The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-12
TO SAVE NEvELS.
Defense Offers Evidence Today
Seeking to Prove
That MatsOn Himself Was the
Murderer.
ALSO THAT DOC WARD
Did Not Find the SlungshOt in
the Shawl,
But Placed It There Himself
After the Discovery.
ALSO THAT DOC WARI

Judge Hazen is rushing the Nevels
murder trial along. Court convened at
$50 this morning and last evenings ses-
sion lasted until 6:15.
Miss Tina Gilpatrick was an interest
ing witness for the prosecution. She
did not testify at the former trial.
Q-Did you know Mrs. Matson?
Al had known her ever since could
remember.
Q-When was the last time you saw
A-Two weeks before the day she was
found murdered.
Q-Have you ever seen this defendant?
Al have. When / went to Mrs.
Matson's home that day. l saw him
walking along Madison street when l
went in. When I came out with Mrs.
Matson he was walking on Fifteenth
street past the house.
Q-Do you know where Mrs. Matson
kept her papers?
Ain a tin box ten inches long, four
inches wide and four inches high. She
had it out the day / was there and show
ed me her will. She had two watches,
one gold and one silver one The silver
one was hanging on the wall.
Q-Have you ever seen this tin box
since?
Al have not
Prosecution continued: Odd Mrs.
Matson show you a letter from Matson
and tell you what time he was to return?
A-She did. She said he was coming
at the holidays, and was arranging a
room for him
The last state witness was B. Adams,
colored. His evidence was new.
Q-Where did you get your silver
watch?
A-From Frank Nevels. That was
about two weeks before the discovery of
the Matson murder. 1 was coming out
of Jim Huddleston's billiard hall and
met Nevels, and he asked if 1 had dol
lar. l said had half. and he pawned
uncle, Fred Stonestreet, the day after
the discovery.
A silver open face key winding watch
was here produced by Mr.. Stafford, iden-
tilted by Adams, and introduced in evi-
dence. The glass and hands are gone.
On the back is engraved a castle with q
road leading to it and tree growing by
the roadside.
This is not Mrs. Matson's watch, but
Nevels told the officers it was and caused
Adams arrest. The object of this testi-
mony was to show how completely
Nevels lied about the affair
After a recess the state rested and the
defense began. a number of state wit
nesses were saved for rebuttal.
y H. 01CNary IOE LH0 Q0l0ub0 uESL 0A-
amined George Hightower, an aged col
ored man.
Q-Do you know Albert Matsenf
Al do, we'll
Odd you see him in 1894?
Al did about the 9th or 10th of De-
cember at the corner of Fifteenth and
Quincy. l hadn't seen him for seven or
eight years before.
Mr.. Stafford Cross examined
n ia h.
A-No.
Odd you shake hands with him be-
fore you began talking with him?
A-No.
Q-Treated each other as strangers?
Ayes l don't think he recognized
me because he asked me if l was a
stranger.
Q-Now wouldn't you and l come near
shaking hands if we met on the street?
A-Not unless you was runnin' fer
office, we wouldn't. [Great laughter.
Q-How did you know it was on De-
Gem Der or 10?
After long pause Hightower said he
couldn't answer
Odd you sec him again?
Al did, a week after. saw him
going into a store.
Hightower described Matson as
small, bony man, black beard turning
gray. gray hair, wearing a "light com
plected hat" Matson does not re-
semble this description. Hightower said
the second time he saw M atson was after
Mrs. Matson's funeral.
Charles Mcmillan, who was deputy
constable for Justice A. F. Chesney at
the time of the murder, told of going
home on the night of December IL, 1894,
and seeing Mrs MatsOn standing be-
tween two men, a tall and q short one, in
the northwest window of her home. He
was going south on Monroe street Mr.
Mcmillan gave most complete descrip-
ton of both men, giving color of mus
taches, clothes, etc.
Odd you not testify on the former
trial that this was a misty night?
Ayes.
Odd you know that Sergeant Jen-
nings of the United States weather SER
vice testified that the night of December
IL was perfectly clear?
Al heard SO.
At Mr.. Burdge's suggestion Mcmillan
grouped Wilkerson, Burdge and Arthur
McCabe as he had seen the group of
three in the window. He placed them a
foot apart, four feet into the room from
the window. He had testified that the
window was feet inches wide.
The statement which Mcmillan made
at the time to Harry Stafford was read by
Mr. Stafford, conflicting with his present
testimony. Mcmillan denied having said
anything contained in the statement
Mary Greer, colOred, followed Nc
MILAN.
Odd you have a conversation with
Mr.. Matson after his wife's burial about
any papers you might find in the house?
Al did.
Odd you destroy them9