The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-01
First Days Evidence in the
Morrison Case Taken.
Two Most Important Witnesses
Tell Strong Story.
HOW MRS. CASTLE DIED
Details of the Death Struggle
ViVidly Related.
Sharp Cross Examination Fails
to Confuse Mrs. MOberly.

Ell Dorado, Dec. LIB. r Leydig, one
Of the attorneys for the state, was the
first witness placed on the stand in the
Morrison case Friday. His testimony
was taken to show the location OF the
Castle home in the town and to fix the
route Travelled by Miss Morrison tHat
morning 10 reach the Castle nome
Mrs Bette A M0berly. a nelghpoT q
Edrs Castle was the next witness caile9
by the state After she had asscI ,-'.
being attracted to the house Dy Nals. essls
ale's screams she told the story OF what
mrs spangler was at the door, :" she
said and I broke in the screen As 4
did this Mrs. Spangler said. Be careIul,
Jessie Morrison is in there could see
Mrs. Castles feet Writing ana Wheh
broke in the door and. ran INTO the IoolA
Jessie Morrison was bending over Mls.
castle. who was covered with blood Her
hair was matted with blood and her race
end head were in a pool OF plooo, anu
she was soaked with blood TO the waist
Her left hand she waved feebly over
s7ar head and face. Her right hand lay
out on the floor beside her. she was Oh
WHAT did you do?" asked Mr.. Brum-
back.
ers and set her back She tried to reach
for her shoes and stopped her.
a. Ny God woman what are you DO
I have done this to protect myself
said Miss Morrison She tried to kill me
with razor.
what kind of shoes did Miss Morri-
son have on2'' asked Mr.. Brumback-
She had on high cut shoes"
The state expects to show that Miss
Morrison carried a knife or razor IN
her shoes and that she carried IL out OF
Khe house and home with her.
After explaining the arrangement OF
the house, Mrs. Moberly said she had
been followed into the house by Mrs.
rfcsr.r4 a
identified as Pearl Beardsley- Mrs
Spaneier took Miss Morrison out OF the
house and she saw her next on the walk
IN front OF the h0uSe,Where eSs1e MOTIF
son asked her to return and get a letter
she had left in the house and she found
the letter on the floor near a chair IN the
northeast corner of the room near MTS.
Castles feet. She also found piece OF
a KEY near the letter which she gave,
along with the letter, to Mr. Castles
father. Mrs. Moberly identified the blood
stained letter which was introduced IN
evidence.
The state has evidence that Miss Nor
rison carried this letter to the Castle
house. 1t had no bearing on the case
Jessie Morrison had got it out of the
postoffice during the forenoon and Just
before she began cutting Mrs. Castle she
handed it to her. it is alleged, to throw
her of her guard
Mrs. Moberly testified that she had
gone out of the house to call help and
upon returning had found a razor which
had been under Mrs Castles feet, which
she had uncovered in her writing, and
she did not pick it up. She identified a
razor which was handed to her by the
state It was biOOd-stained. The wit
ness said that when the razor was pick
ed UP by another woman she saw. Mrs.
Castle motioning with her right hand
and asked her what do you want,
Clara?"
She could not talk" continued Mrs
-doberiy, "but some Of US OWNED that
she wanted to write and Mrs Lemons
brought pencil and paper. Mrs Castle
could not talk
Did some one hold the paper for Mrs
CASTER" asked Mr.. Kramer.
mo. sir replied Mrs. Moberly, ''she
partially arose on her elbow and wrote
on the paper as it lay on the floor
She described the cuts in the Caste