The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-03
Momentous Question Concerning
Plato Now Before Court.
Whitecapping Preliminary Be-
fore Judge A. S. Mccabe.
TRY no PROYEAN ALIBI
Accused Say They We're Not
Near Scene OF Outrage.
Divorces Appear to Figure In
the Case.

The Plato whitecapplng case was bo-
fore Judge McCabe Of the city court Co.
day.
P. W. Hamilton William Famltoui
and John Wendell charged with wnites
Gaping Edgar r. Plato two weeks ago
/. had their preliminary hearing Plato
is a piano salesman. and lives three
miles north Of Topeka. The asmitous
and Wendell also live north Of the ciit-
on the evening Of December 2i. vhila
Mr.. and AIRS. Plato were going hous
from the city, they were stopped near
the Babcock hill by some obstruciiaa
in the road. Plato got out OF his bueFT
to see what the trouble was and az biz
says was then seized by three maakeN
men, who took him to the barn or
Frank BabcoclS and there applied
quantity Of coal tar to his body, fHl4
also pounded him with their fists
They then took him to the residcuce
CT Mr.. BabcOcx and after rappiug at
the door. pushed him into The rQons.
with the warning that he should leave
the country within As hours His wife
as unmolested. though she was guard
ed while her husband was in the hands
of the mob
Mrs. Plato was formerly che Wife aG
Peter w Hamilton. but was divorced
from him two years ago. On N0FenIHr
10 she was married to Mr.. Plato. who
wife. About two weeks before theirs
marriage Plato called upon Mrs Hnnn~
ilton. When he started to return bonn
his horse and buggy were gone and
Mrs Hamilton had to take him home
in her buggy. On the WAY. and in th-
vicinity of BabcOck's barn. two shots
were fired at Plato and Mrs. Hamilton.
After this a letter was found under tho
door of Plato's business house telling
him that he should not. IF he regarded
his own safety. pay further at .entions
to Mrs. Hamilton.
After much Wrangling on the part of
the attorneys the court decided that lhe
letter could not be admitted as evidence.
The defense claimed that It's identity
could not be proven
After their marriage In Novembef
Mr. and Mrs. Plato had lived unmolest-
ed until the night Of the tarring.
Mr.. Plato says on the witness stand
that his first wife has tried 10 iniure
his reputation among some of his
friends. He says ne is certain that
Peter ". Hamilton was one Of the men
who mobbed him. During the trouble
he claims that the mask which Hanil-.
ton wore broke. exposing most Of his
feSse to vie4S. Wendels wife was on the
stand, and testified that her husband
was at home the evening of the trouble.
The second Mrs. Plato Is y sister ot
John Wendell, one Of the mensS 90 +--.---
1t is claimed that the Hamilt0ns afA
Wendell have not been on friendly terms
for some time. Peter Hamilton ie au
old citizen. He was in the cracker and
candy business awhile. and also ran a
grocery store in North Topeka. lie
and his son claim that they attended "a
card party in the city the night OF De-
cember p. and did not return home uu-
til late. William Hamilton was form
erly a student Of the Topeka hieh
school.
Plato has been here about three years
and has the reputation Of being good
piano salesman
MR.. WENDEL's STORY.
John Wendell. one Of the defendants,
was asked on the witness stand today
when did you learn OF this trouble r.
.'On the Saturday evening following
read on account Of IL ia the state Jour
nal"
what did you do after supper the
evening of the trouble2"
Il lay down on the lounge and slept
awhile and retired about 1920
Did you participate ia this mob
Are you acquainted with 1fr. PIatog''
mo, sir"
Have you and win Hamilton been
mo, sir
Have You ana Peter Hamilton been
on good terms2'
Are you and your sister, Mrs. Plato.
on intimate terms2"
mo; we have not been friendly for
about eight years"
do you know where Peter and VIII
trouble2"
mo"
Mrs. Jennie Gummo. who. gave the
card party which the Hamiitons say
they attended the night ol the trouble,
testified that Peter and william Ham
ilton entered her house a little after
o'clock and did not leave until after M
Peter Hamilton the leading defend
ant went upon the stand Immediately
after dinner
"Are You acquainted with Mr.. Platoq'
was asked.
mo, sir
do you know anything about these
shootipgs that nave been mentioned ~
connection with this trOuDle2
II do not"