The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-11
WEB IS CLOSING.
Network of Circumstantial EYi-
denee in Booth Murder.
Blood on Everything Near the
Mccoy Kitchen.
TOPEKA MEN TESTIFY.
Clarence Matthews Forced Into
Compromising Admissions.
Fifth Avenue Hotel Employees
Identify Mrs. Stanley.
Mrs. Stanley's Mother and Sis
ter on Stand.
TOPEKA MEN TESTIFY.

Ottawa, Kas., April 1.-THE audience
at the Booth murder trial gathered
very early this morning and at the
time the trial commenced the room was
full
Mrs. Marie Stanley, the defendant,
Wore the same dress, and she had the
same group of friends around her.
The taking of the testimony conf
menced with Sheriff S. p. Costigan. of
Ottawa, on the stand. He said he had
never yet found Booths hat; he had
taken possession of Mrs. Stanley at
Kansas City. Sheriff Mendenhall had
arrested her at Topeka and taken ner
to Kansas City. Mr.. Costigan had ex-
amined the grip, and he then described
the articles in the grip. He also iden-
tilted certain letters found in the Nc
Coy trunk in the bedroom.
The prosecution then announced that
they were going to prove the standard
Of comparison of handwriting of Marie
Stanley. Mr.. Costigan, attorney for the
defense, objected on the ground that
the writing which they submitted had
not been admitted to be her hand
writing. The prosecution claimed that
it was as competent as the skirt and
other articles. The judge decided that
the letters were admissible aS-tO the
comparison of the handwriting.
Then James Vermillion was put on
the stand and said he was acquainted
with the handwriting of Marie Stanley.
He identified the handwriting of the
letter as that of Mrs. Stanley.
Then M. S. Getchel was called. He
saw Marie Stanley at the depot on the
morning of January II. He had spoken
to her in the car; he said that Marie
told him that she had been up all night.
Sheriff MendenhaH, of Kansas City,
told the arrest at TRnaEa.. said that
she denied all knowledge of the mat
ter. later she had told him several times
that she was going to tell all, but never
told all; she had told him that her
sister Bessie had told her that she was
going to dress like 3 man and hold up
old man Booth, and she had told her
that she had better leave that out She
also told Mr.. Mendenhau that she did
not get any money from Booth Friday
night: she told him that Mr.. Booth had
given her SIS some time before for a
divorce suit. but she had used the
money to buy clothing. He said that
when he told her that her mother and
sister had been arrested in Ottawa she
began TO cry. He said he saw in her
pocketbook about 50 in silver; that she
said SFe had not spent anything but
for half pint of whisky which she
bought to give him as a present. He
had watched the grip, and knew that
she had no opportunity to spend any
more.
Sheriff Mendenhan and Policeman
Voiies of Topeka differed as to how she
was dressed
The Ottawa sheriff was then called
10 state whether he found any neck
clothing in the grip, and both he and
the coroner testified that they did not
know that they found anything of that
sort.
A colored man by the name of Har-
Vey testified that he had seen two per-
sons on the morning of January II at
the Mccoy house. They went from near
the we'll into the house. 1t was quite
dark when he saw them and he could
not tell whether they were men or wo-
men: he said this was about the time
of the morning train
MOTHER AND SISTER CALLED
Mrs. Mccoy. the mother. and Bessie
Browning, the sister, were called on the
stand to identify photograph on the
back Of which was some writing They
claimed they knew nothing of the writ
Ing The last they had seen the photo
graph was Friday afternoon. They said
they did not know Marie's writing
The state attempted to put the photo
graph IN evidence and it was objected
to. The objection was sustained The
reason it was objected to was because
the writing had not been identified.
The little girl Dollie Browning was
put on the stand and as she was only
ten years old the judge administered the
oath to her himself. The prosecution
did not get any information from her.
The prosecution then announced that
they had been surprised at getting along
so fast and some of their witnesses were
not present. They said they wanted to
wait until after noon. It was then about
! 11:3e The court adjourned until one
/ o'clock.
The audience made a number Of re-
marks about Mr. Fritz Schnert's appear
/ ance on the stand He was very much
! affected and trembled. He was arrested
! at the beginning Of the trial charged
with completely in the crime, but was
n 4
I TIE prosecution promises some sensa-
/ tional developments in Mr. Schnerts S
| case. The prosecution is about through
with their case.
INTEREST IS INTENSE.