Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-02

"wsll n YOU DID" replied Tho court. rot
a bit Modified. g! would iak, it away from
the jury"
Dr. /. l.. Morse testified that he had
treated Mrs. kuakel after a miscarriage.
:l'ou; the time stated Icy lr. Anderson:
when ne WAS called the miscarriage vas
III progress.
Mrs. kunkcI's Sister Tcstinc..
Mrs Nancy NJ Thornton. sister Of the
late Mrs. krnke!. vino now resides ~
ola;hs. testified HAT during hcr sisters
visi; TO her last May she had said s,ie WIS
determined not TO have children. kunkel
wanted children. hut Mrs. kuak-l said
that size wnil'i make him believe it WIS
al right. but would see to it ;!lat his hops
Were not realized.
Witness said that IN August last Mrs.
kunkel again visited her at Olathe and
had reiterated her determination not 10
have another child. and said that she
would take a dose of 30 son and die he
fore she would. Witness knew of one mis-
carriage hei sister had had when she was
Mrs. ComiaSore.
Hidden Medicines Found.
After Mrs. kurkel's death witness found
tablets in a small rasteboard box in the
comforter. on the springs and under the
mattress of the bed in which Mrs. kunkel
had died. and under the mattress on the
cot she found two vials. a bottle of medi-
cine IN a darn!nG sack, powders in Il dress
- "AH"'i aA' d iotAl' VI !HeAlt.ilt III d
slipper case. all of which she delivered 20
Deputy Sheriff Elmer T.. Myers.
Witness knew of from ten 10 twelve mis-
carriages her sister nId had.
During her recital Of her sisters short
cominss the witness wept. and frequently
looked appeaiingIy at her luest!oner. Judge
acter OF the dead IN order to save the I!v-
Ing. and had no time for sentiment.
Children Were a Nuixance.
Cy0Ss-eyannireI I- Mr. Mitchell ;t,>-
said the only reason her sister gave for
net Desiring 20 bear children was that she
did hot van: to be both cred with them.
The box of tablets found in the comforter
on the bed could reach under The mattress
that the tablets were marked Paris Vital
Sparks The walls found beneath the
mattress on the cot contained whit pow
der. kunkel was present when witness
delivered the medicines TO the deputy sher-
IN. and the search had been made by
her al the request of the then prosecuting
attorney OF Douglas county.
Could Not Identify Towel.
Charles Le.ther, the urdertaker's assist
ant. who embalmed Mrs. Kunkcl's body,
testified that he obtained towels at tho
house. but could not identify any %particu-
lar towel he used.
The towel which has figured 81 extensive
~ in the evidence of Professor Barlow and
other experts and in court rulings WAS
shown to witness. who said that it was
similar to those he had received from the
nurse. Susan Hawkins. bur could not swear
positively thai Il was one he had used.
Miss Matte Peters testified that she
knew Mrs: kunkel when she was Mrs.
james Collins. had worked for her as a
ssamstress in 1872 and believed that at
that time she had a miscarriage. Witness
said that her employer had told her she
would prefer death 10 having a child by
any man.
What Mrs. KunkeI Said.
Mrs. l.. b. Hughes testified that Mrs.
krnAel had met her on the stree; and
asked her if she knew what would pro-
ducc a miscarriage. and made her prom
Use never 10 repeat the conversation to a
soul. Witness advised her to 20 TO a doc
tor. but Mrs. Kunkel said she knew enough
to cause ii herself and said she would
take oil OF tansy. Witness said to her that
Il WAS dangerous TO use the oil and Mrs.
kunkel said that she would take arseIic.
Mrs. hunkel also told witness thai she
would die before she would hav. II child
with her home ard said that Kunke. WIS
as Kind and as good a husband as the
average man.
Mrs. Thornton was recalled and shown
4 package of medicines which she identi-
ned as the medicines she had Mound in
The death hamber and given I'd Deputy
Wesley ReeG;ng. an employee Of the un-
dertlker and who assisted in placing Mrs.
huike, ; pcoS IN the casket. testified that
IL WIS embalmed. but could not saw ,xhat
had become of il after he had removed i:
ana piaceo IL III 4 pie with other articles.
Merely COrrObOrntfvc.
Mrs. r. & Johnston tss,;s.d tho, ,
know Nrs E,nreI wb.n 80 49, ~
IT ~. 80 -. was MIS-.
'oi"hs a'u mat Wv ha" 'oid her OF threo
miscarriases she had had.
The testimony OF Mrs. Johnston closed
me cas- Tor the defense. leaving the ma
iufc OF he meuicineS found in the death
chamber and over which there has been
"A mantle 4f mystery ever since The az
cusatioh al murder w'ia made. ui!dster-
mi''a ana me suspicion OF guilt or the
accused a. STRONG as II ever WAS.
P~rOsecutiOn Was Surprised.
The action Of The defense took the pros
c,ution by surprise, as 1t was expected
that Il formidable array CT witnesses would
be examined IN order 10 overcome what
little direct evidence the prosec,ion had
succeeded III getting before the Jury. Much
had been animated of What witnesses for
the defense would testify 10. and among
the stars the defendant and his daughter,
Ada, had been listed.
The states attorneys he'll! a consu,ta-
iion which lasted thirty minutes and at
its conclusion were again surprised by the
defense offering a deposition in which il
WAS stated 10y the manufacturer OF the
cmhnlminr fluid used on the body Of Mrs.