The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-01

few rods north of where the body was
found. He was not cross examined.
About o'clock Deputy Sheriff Stock
well, of Valley Falls, gave his testimo-
ny. He Is the officer who killed the Val
ley Falls bank robber at Meriden one
night some six years ago
Odd you notice Coulter bringing a
team to Valley Falls in Octoberf
A-Yes. He took it to his fathers and
it was kept there. l kept my eye on il
because l thought it was stolen. Soon
after, | received a circular describing a
stolen team and wagon, and lost boy,
and Invent out that night to the Coulter
home and looked at the team, aud made
up my mind that it was the outfit
wanted.
Q-What else did you do:
Al left the team there and went out
to Clarence a. Irwin's, 7 miles from Val
ley Falls, where he was working, and
placed David Coulter under arrest at /
o'clock in the morning, and took him to
Valley Falls. told him to get the rife
he had, and he got a 80 rife and gave it
to me. The % rife was brought to me
next day by Irwin. as was also the hat
with the bullet holes in it.
Odd you talk to him about the
team?
Ayes. He said he had traded a
matched black team for it to some movers
uSdT O0N0Ey, AGuSdss Oh nOQOay, &c
tober IA, about 10 in the morning.
asked him if he had had any trouble on
his trip and he said he had been fined
$25 for killing a dog, which had come
barking at his horses. It had crawled
under the fence and died. When we got
to Valley Falls 1 told him the Topeka
authorities would be after him and he
had lied to me and it would be better for
him if he had told the truth. He replied
that he would some day.
Ex-Sheritf David Burdge was only a
fair witness He told the story of the
search for Illston. the trip to Valley Falls
with Chief John Wilkerson and Sturgis
Bechtol, the return trip to Topeka, the
taking of Coulter to Leavenworth and
a visit by him and County Attorney
Stafford to Leavenworth to see if the boy
did not wish to plead guilty.
Q-What did Coulter say about the
killing?
A-When Wilkerson first got him to
talk he said he was turning to shoot at
crow. At Squire Marple's home he
claimed he was going to shoot at tele-
phone pole when the gun was accident
ally discharged and killed Illston. He
said he stuffed the handkerchief in the
boys mouth because he couldn't bear to
hear his means.
The man whom Coulter worked for,
Clarence A. Irwin, was put on the stand
to identify the % rifle.
Q-Have you ever seen this rife?
A-Yes; David Coulter brought it to
my house on Sunday evening when he
came there to work for me. This was a
week before he was arrested. / traded
80 rifle to him for it.
Q--W Where did he say he got his rife?
Ale said he bought it in Topeka.
Chief Wilkerson of the police depart
ment took the stand and told substan-
TALLY the same story as detailed by Dave
Burdge The chief has an excellent
memory and made fine witness.
Q-What was Coulter's demeanor?
A-Cool and collected.
Odd he exhibit any concern or un-
easiness?
A-No. He was convinced that we
were his friends and would protect him.
Most of Mr.. Wilkerson's testimony was
in regard to Coulter's well known stories
Of the killing.
At the close of it he shook hands with
Coulter and asked him how he was feel
ing. "You are looking hearty" said the
chief.
81 don't feel very WE'LL" replied the
boy. II can't sleep any more"
Chief Wilkerson was the last witness
examined for the afternoon and adjourn
ment was taken at 5:30.
At 10 o'clock this N orning the state
rested it's case and after short recess
for consultations Coulter's attorneys be-
gan the introduction of their evidence.
There were ten witnesses for the de-
fense. Most of them were either expert
witnesses or those who testified in re-
gard to Coulter's reputation and his evil
dence will probably be finished by to-
night. Coulter will go on the stand but
will be the last witness.
Deputy Sheriff StockwelI was recalled
this morning to testify in regard to the
90 rifles sticking" bullets.
Q-Have you shot this rifle?
Ayes
Q-How many times?
A-Ten or fifteen times without clean
ing it. It never 'stuck" bullet.
Charles D. Busch, township trustee of
Monmouth township, saw the dead body
of Edward Illston when it was found.
Odd you examine the wounds.
A-Yes
Q-Describe them.
MIR Busch illustrated on the head of
Clint Watson. He put one in the left
temple shot on the level, the other two
inches over the left eye coming from the
front and above.
At the close of Buseh's testimony, Judge
shall want you here next Tuesday morn
ing as juror. l have directed the sher-
iff to summon special venire of twelve
for the next case" This is the Gaines
murder trial.
Expert testimony was given by ex-
Coroner F. ". Bailey in regard to the
wounds.
Q-What was the direction and range
of the lower wound?
A-Straight into the brain.
Q-How was the other wound?
A-The ball ranged downward.
Dr.. Bailey also illustrated on Watson's
head with lead pencil. He put one
hole in the temple and the other one
two inches straight above it, ranging
slightly downward.
Q-Did you afterwards open the head?