The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-21
Her Testimony Often Inter-
rupted by Her Tears.
Arguments Will Begin In the
Case This Morning.


Where Jessie stopped in her testimony
to weep before. she stopped to weep
again yesterday. The coincidence was
so striking as to be noticeable by all
who heard her on both occasions. She
made a good witness for herself The
attorneys for the state tried in every
conceivable way to tangle her up, but
they could not confuse her on any ma
terial point. She was on the stand for
three and a half hours Frequently she
wept and sobbed. Mrs. Wiley, mother
of the murdered woman, was overcome
with grief While listening to Jessie tes-
tify, and was removed from the court
room The heat was intense. and at
o'clock some OF the attorneys COM
planned of exhaustion and expressed
fear of being overcome with heat. On
this account, Judge Altman adjourned
court at o'clock until Friday.
While several witnesses We're exam
ined, the testimony Of Jessie Morrison
was the all absorbing incident. When
she took the stand she was gowned in q
blue summer dress. ornamented with
lace insertion. She wore a sailor straw
hat and carried a little folding fan,
which she used constantly.
She testified:
4 went to Mrs. Davis, to get a col
lar pattern. Mrs. Davis and I were
friends and we visited back and forth.
1 went the route 1 usually took when I
went to Mrs. Davis. knew where DIN
Castle and his wife were living at that
time I had used that route frequently
prior to their moving there. was at
MIS-. OaN1S ABOUT twenty I'VE minutes
Mrs. Davis, Lizzie and Florence Leather
man were there. Mrs. Davis met me
at the door and asked her where Lizzie
was. told Lizzie what had come for
Lizzie explained to me the trouble with
the collar l did not get the pattern.
1 had my handkerchief and letter
with me when I went to Mrs Davis.
l took the letter to cut a collar pattern
from. The letter paper was better than
newspaper because it was SITTER
Here the letter that was found on
to the witness. THAT is the letter took
with me- she said, the marks and dis
colorations were not upon it them
who wrote that letter2''
The defendant broke down and wept
as she answered in a quavering voice,
My sister. Mrs Hawley, of Excelsior
Springs" She regained her composure
and testified further:
when 1 left Mrs. Davis started to
go home I had no other business or
errand other than going to Mrs. Davis
when L left home 1 had no intention
of stopping any other place when left
home. I went south from Mrs. Davis
to Central avenue and then east to Mer-
chant street"
Where were you when your attention
was first attracted?"
Just little south of Castles gate.
Mrs. Castle opened the door and tossed
a rug on the walk which leads from the
house to the gate went on few
steps and just as I got north of the
gate I heard her rapping on the door
with the broom which she had in her
hands. She said. Jessie. come IN. 1
want to talk with you turned around
and walked back. I did not have, prior
to the time she spoke to me, any thought
of stopping or going into the house.
When she spoke to me stopped, turned
and went in at the gate. She was stand
ing in the door holding the screen open
when I met her. Nothing else was said
until 1 entered the house. Mrs Castle
made no such statement as, No, I never
wrote that letter. neither did l. No
such statement was made.
lounge which was in the northwest cor
ner Of the room, along the wall Mrs
Castle sat in rocking chair little TO
the front and right of me No one else
was in the room. The tlrst words We're by
want to talk about?
''she said: You know very well what I
know that 1 do She said: You do; you
know that you hate me and that l nate
you. You are no friend Of mine. sald;
Clara, 1 know that I am no enemy or
yours She said You are; you know you
Springs Don't deny it, Jess, for saw the
letters You wrote a. note to him not long
ing after band practice, no matter if it
was as late as 10 or II o'clock l saw the
I said: I have known for a long time.
Clara, the bitter feeling you nave nao l I9F
me, and thought some time ago would
come down to your mother rs ana tank 20
She shook her finger at me and said:
It's a good thing you didn't come. as my
mother would have torn you TO pieces.
She would have taken the hide off of you
I started to go and said. oh. Clara VII
ley She said: Just wait minute or
two; Olin will be here in a minute
said. Isn't he here now? She said: NO.
he isn't here now. but he viii come In a
minute and would like to have you wait
until he comes She said You just run
after that poor boy; know you and your
parents are continually watching me-
said: If am down town hardly get 20
the Racket until he comes She said:
why do you go there? said. Simply
because have a right to go where
caused you to be so bitter against me- He
likes to torment you and make you jea1-
ous.' She said: You have been trying to
separate US for a long time, and you are
? You are a liar said: Don't You call
II dropped my handkerchief out of my
lap and, ] stopped to pick 1t up. We
both raised 1ap together. I heard Mrs.
castle move quickly and as I raised up
Mrs. Castle struck me across the throat
That was the first blow mad no razor,
knife other weapon and had made no
attempt to cut her After Clara cut me
across the throat tried to get the razor
screamed oh. Oh, Oh Clara pushed
kicked her away I thought my life was
in danger and that would be killed 4 got
the razor and cut Mrs Castle, knew not
how many times nor where The razor
tie had attacked me- I had not seen 1t
before. I had not had 1t in my possess
sion before I took it from Mrs Castle.
Mrs. SpauEler at the WINDOW Wn1le
we were on the floor. I trying to
get away from Mrs Castle. did not say
. now she has seen me. when j saw mrs
SpangIer at the window. MIS- castle was
nearer the window than L was dld not
move around on the south side Of Mrs
castle Mrs. Castle did not say. get of
me. Jessie Morrls2n; you are =, ki. 4ls ne,