The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-03
MURDER OF WIFE.
w. H. KIusmire Taken to HOl-
ton For His Trial.
Application Is Made For Change
of Venue.
HIS FRIGHTFUL CRIME.
Dead Body of Mrs. Klusmire
Found in a Draw.
Had Been Beaten to Death
With Club.
Husband Disappeared but Was
Arrested in Kansas City,


Holton, Kan. Sept. s.-The trial of
| W II. Klusmire for the murder of his
wife was commenced today by an APP
plication for a change of venue on be-
half of KIusmire who was brought
from the Topeka jail this morning.
The killing of Mrs. Klusmire was an
inhuman and yet as cunningly con-
trived tragedy as this part of the coun-
try ever knew. All through it the muir
derer if her husband be he, as every
thing seems to indicate. acted with
hendish adrOitness. Klusmire and his
wife lived on their old home place north
of Holton. They-the husband and wife
had quareled but not seriously. He
was prosperous; their children were
growing up and there seemed no reason
for any trouble. There are reports of
her having acquired money which he
wanted, but they are indefinite; still.
they are the only rational excuse offer
ed for the deed. which he has persist
entity denied.
On Sunday evening May 12 the two
Oldest girls and the two Oldest boys at
tended the Presbyterian church at HOl-
ton Mrs. Klusmire was at home and
presumably in good spirits when they
left. The children We're a little late and
Sno nGlD6Q LnGIn get ready SO lH0S
would be there on time When the chill
dren reached home they did not see
their father or mother. Thinking their
parents had retired for the night, they
went to their rooms quietly, fearing
they might disturb them.
Next morning the mother did not ap-
pear for breakfast. The girls inquired
of their father as to her Wherea bouts
He replied that they had a quarrel the
night before, that she left and had
probably gone to Straight Creek This
somewhat surprised the cnlldreI, out as
their parents had quarreled before and
the mother had threatened to leave,
they believed his story
From this time the children never felt
right and when seated around the ta-
BILE partaxing of their meals. there was
more or less crying and complaining by
the children. They would often say to
their father IF mother would only
come home" Through all this the
father sat with a stolid expression and
would say little.
Finally. to ease their minds. he told
them he had received a letter from tnelr
mother He said she was in Texas Wis
iting her brother. The children bright
ened somewhat, but when they asked to
see the letter, he told them he tore it
up A few days later he informed them
that a telegram just received stated
that mother fell and hurt herself and
was sick. Thus the days went by and
no positive news came to the children
On Wednesday, May 29. Klusnire said
he received another message calling
him to Texas, that Mrs. Klusmire was
very sick. He went to town with MS
children on Decoration day, but went
home about o'clock In the evening
he went to the l. K. & w. pOt,bought
a ticket for Valley Falls, got on the
train and left
After Klusmire stated that he had
received a letter from Mrs. Klusmire
and refused to let the children see it,
they became suspicious of foul play.
Carrie, the second daughter, declared
to her father that she believed that he
killed her mother. He threatened to
kill ner if she did not cease such talk
One of the smaller boys watched him
several evenings crossing the fields in
the direction where the body was found
One time he followed his father, but
KluSmire. upon seeing the boy, threat
ened him and ordered him to return.
This the boy did However, after klus-
1nire left presumably for Texas, Carrie
commenced a search She soon found
that her mothers clothing was all there
This satisfied her that her mother had
been foully dealt with She drove over
to the farm near NetaWaka. where the
Oldest son. John. was at work. and told
him all she knew and thought about the
matter John went home with her.
The next morning, just after day
break. Carrie and John started to
search the place. Noticing that her
father had hauled considerable brush to
the ditch a few days after their mother
was missing. and that he frequently
visited the place. they went directly to
this spot They worked for some time
in getting the brush removed The boy
got a shovel and commenced to dig.
He soon came to a piece of cloth COW
cred with fur. He ran to the house and
told of his find. The girls We're con-
Vfnced, because their mothers fur cloak
was missing. John notified Elijah
Glove and the girls went over to tell
the family of w. r. Weeks. neighbors.
Early in that forenoon, of Saturday.
June L news was brought to town that
w H Klusmire had killed his wife and
buried the body in a ditch on his farm
H J. Klusmire was notified. He at once
went to the home of his brother, and.
in company with several others, made
an examination of the place where the
Satisfying himself that the body of some
person was buried there. he at once re-
turned to town and notified the cor
Oner.
The news of the horrible find spread
rapidly. and by 1890 O'Clock people were
hurrying to the scene of the tragedy.
The coroner at once summoned q jury.
went to the place and witnessed the
exhumfng of the body. Undertaken J.
taking up the corpse of the murdered
woman
The ditch was specially prepared so
as to keep the body intact in case of
heavy rain. Willows We're planted at
the head and feet The dirt on the
body was wet, heavy gunsbO On top OF
tNis was about Two or three feet OF
loose dirt. Brush was piled on top Of
the dirt. The brush in the ditch above
and below the body, was fastened with
stakes. Just below where the feet of
the corpse We're is short turn in the
ditch. and at this place it was damned