Q-When you found this slung- shot
why didn't you go in and report it to the
jury?
Al don't know.
Q-They were regularly empanneled,
wese they not. to investigate the case?
Al suppose so.
Q-Then why didn't you go in and
tell the jury what you had found?
A.-Because didn't have to,
Q-You say you compared that
weapon with the wounds on Mrs. Mat
sons body?
A,-No, that amt what said.
Q-Then what did you say?
Al said l compared it with the
wounds on her head.
Q-With what result?
A.-They just fitted.
Dwell Doc, tell the jury what you
mean by lust fitted"
A.-Why, just like you'd whack me
here across the nose and take off the
hide and bust the bone. The slug Just
fitted the scar.
This explanation appeared to satisfy
Mr.. Ensminger, and after few more
questions he was allowed to 60.
BY this time it was considerably after
o'clock and court was adjourned until
LOdaY. RHf hui aAi
court, Judge Hazen delivered an unusu-
ally strong admonition to the Jury
''GentIemen," he said, ''you are now dis
charged from further consideration of
this case until tomorrow morning. Du-
ring your separation you must talk to no
one about the case nor suffer any one to
talk to you about it. l caution you es.
pecially from reading the newspaper &C
counts of the trial or of the case, as it
would be likely to influence your mind
one way or the other. You may read
the papers, but skip anything pertain
ing to this case. This case is one of
more than usual Importance, and so l
caution you to take special care in this
regard. l trust to your honor as men
not to read any newspaper reports of the
case, nor to talk regarding the case to
any one"
Albert Hopkins Testifes.
The first witness this forenoon was AL
bert Hopkins who helped the officers
work On the mystery and who has since
been given the place of night jailer on
the new force The most important fea-
ture of his testimony was that he was in
the room at the Matson house when
''Doc" Ward found the slung shot. His
testimony was considered important as
the defense may undertake to show that
'Doc" Ward put the slung into the
hax ri tSiQOOUaro9O in,
to pose sleuth. Hopkins declared
that he saw the slung shot as it fell from
the shawl.
Fred Badger, a JOURNAL reporter was
the second person to enter the house of
the murdered woman, being about three
feet behind Sergeant Tim Donovan in
going through the window.
Mr.. Badger was questioned at consid-
cradle length regarding the position of
the murdered woman and the condition
of the house. The points of his evidence
were substantially the same as those COW
cred in Sergeant Donovan's testimony.
VIII Robinson Testiies.
Will Robinson, the colored young man
who lives across the street from Mrs
Matson and was in charge of the house
for two days by direction of the coroner
after the murder was discovered, testified
next:
Odd you know Mrs. Matson?
A-Yes, knew her sixteen years.
Q--Are you acquainted with Novels?
A-Only slightly.
O-You know where he lives7
Ale lived in one of Mrs. Matson's
houses down on the creek.
Q-You saw the rags that were over
MIS- Matson?
Ayes.
Q-Do you know whether they were
shaken by anyone before "Doc' Ward
examined them?
Al don't think they were was
there all the time and nobody examined
| them in my presence
Q-Who was there the morning after
the murder?
A-The coroner's jury were in first
Q-Who else was there7