The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-03

His house furnishings were scant and
plain The farm is two quarter sec
tons. He has many head OF stock in
his pastures
Klusmire's business standing was
good, however. It is told how a Holton
money broker made him a loan last
spring of $1,000 simply on the personal
note of himself and wife.
The Klusmires are German people.
W. H Klusmire has lived at Holton
twenty or thirty years His wife was
a Bohem ian- She was a plain woman,
hard working. and is credited with
kindly traits to balance inequalities Of
temper
Klusmire as is now known was in
kansas City on Friday when he sent
the mysterious telegram that May
klusmire received and the one
which FASTENED the search which
revealed the grave of her muir
dered mother. The telegram purported
to have been sent from Galveston by
her father, and forwarded from Kansas
City, signed A Mitchell It reads:
Mother passed away before I reached
Galveston. Win bury her here. Can
ship yellow fever bodies
County Attorney Graham and Sheriff
Perkins have taken charge of the case.
The officers made an attempt Satur-
day to prevent the outside world from
hearing of the tragedy. Their 1audable
purpose was to keep it quiet and wait
for KlusmiTe to return. His elaborate
patchwork of stories and actions point
OUT clearly INdI the intent was TO EAdE4C
the world believe that she had died and
been buried in Texas. But the suppress
sion of the story as attempted by the
officers. was a fiat failure It couldn't
be otherwise.
After the State Journal reached the
town every sixth citizen exclaimed to
the seventh why, they wanted to
keep 1t quiet, but the State Journal has
a whole half column about it tonight =
Klusmires bungling strategies are
suggestive of an insurance sw1ndle
scheme. Whether he hoped to carry it
out to a finish. or If he left when he did
fearing inevitable exposure, further
scheming is assuredly nipped in the
bud.
Belief grows that Klusmire knows
more than has ever been told about the
murder of his brother-in-law. Paul
SWetlicAS, in 1892. since this tragedy has
occurred It is looked upon as one
crime to conceal another. 1t is alleged
as a subject OF quarrel between kiuS-
mire and his wife. There are stories
afloat that a hired man heard Mrs.
Klusmire threaten to send her husband
to the penitentiary. One of the children
is also credited with saying that Mrs
KIusmire threatened him with telling
what she knew if he did not give her
a divorce Theory as to a motive rests
around these statements at present.
Ms Stach. sister of Mrs Klusni ire and
of Swetlick, was tried for the Swetlick
murder but was acquitted Klusmire
was also arrested for the SWetlick muir
der. but was released on account OF 1ack
of testimony Mrs. KluSnire received a
portion of the $4,000 Insurance that was
on the life of Swetlick. The sum Of
$3S. 900 is still in litigation.
4 reward of 500 offered by the county
commissioners was paid to the police
men in Kansas City making the arrest
Ezlusrnire didn't know that the discovery
had been made He never bought news
papers, from economy and not being
much educated. He asked the station
agent at the depot to get permission to
ride on a freight train. He gave his
name and said he was a stockman- The
agent went out, presumably to ask per-
mission from the chief dispatcher. In
stead be notified the police