The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-18

Odd Johnson say anything about
anyone else living in the building?
Ayes he did say there were some
others that roomed in the building
Q-Johnson did not say he held all
the keys to the dissecting room or the
room where the body was found?
A=No, he did not.
O.=You don't know that DIR. Minney
got the key from Mr.. Johnson which
he gave to you?
AIR. Johnson did not tell that he
had exclusive charge of the building.
He said he was janitor of the building
and lived there.
John Haisch was called and said he
had been an officer and went with the
party of officers
Q.-When you saw the defendant
Johnson what happened2
A.-Willia1ns asked him who was in
charge, and Johnson said he was.
He then described the search of the
building by the officers
Q.-What did you do when you got
upstairs?
Ave found two bodies.
Q-What condition were they in?
A-Their faces and heads had been
skinned.
Q-What was done?
Ave went to the northwest room
and wanted in. Gardiner asked for
have a key. We were going to spring
the lock, when Dr. Minney went back
to the head of the stairs and came
back with a key.
Q.-Where did he get the key?
Al don't know. looked over to the
stairs and saw johnson standing there.
Haisch then told of getting into the
room and finding the body.
Tim Donovan was called. He told
of going with the party to the college.
At was in the northwest room.
Q.-Where was the body?
Q.-Was it covered up?
A-Not when I saw it.
Q-What condition was it in?
A.-The face was disdgured and the
head scalped.
Q.-Any ears?
A-NO.
Q.-Any eyes?
A-No.
Q.-Any nose?
A-No.
Q.-Had this work been recently
done?
A-Yes it looked fresh.
H. T. Van Fleet was called and stat
ed that he was a brother of 1. o. Van
Fleet.
Q.-Were you acquainted with Amelia
Van Fleet?
Ayes.
Q.-Was you present at her funeral?
Ayes.
Q-what time in the day was she
buried?
AAbout o'clock
Odd you see her remains after
that?
A.-Yes.
Q.--Where was it?
AIT the medical college.
Q--What did you go along for?
A.-To identify the body.
GLOW could you do that?
A.-One of her front teeth was gone
and her arms were blOodShOt.
Odd you examine the bodies in the
rooms.
A-Yes They were not the ones that
7 Mt sd
Q.-What was done?
Ave wanted to get into the other
rooms. DR.. Minney said there was two
ra bbits in the small room he went and
got a key and when he came back he
said there was another body.
Q.-What did you find?
Ave found the body on the floor,
on a canvas.
Odd you identify it?
Ayes
Q.-Was the missing tooth there?
A.-NO sir it was not.
Q.-What did you do?
Al said that I was satisfied that it
was my sister-in-law, and went for my
brother
Odd you ask for the missing parts
of the body?
Ayes
Q.-What did you ask for?
A.-The hair, ears and eyes.
Q--Who did you ask?
Atkinson.
Q-What did he say?
Ale said they would get them II
they could. That they did not know
who did it.
/ o. Van Fleet was called. He stated
that he lived in North Topeka and had
lived in Topeka IS years. When asked
what relation Amelia Van Fleet was to
him, he began to sob. There was man
ifest sympathy throughout the court
room. He finally said:
My wife"
County Attorney Jetnore told Mr..
Van Fleet to try to take the matter
more calmly. This seemed to quiet Mr.
Van Fleet and he continued with his
testimony. He told of his wife's sick
ness, death and burial
Odd you go to the cemetery on
the morning after your wifes burial?
Ayes, 1 went with Mr.. Scott.
Q.-What did you do?
Ave began 10 uncover the grave,
when Mr. Scott struck the lid which
was over the glass of the coffin. I drop
ped down on my knees and put my
hand in the dirt and it was the lid and
1 could not stay any longer. CHere he
broke down again.) After giving the
witness time to recover his composure,
he was asked:
Q.-W hat did you do?
to see Mr. Smith of the Citizens bank
and he advised me to go to Mr.. Burdge
who was the sheriff; he was not in the
office and 1 went to Chief Gardiner. He
wanted me to go back out to the grave.
I would not, but demanded a warrant.
I then went to Harry Stafford and ne
gave me an order for one. 1 then went
to the police station and waited till
Chief Gardiner came back which was