The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-12
ALIEN MURpER CASE.
Trial of Jim Harris Begun at Bur-
lington.

Burlington. Kas., March 12-The jury
IN the Allen case was secured at noon
ined. four being excused for cause and
the state and defense each peremptorily
farmers, one IS a hardware clerk and one
a wagon maker IN Burlington
Jurors sh 30 frS linn srris ae eau oI
fourteen had formed an opinion. one was
years Of age. These csc were excused. The
state peremptorily challenged three and
nine farmers, a blacksmith, barber and
a tombstone dealer. 1t was put In charge
Of a special bailiff and viii be held to-
gether till the conclusion OF Mrs. Aliens
trial, when Jim Harris viii be tried.
begun the states statement OF the case.
When he concluded court adjourned till
John H. Allen, a wealthy merchant of
OttumWa, village nine miles north of
yard the night of April 20, 1900. Mord
was brought here, and Deputy Sheriff
Grennan, County Attorney Weaver and
Coroner Salisbury drove out and held an
inquest. at which these facts were clio
Mr. Allen had closed his store shortly
after o'clock and, accompanied by his
wife bearing a lantern. went to his home,
the house, leaving the lantern sitting in
the open doorway As her husband came
In someone hidden by some trees in the
yard fired a shotgun and Mr.. Allen fell
dead with q gaping wound IN his breast
and his heart torn to pieces by a load OF
buckshot and slugs. The jury, having
heard no testimony pointing to anyone,
returned a verdict of death at the handa
of unknown. persons.
But in the crowd that had gathered
some one inquired, Where Is Jim Har-
ris r. Harris is a man about % years old.
shiftless and unprepossessing. Harris
one thought him capable o. SO terrible
a crime The officers went to the house
man, where Harris was found in bed
His shoes were muddy and his shotgun
concealed under the bed had fresh mud
in the muzzles. although he declared he
had not used it for two weeks He was
His shoes were found to fit in the tracks
near the scene of the murder, the trail
was Followed 4f nearly TO the the GnTisman
rammed into the mud was found and the
4aPrris had dl fhr wrs tbem bloodbonnd
to follow the tran While the crowd was
present but later with its keeper and
Deputy Sheriff Grennan went from the
Allen yard to Chrisman's house.
Afterward. under the sweat ting process,
declared that Mrs Allen and he had
planned to put Allen out Of the way. and
later share his wealth. which both knew
would be Mrs Aliens by the provision Of
She wept .copiously and declared her in
enc Harris Teneatad bfs eonfession
his preliminary he was bound over to
court without bail.
May Harris was used as a witness, but
while admitting his responsibility in the
plying to every question tending that way
II don't remember. Mrs. Allen was re-
leased on 5000 bail bond. So far as the
public knows there. is no more evidence
against her but the correspondent has
been told that the state has secured
strong corroborative proof OF Harris con-
fessiOn.
The trial of Harris has been twice c5n-
tfnlfed and under the statute must take
place at this session of court. else he is
entitled to be discharged from custody
The state IS represented BY County At
torney s. d. Weaver. assisted by T. I.
Wolfe and James Redmond The defend
ant is represented by John Madden. w.
w. Brown and True Uncapher- Defend |
ant waived arraigument and pleaded not
guilty. Mrs Allen, dressed entirely IN