The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-29
IN HOTEL CORRIDORS.

ssThere were a lot of reporters at the
trial of Jessie Morrison in Ell Dorado and
about everybody in the west read the re-
ports Closely said a man at the Cope
land who had been in FL Dorado during
the trial, "but it was impossible to gather
from any of the reports the sentiment of
the people of the town and the interest
ing town gossip which was occasioned by
it. I was much more interested in the
town people, or rather their views of the
case and their actions, than was in the
testimony of the witnesses, for could
get that in the papers. 1 was talking to
an old citizen of the town. and of course
the talk got on the Morrison trial He
was verv much excited about the bond
which had been given and declared that
it not worth 81, 000 The judge should
not have accepted that bond he said,
and don't believe he would have accept
ed it if he had not been partial to the
that both politics and religion entered into
the trial According to his story the jury
was composed mostly of Populists, whose
sympathies were with Miss Morrison be-
He claimed that the fudge Was also a
Populist and that on that account he
gave Instructions favorable to the young
lady, de also said that the MethodlSI
church in that town was almost to a unit
in favor of the conviction of Miss Morrf-
son because the Castles and the Wieys
were stronger in the church than tire
Morrisons. I don't say that his ideas
were correct. but he thought as a great
The ladies Of the town took as much If
not more interest in the trial than did
the men, There was only one woman in
a certain neighborhood who remained
away from the trial and did baking The
and biscuit from her and would worry
through with as little work possible.
ty-tyvo beds which were not made while
the trial was going on, and there were
people took so much interest in the trial
that there was not a quorum In any Of
postponed in three of the churches. There
is sort of a family .feud in the town, on
account of remarks that were made while
certain women were telting their SIDE OF
the story One church choir was broken
think that the jury returned the wrong
verdict. One arrest has been made since
We're trespass1ng on the premises OF an
other neighbor who did not believe that
trial the neighbors did not insist upon the
herd law being enforced upon the chick
of people are now taking milk from them
who used to get it at the neighborS'. The
trial has. wrought wonders in changing
the social lines in the town One man
made good thing out of the trial FL
IS a coal dealer and had a lot OF bills
trouble to collect. After the trial was
It was reported that it would be impossi-
bic to get the bond in the town as the
men VINO Went on II would be boycotted
and their families would be socially ostra-
cized. The people who were confident that
Jessie Morrison was guilty were deter
penitentiary she should at least be kept
in the county jail, and they let it be re-
ported that the boycott would be applied
to any man on the bond It was then
that the. coal dealer had 'huslch and
proceeded to get in his fine work It was
whispered about the town that the father
of Miss Morrison was out with the bond
getting men to sign it and that he had
got the name Of the coal dealer to head
the list BY night it was known IN every
household in the town and the heads of
the families had talked it over. They
decided 70 stay with the boycott. even If
little bill, 50 the next morning the coal
dealers office was crowded with men
who were anxious to pay up and to ex-
press their opinion of a man who would
do such deed as sign the bond of that
Morrison girl The coal dealers clerk 4
took in the money and issued receipts and
said that the boss was out and that he
did not know whether or not he had
SIGNED the bond but the coal dealer HIM
self was absent He knew better than to
be present-that would spoil his plan He
had sent trusted friend to the men who
were in debt to him to say that he had
signed the bond. and he knew the denials
of the clerk would not change the minds
Of the outraged public. After he had coll
lected about $500 and been notified that
he no longer nad the custom of the said 1
outraged public, he came on from his