The Topeka state journal., 1901-06-03

property. I guess he said when asked
as to the causes Of quarrel between
them. About a. year and a half ago [
sold the farm she owned on Pleasant
Ridge. She has nagged about that ever
since she signed the papers 4 decided her
half of the farm on which we live but
she wanted me to give her the whole of
it. She liked the Ridge farm the best.
had a good chance to sell it and sold
045'' ''''- '''''' - = . -
KIusmire said his wife did not carry
cent of insurance on her life, speaking of
the Swetlick murder, he said:
My wife did not get any OF the Swet-
lick insurance money Ny wifes folks
are against me now 1 guess. They live
about 25 miles away in the other part Of
the county. Two of my wife's brothers
committed suicide. Paul SWetlick was
my wife's brother He had a lot of in
surance when he killed himself. They
prosecuted Mrs. Stach for killing of
Swetlick. So as to get the insurance, 1
guess, that some of the companies re-
fused to pay"
Were you not arrested for that kill
ing?"
No. exclaimed Klusmire. Il swore
out the warrant for Mrs. Stach."
Didn't you ana your wife quarrel
about the Swetlick affair Did she ever
threaten to send you to the penitentiary
for having a hand in it?"
klusmire denied it up and down.
'AIywife agreed that should prosecute
Mrs. Stach. We didn't fight about that.
All our trouble was over property. She
never threatened to send me to prison
She struck me ana as have told you
threatened to kill herself and me. That's
all"
Details of the Klusmire murder at
Holton, as they come to light, stamp it
more and more as a most unusual trag-
edy. The marvel is how the murderer
accomplished his bloody deed and kept
it concealed for three weeks lacking but
one day
The circumstances surrounding the
murder are the more mystifying from
the boldness and openness that go with
them.
The Klusmire home stands on knob
in the prairie half a mile north of the
bustling little city Of Holton. The lane
leading up to the house turns off to the
left from the north road 1t dips into a
little hollow crosses a plank bridge over
a dry run, bears south and skirts the
base of the little bluff Immediately past
the front door and reaches the south
gable end of the house on an up grade.
On the right Of the lane going in is a
thrifty vineyard Passing the house IL
fetches up al a large red barn Beyond
the barn and the house are the open
fields The house itself is of stone.
Trees shade it and towering bushes are
scattered about the front yard. It is
built like a thick and stubby L. 1t
fronts east. ON the ground floor front
is the parlOr, taking up more than half
of the south end. A folding door throws
open a spare chamber, which is fitted as
a second Darlor- IT contains a portable
oak bookcase and a dressing buffet Of
the same finish The kitchen takes up
the rest Of the first floor. A closed stair
way runs up to the north gable end in
a well set in between the parlor and
kitchen walls. At the head of the stairs
there is a door on either side To the
right is large room and two small
ones opening out of it. To the lef6 is
one large room over the kitchen. This
was the room occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Klusmire. It was in this room that the
murder is supposed to have been COM
mitted. or at least begun. on the night
Of Sunday. May 12
The two babies OF the family of eight
children slept with their father and
mother. They must have been in the
room when the quarrel occurred and
fatal blows were struck, if there was a
quarrel at least. for the couple quar-
relied frequently If the babies saw it
done they cannot tell Gladys, the in
fant is seventeen months old Pearl is
not vet three years old.
IT, as the presumption is. the deed was
committed in the early hours OF Sunday
evening, there were but two other small \
children in the other half of the house.
Continued On Seventh Page.A