The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-24

National Biscuit company. of which
John DsRichardson, brother of the dead
man, is president, testified to making a
thorough search of the premises and
finding the bottle of whisky in the wood
pile, but no weapon
Moses Brown, clerk in the Richardson
store, was recalled and said he OBJ
served nothing more in Mrs. Richard
sons manner toward Fife than it was
toward other clerks. tie admitted that
he worked on the grocery side, and
could not see the dry goods side, where
Fife worked
Mrs Elliott Bedford who was Mrs
Lola King when she worked as cashier
in the store, said her desk was on the
Richardson was very amiable to all
the clerks. and was no different to
Stewart Fife On eross-examination
she did not remember ever hearing a
Frank Richardson Stewart Fife and
Flies mother. She did not rene-n ber
Frank Richardson being led from the
store by his wife and Bruce Stanton
after that interview.
Frank Richardson, the next to the
oldest son of Mrs. Richardson, was put
upon the stand, and it was expected
that he would be called upon to give
important evidence regarding the whis-
pered talk with his father in the store
on Christmas eve, just before his father
went home to mis- death. The state,
however, made no attempt to cross
0XdII1li4G HILL L Tdlh Is lZ years OlQ
He went into the store with his younger
brother Howell. He said his father
took him aside and talked low. but did
not whisper. He was not asked what
his father said. In the opening state
ment to the jury it was asserted that
the boy asked the father why his
mother had not. gone to church. The
state evidently expects the jury to
weigh the fact that the Richardson
boys were testifying in behalf of their
mother.
John D. Richardson, brother of the
murdered man, testified that when he
came to Savannah, after receiving news
of the murder he hired Judge David
Rae and Fl. ]. White, another lawyer,
to help the prosecuting attorney run
down the slayer of his brother. This
action was taken, he said, independent
of the interests of his sister-in-law.
His testimony was not changed on
cross exam inatiOn.
Mrs. Sofia Purviance, a rleighbor of
the Richardson family, said she had
lived in Savannah thfrty-six years.
Mrs Richardson's reputation, she said
was of the very best
Your estimate is not founded upon
any discussion of the defendants char
acter that you had heard?" she was
asked.
I'VE don't discuss our neighbors
characters on our hi1l,'' she replied
Mrs. Mamie Russell. Mrs. Foley and
Miss Ophelia Allison gave practically
the same testimony. Joseph l. Bennett,
a. resident of Savannah for forty-fve
years, who had filed the offices of
county judge, county collector and
other official positions; Clarence Stew
enson, clerk of the circuit court: Sber-
man Reed, county clerk; William Har-
ris, Mrs Mary J. Walls and Mrs Linn
erick all said they had known Mrs.
Richardson well and the people with
whom she associated declared that her
character and reputation We're good.
Just before adjournment J. M. Sum-
merville was recalled by the state and
said there was blood on Mrs. Richard
sons hand when he first saw her after
the murder. Frank Richardson's over
coat, with the marks of the wife's
bloody fingers on it, was also offered
in evidence