Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-01
AGAINST J0VN y. ktNlkEl
COMES TO NOTHING.
liz EVIDENCE ADMITTED
|TE RESTED ITS CASE NESTI:R-
DAY AFTERNOON.
hing 10 Indicate what Tack b
lleGcusc Eapects 60 Take. hut Ii
May Move 90 DtsMtss the
Gnnc-Sestcrda.'s Tex-
ttmOn..

AWRENCE. KAS.. Feb. 2s.-tSpccial.,
, prosecution in the ease of John ].
knkel. charged with the murder Of his
k. WAS again tossed about to-day in the
hnical game OF shuttlccock the court ~
sura;cd at The inception of the trial. and
the conclusion OF the proceedings the
',orncys Eazsd s~orrowfully AT one anoth-
and shook the:r heads in protest at the
akind fate which has rendered futile their
ircfully laid plans 10 prove the defendant
fuilty. Months @: painstaking work 10y
heir star expert. Professor Edward Bar
Row, OF the state university. 10y whom they
Expected to prove that Mrs. kunkei :
death was due to arsenical poison. was
set aside by the courts rulings. testimony
u witnesses WAS impeached before the jury
repeatedly in the discussion OF what the
prosecutors believe are important links In
khe chain of circumstantial evidence. and
.all-importanf testimony from their point of
IEiew that was adduced after skillful Skin
finishing n adroit questions was frequent
~ ordered taken from the jury.
stripped of Evidence.
About all the admissible important evil
|6ence now before the jury for its corsid-
GRAFTON Is tie fact that Mrs. Lydia kunkei
Is dead: that physicians believe the cause
~ death was arsenical poisoning. and that
kunkel stands charged with her murder.
Every scrap Of testimony that the prose
Tuition introduced In the hope that it would
convict Kunkel Of administering the poi
son has been ruled out. and when the case
Is peesented 10 the jury the task of ar
irving At 4 conclusion on which TO base
q verdict will not be very arduUus or
wearing on the gray matter Of the men,
bers.
After a series OF setbacks. which began
with the first witness. and continued en-
through the list until the last had testi-
ned and been excused. Prosecutor Brown-
ell announced that the state rested its
case.
May Move 10 Dismiss.
In the morning Judge Barker. for the de-
tense. will announce his plan OF attack on
the case the prosecution las made out.
His associate. Judge J. q. A. Norton. was
unable. on account Of Illness. 10 be pres
ent in court to-day, but if the eSIm!na-
tton Of Witnesses is proceeded with in the
morning. his presence will be imperativeiy
necessary. AS yet the defense mas not
issued a subpoena for a witness. nor given
an Indication Of what its policy Will be.
1t is not improbable that an effort will be
made TO have the case dismissed.
Matted MIX Again Ruled Out.
Mrs. Charles Lescher. who as Miss Add:e
Hill nursed Birdie C~ominsore. Mrs. Kun
kei's daughter, during her Last illness, ana
who had an unpleasant experience with
matted milk. since found TO be stronsty
fmpregnated with arsenic. was the first
witness called by the prosecution and in
terrogated as to the matted milk. She hrst
saw Z. ThuSsdaY night. July 2s, 1898. and
iyp41 taken it and given 1t to Dr. Ander'
! ~ was as far as the prosecution got
,spn e matted milk scent. Judge Rigs
fapp u impatiently ~ his desk and called
}the khterroea:or; Prosecutor ia
|tines by saying the testimony was not com
Prosecutor BrownelI attempted to explain
the nature OF the point lie sought from
witness. but the court interrupted him
with:
what do you mean? Do you propose
ing IN pup up t III. G matted mn" milk. The The cosr, took
from the Jury everything that related 10
1yualted milk"
a Case nj Life and Death.
II do not understand it that way said
JNr. Mitchell, taking up Brownclrs bur
den, but the court interrupted him by eS-
claiming. viii feeling:
UNLESS you show the administering q,
he naited milk 10 Mrs. knnkel viii
not let Il go before the jury. l will iIoi
permit this case TO he tried on suspicion.
or street rumors. IL must he tried 10y
the rules Of evidence; This Is q Ease "i
lltG Ala oSotb. lAu q wan Ao' Nv yo'
10 Introduce this testimony unless IL /.
to show that the matted milk was admin
iStered to Mrs. kunkel."
:. Or. Anderson was then recalled and ht
J was permitted TO testify that he saw Mrs
Kunkei with a bottle OF matted milk In
her possession during the illness OF heI
daughter. WAS II his office.
But that was all the court would per
NIT him 10 say and rssped the prosecutor.
by saying:
.I trust you will appreciate. the rule:
unAer which / am trying to try this case
It mus be tried by rules, not by suspicious
] hope. gentlemen. you understand m,
petition"
Ds. r. q. Leonard. county coroner. test
ned that he had received from the under
taker a small bottle of embalming fluid
purporting 70 be the same used in embalm
ing the body Of Mrs. Kunkel.
The Nailed MIL Cardled.
Mr.. George Draper. formerly Flora
nE@N ~