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

OF Oam hilton, coIor6d n0IghDor OF
Novels, was the first witness when the
case wss taken up shortly after 2 o'clock
yesterday. Mrs. Milton said that on
December 9th last she went over to
Novels house and saw him sitting on the
doorstep. He inquired of Mrs Milton
where his wife was. She told him she
didn't know. Novels said his wife had
gone away from home and he had to
break in the door in order to get into the
house.
Q-What did you say to NeveIsF
Al said thought he would be back
pretty soon
Q-What did he say?
Ale said he was going to kill her
when she got back.
Q-How long had she been gone?
Al think he said three days.
Odd he have any weapon in his
hands?
Ayes, he had a slung shot
Q-Is this the instrument? (handing
her the slung shot that "Doc" Ward
foundl
Alt is.
Q-Are you sure of it9
Ayes
Odd you ever see it before that?
A-No, but noticed it specially at the
time.
! Novels in Winfield December IS.
Mary Cabbell, colored girl living at
| Winfield, testified to seeing Novels at
Winfield December 10, two days after
| the murder was committed. Novels was
stopping then at his fathers house.
! Q-When did you first see Frank Ne
wells in Winfield?
A-December 49,
Q-What time of the day was this?
A-About shutdown.
Q-How was he dressed?
Ale didn't have any coat or hat on,
! and he wore white shirt
GLOW do you know he came to Win
field that day? Isn't it possible that he
had been there several days but you
hadn't seen him?
! A-No, sir; for I saw him come up
! from the depot.
Odd you see Novels on the street
much?
A-No; he kept pretty close to the
| house.
S. Cure, another witness from Win
field, was next called and testified to
much the same as the Cabbell woman.
Q-What business are you INF
Al do a loaning business.
Q-How near do you live to old man
| Novels?
About 100 feet.
Q-Do you know Frank Novels?
A-By sight
Odd you see him in Winfield last
! December?
Ayes,
Q-What day?
Alt was either the 18th or the 14th.
Q-What day of the week?
A-Thursday or Friday, Pm not GER
tain which.
Odd you see him often?
A-Yes; every day for a week OF more.
Q-Where?
| A-Around the house.
Odd you see him on the streets
much?
A-Not once. He seemed never to go
out. but stayed close to the house.
Q-Did you ever see him outside of
his fathers yard?
A-No
Cross examination by Mr.. McNary:
Q-Who else is in your loan company?
A-No one except myself
Q-Do a very extensive business?
A-Not very
Q-Anything besides loans?
Al cash negotiable paper.
Q-Are you on the street much?
A great deal of the time
Sheriff David N. Burdge was next
called to the stand. He followed Chief
Wilkerson, 1t was past $50 when he
was called, and his examination had
made so little Roadway that it was COM
menced all over again today. Mr.. Burdge
had simply told who he was, etc., with
out going into the details of the case,
when the time for adjournment arrived.
Sheriff Burdge Testif1es.
Sheriff David Burdge was the first
witness called today. The first part of
his evidence was in relation to unimpor-
tant details that have been covered in
the printed testimony of the other wit
nesses. The important testimony was as
| follows:
Odd Novels ever make confession
to'Eou, or what he represented to be
one?
Ale did.
Q-Tell the court what he said, as
nearly as you can remember it.
Ale began by saying that he had
nothing to do with the actual murder.
He said that while he didn't kill Mrs.
Matson he knew who did. He said the
murder was committed by Mr., and Mrs.
Sam Milton, and that he was in charge
OF the gang that committed the robbery.
B. Adams, Hayden and Ross were
among those who plundered the
house. Novels said he was put
up to the job by two men who W ent
under the names of "Poker Dick" and
''Ross," who were the agents of Mr. Mat
son. Poker Dick represented that Mat
son wanted to get possession of will
and contract that were in his wife's pos
session. If the papers could be secured
he wanted her killed, but if the papers
could not be found he didn't want her
killed.
Odd Novels say whether or not he
was witness to the murder?
Ale said that he was. He said that
was part of his work, to stay and see
that Mrs. Matson was killed, but he was
to have nothing to do with the deed He
said he looked through the window open
ing east from the porch and saw Sam
Milton dispatch her with an axe.
Q-What compensation did Novels
say he was to get for his services?
Ale said he was to get 800 on the
delivery of the papers. and that the Mil
tons were to get 5000 for killing the old