The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-13
YODER ON HIS PRELIMINARY
TerritOry's Evidence: All in and the
Defense Has Begun.

| DcfeESe kta Begun.
Guthrie o. T., July 1.-THE Oklahoma
| City Times-JournaFs report Of the close
Of William Yoders examination on the
charge Of completely in the murder Of
| A. J. Eick is as follows: The Yoder ex-
| animation yesterday afternoon saw the
| close of the evidence for the territory
! and the beginning of the defense. The
theory of the defense that was introduced
fas in the nature Of an alibi and num-
Der OF Witnesses were sworn TO testify
to Yoder's whereabouts on the night the
murder was supposed to have been COM
mitted. The fact was brought out that
Yoder was running the barn on FL Reno
street as an employe Of the Anti-Horse
Thief association and that he was sup
posed to know all the horsethieves in
the country and that when they congre-
gated at his barn he would give the
officers the signal and they would cap
ture them. Yoder was TO keep account Of
the stolen horses and cattle that he saw
and inform the officers. Monroe Neal
testified that he was present at consul
tations between Yoder and officers Of the
county, including the sheriff and tho
prosecutor.
James Bridges testified that the night
Of the supposed murder Yoder came to
his house about 10 O'Clock and was there
a few minutes, that his clothes were not
wet at all
sam Bartel testified IN the afternoon
that there was no talk OF a reward be-
tween himself and the Yoders and that
he was out to do his duty as an officer
regardless OF the rewards or anything
e,seelse. At the close of the session last
night a written agreement was produced
by Willard Yoder 10 the effect that the
reward was to be divided between him
and Bartell. The witness testified that
Bartel told him that it was not the
money he was after but if he could cap
ture and convict Curtis and the others
on the testimony that ne wanted William
Yoder TO furnish, it would elect him
sheriff. and hat was what he wanted.
Mrs. William Yoder denied all the de-
tails of the testimony that had been in
troduced by the territory and swore that
her husband was at home in bed the
night of the murder
The examination was resumed this
morning and the testimony was to dis
credit the testimony Of William Coppeck !
TO the effect that Coppek and Yoder
were in conversation with Trone Jack
son at the corner of First and Hudson
streets when it is claimed that Yoder !
to the camp where Eick was supposed to
have been killed.
Mrs. Annie Smith. who confessed to |
having been the stepmother Of Coppeck |
for time, swore that to the best OF /
her knowledge Coppeck did no: arrive /
n week or ten days after the murder was /
committed. In the cross examination she |
was confused somewhat, but finally in |
sisted on The above statement being the |
truth
Willard Yoder, Jr, was recalled TO tell
about the bargain that ne had with Sam
Barteu and Prosecutor Taylor, and in his
examination parts OF the conversation
that he had with Mr.. Taylor were
brought out and admitted and other
parts denied. He said that he was told
by Mr.. Taylor that all Indictments
against William Yoder would be dropped
II he would assis. in the conviction of
the Eicl murderers That he and Bar
tell went to Yoder and told him what
Mr. Taylor had said and Yoder asked
If Willard Yoder did not think that Mr..
Taylor was trying to work him. Yoder
then said that he had nothing to .ell.
In the questioning that ensued in regard
to the conversation it was brought out
that Bartell and Mr.. Taylor claimed that
Willard Yoder told them that Curtis got
afraid and left the country and was
irawn away hidden in the bottom of
wagon with his mustache shaved off.
John E2ps, James Salyer, Ronald and
NJ c. Kelley, all Of whom are prisoners
It The jail, testified that Coppeck told
hem that he was going 10 fix up a
story on the Eick murder case so that
ne would he released from jail. The
ross examination OF these members of
Taller NewkirlCs colony was to show
heir unreliablity
The final witness az the morning ses
ION was A. J. Burnham who was Yo-
ler's attorney for number Of months
md swore that an agreement was made
y him fBurnham) with Mr.. Taylor that
statement could be taken from Yoder
n writing. providing that Mr.. Durham
vas present. But that afterwards before
ne time set. Mr.. Taylor refused TO have
ne statement taken. and said that he
vas going to hold Yoder for q time.