The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-09
BEGINS AT LAST.
After Week of Quibbling KIas-
mire Trial Begins.
Jury is Secured Late Friday
Afternoon.
NEARLY ALL FARMERS.
Every Member of the Jury Has
Family.
Eighty-four of 100 Veniremen
Are Called.
ALL FARMERS.


Oskaloosa, Kas., Nov 9.-The trial of
William Klusmire for the murder of his
wife at Ho1ton, May II last, was begun
in earnest this morning. The jury was
selected just before the adjournment
last night, and County Attorney Gra-
ham, of Jackson county, made the open
ing charge for the state this morning.
Mr.. Graham went over the history of
the case in detail and related that the
circumstances were so interviewer about
the accused man that the state would
establish the fact that he had brutally
killed the mother of his eight children
in one of their frequent quarrels.
Eighty-four names were called on the
special venire of 100 before the state
and defendants attorneys waived their
last two peremptory challenges, indi
eating that the jury was drawn to their
satisfaction Some of the special jurors
had not been found, but about seventy
were examined yesterday.
The jury which is trying Klusmire
consists of L. Repstine, Oskaloosa; r.
NJ. Mackey, Oskaloosa; A. A. Reese,
Delaware townships; w. R. Jones,
ship; j. NJ Vert, Jefferson township;
F. w. Meredith. Oskaloosa township;
II. ID. Cranes, Jefferson township; G.
w. Shewster, OsaWJxie; James Duncan,
township; John Laing, Union township
]. NJ Vert is the only man on the jury
not farmer He is a butcher. The
men are all married or men of fam
lies.
The juror with nine children, Rep
stine. was retained through all the ques
tionings and challenges. Nearly all the
men were called in the Kirby case last
before jury could be secured.
At that trial Repstine was not the
only wonder in the matter of family.
Another juror who was questioned Some
time after Repstine had confessed to
his nine, said: "Oh, that is nothing; I
have thirteen
The jury in the Klusmire case hav-
ing been secured late yesterday after
noon, court convened this morning at
o'clock and the opening statement was
made by F. H Graham, county attoI-
ney of Jackson county, who said:
I'm order that you may get an idea
of this case I shall give an outline Of
the facts stated in the information
as filed in the district COURT He then
detailed the following facts upon which
the prosecution will be based:
He told of the defendant coming to
Jackson county when about 20 years
of age, and of his marriage to Catherine
Swetlick soon thereafter, to which
union were born nine children, eight of
whom are living, and one yet unborn
Then he told of what an unhappy union
it had been and of their many quarrelS
and disputes marring the happiness of
the home. He then told of their resi-
dence on their various farms and of
their having bought a farm at Spring
creek, seven or eight miles from Holton
During the last year he stated that the
quarrels had been more frequent and
severe, and that oftentineS the defend
ant would curse and abuse his wife.
He said that on the day on which
l. l. - -
gone to visit a neighbor and her hus-
band had gone to the Spring creek
farm, both returning about in the ev-
ening; that evening the children had
gone to church as usual, it being the
custom to leave a light for them in the
dining room. That evening the light
was not left as usual. After retiring,
one of the boys, Frank, upon hearing
his mother crying in the dining room,
came down stairs to inquire the cause.
After failure to pacify her, he return
ed to his room and then followed sounds
of louder crying from his mother and
scolding from his father The county at
torney then explained the different
apartments of the house. After break
fast the next morning defendant told
the children that their mother had gone
away saying that their mother had
gone to Straight Creek to take the
train. After her absence was discover
ed he made various contradictory state
ments.
Monday things started off much as
usual. excepting that night Carry heard
her father with a lantern and saw the
barn. Tuesday morning the father hauled
a load of brush away from the orchard.
the next ten days the father made sew
eral statements to the absence of his
gone to Texas and claimed that she had
s money and that & it tagD Was 6urn p
walled the absence of their mother he
said that he was glad that the devil was
gone and he could have peace once more.
Nay Nays 5, when X Klusmire i Went W TOT to Hoiton, ton
and upon his return he told his children
mother When they asked to see the
letter he replied that he had torn it up
had slipped and fallen and had hurt her
self badly His many replies and eva
sions made the children very suspicious.
On May 80, when he returned from Hol-
ton. he said that he had received a tele-
gram, but was unable to show it to the
laid it. Carrie accused him of putting
her mother out of the way and afterward
That night he left on an eastbound train
for Valley Falls. questioning the agent as
BY the children proved that no telegram
had been received by their father Tho
snring s.ih noe creek farm, Of their fears. 81 and
later they began to investigate ravine
northwest of the house. where the, boys
piled in the ravine few days before by
their father. They commenced digging
the body of their mother. Neighbors were
called and doctors summoned, who. de-
cided that she came to her death from
blows which had been inflicted on vari-
Gus parts of her body.
Kansas City a telegram to the effect that
her mother was dead and would haye to
dav G 'tj1 the defendant was arrested and after
his arrest admitted that he had buried