The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-31


of the coldest bIooded crimes ever COM
mitted in the confines of the state of
Kansas"
The defense reserved the right of
stating tn cir side until they begin intro
ducing their evidence. Iwenty-elght
witnesses were sworn for the state ana
eight for the defense
The state began its case at IL o'clock.
William Illston was the first witness
called to the stand 1llston was good
witness He followed out his answers
in a loud tone in the manner of a school
boy speaking an oration and in an IN,
natural manner. He was very decided
in his answers.
Q-When did you last see your son?
A-On Monday morning, October Il,
1924. when he started to Topeka for
load of sand, which he got at Elliotts
dump.
Q-Did you find the rim of hat near
where the body of your son was found?
Odd you recognize it?
Odd you afterwards see your sons
hat. the wagon, team and shovel?
A--Yes, in Valley Falls. The hat was
shown to me by Sheriff Stockwell, who
said he got it from Coulter. 1t had TWO
shovel were at "a livery stable in Valley
Falls,
Odd you find a handkerchief in
your sons mouth?
A-Yes, but it wasn't his He had a
blue handkerchief.
Q-Did you find his handkerchief on
the body?
A-No,
Attorney McCammon conducted the
cross examination.
Q-You say you found some sand be-
side the road before the body was
found. How far was the first pile from
A mile and a quarter, on little
travelled road going north. The other
pile of sand was found a half mile furth-
er on.
Q-Describe the wounds in the head.
A-One in the left side of the head at
the lower bone of the temple. The other
nearly in the top of the head.
Q-How far apart2
A-Three or four inches.
Illston described the broken down az
pearance of the grass aud weeds in the
trail which the body of Edward Illston
made as Coulter dragged it into the field.
Coulter covered his face with his hands
during this and did not look at the father
of the murdered boy.
Herman Schone, one of those who
found the body, was the next to testify.
Q-Where do you live?
Anime miles southeast of Topeka.
Q-Tell of the finding of the body.
Al had been out Saturday evening"
October 26, and as I was driving home
and turned the corner, 1 smelled some
thing. l noticed the wind was in the
northwest. Next day, Sunday, Mr.
Hixon and went out TO search. had
my dogs with me and one of them found
the body. We went up to the dog and
SAW it.
Q-How was it1Ying?
A-On its back. The legs were to-
gether and Strengthened out. The hands
were lying on the ground on each side,
but the left arm was slightly bent. The
head was to the southwest.
Q-Did you see any bullet holes in the
telephone pole in the road?
A-Yes, in the first pole from the cor
ner. There were also some in a fence
| post acrOss the road.
Schone located the wounds, one in the
left temple and one in the forehead, but
said he had not examined very
closely, on account of the odor. He was
on the stand when 12 o'clock adjourn
ment was taken.
The evident object of the defense is to
show that one bullet was stuck in the %
caliber rife, and that the other shot it
out, making two holes in the head. They
will try to prove the holes as close to-
gether as possible. In examining the
jurors each one was asked his opinion
about whether q % caliber rife would
stick bullets, and if so if another would
shoot them out. One of their witnesses
is ]. G. Elliott, the sporting goods dealer,
! who will give expert testimony on this
point
The cross examination OF Schone was
begun when court reasse m bled at / 80
by Mr.. McCammon. He was intarro-
gated especially in regard to the bullet
holes in the dead boys head He
placed them abont L 4 inches apart.
County Attorney Stafford recalled Will
liam Illston to the stand.
Owe spoke of hat this morning
Have you ever seen this hat before?
"a brown slouch felt hat which had
turned red from use was held up before
him.
Al have.
Q-Whose was it?
At was my sons
Odd it have these two holes in it
when he left home that morningf
A-No.
The hat was introduced in evidence.
The two small bullet holes were an inch
apart in the left brim.
w. L. Hixon was the next witness. He
was with Herman Schone and L. I.
Alexander when the body was found
GLOW close did you have to be to
the body before you could see il?
A-Well, should say twenty five or
thirty feet
Q-Where were the bullet holes?
A-One in the temple and one on top
of the head.
Q-Was anything in the mouth of the
corpse?
Ayes, a red handkerchief.
Q-Would you say the holes in the
head were in relatively the same position
as in this hat?
Al should say they were further
apart.
Q-How much?
A-ProbabIy a quarter or a half inch
more