The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-17
Sells Divorce Case VIII Soon Be
Over.
Believed 1t Will Be Completed
This Week.
MRS. SELLS THE LAST.
She Will Close the Testimony
For the Defense.
Value of Topeka and Other
Property in Question.

Columbus, O., Dec. 1.-THE end of the
celebrated Sells case seems almost in
sight. It win probably be up to Judge
Evans by next Friday night The at
torneys for the defense said Friday that
all their dispositions were in and that
probably not more than eight witnesses
would be called. Mrs. Sells viii be the
last witness for the defense. and it is
probable that she will be on the stand
for two days The PLAINTIFFS attorneys
say that they will occupy but little time
in rebuttal. and so it is now almost GER
tain that the case will be ended by
Christmas.
The aHmony feature of the case is
now pressing to the front Friday af-
ternOOn the defense said that it had no
more witnesses for this week and asked
that steps be taken to settle the matter
of the valuation of the real estate owned
by Mr. Sells Affidavits on this question
have been prepared by both sides and
Will be introduced as depOsiti9ns- The
affidavits prepared by the attorneys for
the plaintiff make the value Of the real
estate held by Mr.. Sells in this city at
Sl05000, while those Of the defense place
it al about S229. 600. Included in the Ia t
ter afidavils are some pieces OF property
which the attorneys for the plaintiff say
do not belong to Mr. Sells and others
in which he has only an interest. Elk
Guiding the disputed parcels Of real es-
tate. there is a difference Of about $4,000
between the totals as prepared by the
attorneys for the two parties To the
suits. There was a long discussion Friday
over the affidavits, at the end of which
Colonel Holmes arose and said that he
felt sure that the attorneys could agree on
an adjustment of the valuation Of the real
estate. The attorneys for the defendant,
he said. were not inclined to raise Ser1-
Gus objection to the valuation to be put
on the various pieces of property and
would strive to settle it as soon as pos
sible Mr. Booth said ne was very glad
to hear this. as il would mean the saw
ing of much time. Colonel Holmes said
that after today defendant would rush
matters as much as possible
The first witness put on the stand was
John E. West Of Logan, who now occu-
pies the house in which the parents OF
Mrs Sells formerly lived. Some of the
witnesses for the plaintiff had stated
that when Mrs. Sells and Harry D.
Lyons were at the home of her parents
they slept in bedrooms with connecting
doors.
Mr.. West said that there are no bed
rooms in the house with connecting
doors. and gave a complete description
of the house to prove it. Lyons had
been pointed out to him in Logan. He
told about a trip the family had taken
to the country and of the visits OF Mrs
Sells to her mother. He was questioned
IN regard to his knowledge OF the sleep
ing arrangements of the family, but
knew nothing about them He SAID that
so far as he knew or had heard, the
conduct of Mrs Sells had always been
good, and her family stood high IN the
community. Mr. West was cross-eXam-
ined in regard to the interior arrange
ments of the house, but nothing new
was ELECTED.
Mrs. Melissa Kraft Of Crbancrest was
the next witness She lived in the Sells
family when they resided on North Hissn
street She was a domestic She d1dn' [
know either Lyons. Raymour or john
son. So far as she knew, Mrs Sells new
er had any gentlemen callers Whlle she |
was with her Miss Hattie Newberg was |
visiting Mrs. Sells. and she had callers. |
Mrs. Kraft was on the stand when court |
adjourned for noon
At the afternoon session the exam1na- |
ton of Mrs Kraft was concluded She |
said that Mrs. Sells was "a perfect lady |
and good housekeeper. She was ex- |
cused without REORGANIZATION The |
deposition of Mrs. Mary A Schultz OF |
Kansas City was read. Mrs. Schultz Is |
the Mrs Poland with whom Mrs. Grace |
BeaI was staying when she took that /
carriage drive with Mr. Sells to the /
Southwestern Boulevard hotel on that |
July day in 1892. Mrs. Schultz said that /
Mrs. BeaI told her she was going to take |
a drive and that she attempted to per |
suade her not to go She went how |
ever, and when she returned she appear |
ed to be sick She said she had q head |
ache and was not at all we'll Mrs. |
Schultz say the man who was with Mrs.
Beal, but could not describe him She |
said ne appeared to be q big, pOrtly man, |
which would not be a very good deScrip- /
t0graph of Mr.. Sells, and said that il /
looked like the man who entertained |
Mrs. Beai. There was nothing new in the |
examination.
DR.. David Ffnney. a. dentist. of Logan. |
was put on the stand. He was old /
friend OF the Luker family He described |
the house in which the parents of Mrs. |
Sells lived. TheHattorneys for the plaintiff /
said that they were willing to accept the |
testimony of Mr.. West on that matter, |
and that there was no use of wasting /
time. The witness was then questioned in |
regard to Mrs. Sells character and excused. /
He said that Mrs Sells was always very |
ladylike'' and he had never seen any /
thing unbecoming in her conduct
Colonel Holmes said that the defense |
had no more dispositions to read. and /
while two more witnesses were expected /
TO be present. they had not arrived and !
the defense had no more evidence TO pre- /
sent today He said in answer to Ques |
ton by Mr.. Booth that the Baker depo- |
sttton taken in Chattanooga would not be |
read The matter OF the valuation of the I
real estate of Mr. Sells was taken up, and !
when the attorneys had said that they /
would probably be able to adjust values
by Monday, the court was adjourned fer
the week In addition to the Columbus
property, Mr. Sells owns about S125.0a0 |
worth of
PROPERTY IN TOPEKA
kas-, but the valuation of this has prac-
bcally been agreed upon by the attor-
ueys.