The Topeka state journal., 1901-06-03

county authorities. At midnight last
night Under Sheriff Philip Hess and
former Sheriff John Wilkerson brought
Klusmire up from Kansas City. where
he was arrested by the police Of that
city
Klusmire talks freely about the trag-
edy. He says that his wife committed
self in the barn; that he found her there
and buried her. not wanting the children
to know Of her tragic death and be dis
graced- There were no marks as Of a
rope about the woman's neck disclosed
at the autopsy and inquest. But Klus-
rnire stoutly asserts:
There was a mark when I took her
out and buried her.
He says in explanation of the marks
and bruises on her head and breast
that these were received as he carried
her out OF the barn and into the field.
He says the limp body in his arms struck
against the studdings In the barn entry
and that out by the grave he slipped
and fell down with her.
The Kansas City police picked up
Klusmire about 8 o'clock Sunday after
noon at the Northwestern depot in Kan
sas City. Kansas. klusmire was loiter-
ing about the depot waiting for a train
to Holton- The railroad officials sus-
pected him as the man wanted in con-
nection with the Hclton case and tip
ped off the police The railroad men
asked him his name and he replied that
Ii was Klusmire that he lived at Holton
and that he had lived there thirty years.
Sergeant Peter kinman placed him un-
der arrest and took him to the city pO-
lice station Two hours later at
O'Clock. the HoltOn officers arrived and
found their man behind the bars
This morning Klusmire finds himself
in the Shawnee county Jail He passed
q bad night, getting but little sleep.
When he did close his eyes he had
dreams and visions. He says his chill
dren came around him crying. He could
not eat any breakfast this morning The
prisoners were served with boiled rice,
potatoes and syrup. but klusmire did
not touch his ratiOns.
kiusmtre is 40 years of age He is a
thin-faced. spare man, with weak chin
that Is half hidden under his long droOp-
ing noustache- His appearance denotes
the Weakling. He has a slight stOOp in
his shoulders. His expression is vapid,
almost stupid. The game of craft du-
plicity and cunning that he has been
playing seems foreign TO his nature. He
has sad look and the strain of the past
few weeks is beginning to tell on him
He showed no interest in ANYTHING to
any extent and conversation Jagged un-
til the subject Of his children was
brought up Then he talked quite freely
IN answer to questions. He told about
the troubles with his wife
He wore a broad brimmed slouch hat.
with Grape around 1t, and a dark suit Of
clothes that fit him loosely. He had S56
In his possession when arrested.
He talks in a low voice and deiectedlv.
There IS uncertainty and hesitancv in
his manner. But he clings to his story
closely today.
The night this happened he said.
my wife run cut Of the house about 40
O'Clock She was very angry at me over
property deals She said she would
leave me. I went out and found her
and brought her back woke up again
at o'clock and she was gone
Then 7 went out to the barn and
FOUND her hanging there. When I found
her I cut her down and hid the BODY
In the straw didn't want the children
to know and suffer the disgrace that
their mother had killed herself 1t was
all for their sake that I buried the BODY
and tried to keep il quiet For that
reason went away when I did,
Did you send that telegram from
Kansas City saying she had died of vel
low fever and you had buried her?''
was asked
Yes. 1 sent that And it was nv
Idea that they would be satisfied
thought then that they would not learn
the disgrace
Klusmire was not very clear as to the
time of the happenings in connection
with his Wlfe's death. He said it was
along toward morning.
'.The two babies slept in the room with