The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-25
KUNKEL'S QUEER ACTION.
a Number of Witnesses Testify Con-
corning Some White Powder.

corning Some White Powder
Lawrence. kan, Feb. 25.-The second
c-y of the Kunkel murder trial was en-
livened by some strong rulings of Judge
IlSSs regarding the pIoeIirts * ~e1 t-t.Ii
questions asked by the state, and the
introduction of testimony introduced by
the defense.
Mrs. ]. w. Adams, a neighbor. whom
Mr.. Kunkel went after as soon as his
wife died, described the condition of the
sick room and the disposition of the
bedding and clothing.
Mr.. J. w. Adams, her husband went
for the undertaken at Mr.. Kunkeps re-
quest.
Lottie Overstreet was employed by the
month before Mrs. Kunkers death, and
remained a week after. Mrs. Kunkel
went to her bed the day witness came,
and never left it. Witness noticed Mrs.
kunkel vomiting frequently; she had
soreness in her stomach, burning in her
throat, cramps in the hands, and was
very thirsty Kunkel prepared ice wa
ter continually and was about the
kitchen a great deal.
Ada kunkel, who is a nurse in Kan
SaS city, came up one evening, and
witness told Mrs. Kunkel while the 9TH
ers were at supper. When Kunkel came
up his wife said:
80: suppose you have sent for a
hospital nurse Kunkel replied. NO
came down stairs and "got after wit
ness for telling his wife that Ada was
there Witness told him she didn't
think there was any harm in it. KunkeI
was greatly provoked and seemed
nervous and irritated.
Kunkel had forbidden witness seeing
his wife, and was angry one day when
he found that an old friend of Mrs.
Kunkel, Mrs. Smith of Clay Center, had
come to the house. Witness heard him
say, 20, what shall 1 do?''
The morning of Mrs. KunkePs death
Kunkel told witness to go on with the
washing. She said to him:
1T wouldn't look right to do the
washing with Mrs. Kunkel lying dead
in the house"
That day Kunl1el was hunting about
his wifes room for a hair ornament
Kunkel brought down basket of
waste papers and witness burned them
up. Among them she noticed some
tablets and powder papers.
On cross-examination witness stated
that in her presence KunkePS treatment
of his wife was kind and considerable
Mrs. Addie Hill Lescher, a friend, who
visited Mrs. Kunkel frequently during
her illness, described her symptoms.
County Attorney Brownell questioned
witness about the famous bottle of
matted milk, which was shown in the
preliminary examination to contain 1914
grains of arsenic. Witness took some
of this matted milk and it made her ill
resulted in vomiting, burning in the
stomach and excessive thirst.
The state showed by DR.. A. j. An
derson that Mrs. KunkePs illness began
before that of her daughter. He treat
ed Mrs. Kunkel from July IA to Aug
ust n, for vomiting and burning in
the stomach. During this period she
gradually grew weaker
Lottie Overstreet, who did the house
work at Kunkels for two weeks be-
ginning the last of July, had begun to
relate a story regarding a dish of oat-
meal, when the court sustained objec-
ton of the defense.
When the state then showed by DR..
Anderson that Mrs. Kunkel was sick
previous to this occurrence Lottie Over
street was recalled and her testimony
was admitted by the court over the re-
neWed objection of counsel for the de-
Tense. Witness was taking care of Bir-
die while the family was at breakfast
when Mrs Kunkel came up to her with
a dish of oatmeal, on which a white
powder was sprinkled. Witness was
not allowed to relate what Mrs. Kunkel
said to her, but she testified that she
took the dish to the dining room and
left IL on the table. While she was out
of the room the dish was removed TO
another part of the table. Kunkel was
the only other person near by.
Witness, after casting breakfast, re-
moved the dishes, including the oat-
meal, to the kitchen table, near the
sink. A few minutes later, when she
returned to the kitchen, Kunkel was at
the sink washing his hands. After he
left the room witness noticed that some
of the oatmeal and most of the powder
were gone from the dish. The remain
ing portion of the mush showed finger
prints, as if the powder had been scrap
ed off with someone's fingers. Witness
reported this to Mrs. KunkeI, and then
sent the dish away in the pantry and
never saw it again. Kunkel went to the
pantry when he came home at noon. At
the time the powder was removed from
the oatmeal Kunkel was the only other
person down stairs.