The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-28
ALL FOR A MAN.
Strange Story of Miss Grace
Aliens Love
Caused Her to Leave Home and
Widowed Mother
TO WREAK VENGEANCE
Goes From FredOnia to Chand-
Ter, Her Rivals Home.
And POiSOns Miss EckeS and
Her Mother.
TO WREAK VENGEANCE

Guthrie. July 28.-Very little evidence
was offered behalf of the defense in
the preliminary trial of Miss Grace Allen,
last evening, at Chandler, who is on trial
for poisoning Miss Phrona Eckers, her
rival, and her mother. The attorneys ar
gued the case until a late hour of the
night.
Neodesha, July 28.-The Register gives
the following interesting facts concern
ing the poisoning case of Miss Allen:
Miss Allen is the daughter and sole sup
port of a widow who resides small
farm between New Albany and Fredonia.
She fitted herself for the profession of
school teaching, and after graduating
from the Great Bend Normal college was
employed by the Altoona school board to
teach the primary department in their
school last year. She is splendid teach
er and gained the respect and ympathy
of every who knew her. While at
Great Bend she met w. C. Smith (son of
George Smith of Pleasant Valley town
ship. also a teacher, and who has been
employed to teach the 7th grade in the
NeOdesha schools for next year. He paid
her some friendly attentions, but told
her Che claims) in the beginning of their
acquaintance of his engagement to Miss
Ecl1es of Oklahoma. 1t became evident
soon to most observers that Miss Allen
was very much in love with Mr.. Smith.
but his friends say that he did not re-
ciprocate nor encourage her affections.
although occasionally visiting her and es-
corting her about in friendly way.
During the county normal, which both
attended, her evident affection for Mr..
Smith attracted general attention.
Miss Eckes graduated from the Terri
torial normal at Edmond, O. T., last
application in writing for a position in
the Neodesha schools, and Mrs. Sperry
says she very favorably impressed
with her application, evident ability and
endorsements.
Miss Allen left Fredonia about the Sth
of July. ostensibly for Texas. She went
to Edmond, inquired for Miss Eckes and
was told that she had gone to her home
near Chandler. By some means Miss AL
len went to Chandler, which is off the
railroads, and to the farm house where
Miss Eckes resides. There she told that
her name was Jessie Wiley. that she was
on her way to Texas and desired to stop
with the Eckes family until she could get
letters from uncle in Appleton, Mo.
Her request was granted. I lis was on
Saturday, July TO- That night she occu>
pied bed with Miss Eckes, so the dis
patches say. During the night Miss Ecl1es
len assisted in taking care of her and her
condition was very precariouS. Monday
morning Miss Allen prepared some toast
for the sick girl which she declined to eat
when she learned that her strange friend
had prepared it. 1t was laid aside and
eaten later by the mother of Miss
Eckes, who was quickly taken violently
i'll also. This aroused the suspicious of
the family and Wednesday Miss Eckes'
brother took Miss Allen to Chandler
tensibly conveying her to the railroad for
her to continue her journey, but got out
a warrant and caused her arrest. She con-
fessed that she was travelling under an
assumed name but denied administering
any poison or having any evil intent. A
quantity of arsenic was found in her va
lise. Mr.. Smith was sent for by Miss
Eckes and went down there on the 18th.
Recent reports from Wichita say that
Miss Eckes died this week. Miss Allen
is confined in the jail at Chandler, await
ing trial, according to last reports.
These are the facts far can
learn them. 1t seems almost incredible
that the gentle, lovable and brilliant Miss
Allen could plan and perform so mon
strOus a deed. If it is proven true, the
only conclusion must be that her unre-
Quilted affection has driven her insane.