The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-23


rs it not a fact that Mrs. Richard
son frequently went about town to hunt
for her husband when he was drunk?"
asked Brewster. The same objection
the record.
The state followed up Stanton's tes-
timony by putting young man named
Leonard Mcdaniel on the stand. He
said that during the latter part of Au-
gust or the first of September, 1900, he
was going home one night about IL
O'Clock with Carl Guenther when he
saw Stewart Fife and Mrs Richardson
sitting On the stone steps near the
Maple Leaf tracks about half way be-
tween the town square and the Rich
How were they sitting?' asked At
torney Boober.
They We're sitting close together
When did you ever see them to-
"Once before standing on the street.
1t was daylight, about o'clock in the
morning.
BY Senator Brewster-Was not this
about the time of the Presbyterian con-
Vention?
Il don't remember"
Did you not see a little boy there
with them?''
81 did not"
Pointing to John, Mrs. Richardson's
14-year-old son, Mr.. Brewster asked:"Do
you mean to tell this jury that you did
not see that little boy there on the
steps with Fife and Mrs. Richardson"
81 did not see him there"
Carl Guenther gave the same testi-
mony. Both are young men. Otto
Byers, another young man. testified
that he saw a man and woman one
night sitting on the ground in the
Catholic church yard and that he sup
posed they were Stewart Fife and Mrs.
Richardson. He would not say posi-
lively that they were.
On cross -examinati tion he said he had
told several persons he was not sure
who the connie
when you went to that church yard
who was with you?' asked Senator
Brewster.
"A lady, he replied.
did you not tell several persons that
it was woman from st. Joseph?"
81 did"
Sheriff Holcomb told of examining the
ground around the Richardson home
and told of finding a mans footprints
In the snow behind the house. Witness
after witness was called to the stand
to testify regarding the movements of
Fife before and after the shooting. They
told of seeing him in several stores and
saloons on the town square the night of
the murder but he did not go to the
Richardson home when he heard of it.
The unique situation of two persons
being tried for a killing for which one
of them was indicted has been main
tanned throughout the trial. All of the
late testimony introduced by the state
appeared to have the purpose of fasten-
Ing the crime on Fife, who is in Jail
III savannah, OH nleQ DY
Prosecutor Lloyd Booher. If Mrs. Rich
ardson is acquitted the difficulty of con-
victing Fife is recognized by the attor-
neys for the state. They seem to feel
that the jury in this case will be affect
ed by sympathy for Mrs. Richardson
and her three children.
Mrs. Richardson showed signs yester-
day evening of breaking down under
the strain. While Mcdaniel, Guenther
and Byers were telling of seeing her
with Fife at night. tears came into her
eyes and she placed her arm around her
youngest boy, a little white-headed fell
low, and bowed her head. The child
looked up into her face with wonder
for a moment and then tears fell from
his eyelids and coursed down his plump
cheeks. Mrs. Richardson's frame shook
with emotion when Judge Culver recited
the abuse she had received from her
husband when he was drunk. Sur
by her more robust relatives,
the widow seems strikingly frail and
delicate. Her eyes are singularly ex-
pressive and she has what many would
call winsome face, although it is now
well marked by the lines of care.
The jury that is judging her is made
up largely of austere men near the mid
die age. The common opinion in the
court room is that it is a good jury in
the matter of intelligence.