The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-13
MRS. NATION HERE
Faces Jury in District Court on
Smashing Charge.
Result of Her Raid on MOeser
Cold Storage Plant.
QUIET IN COURT ROOM.
Joint Smasher Takes No Hand
in Examination.
County Attorney Nichols Blum
QUIET IN COURT ROOM.
County Attorney Nichols Blum
der in Omitting Names.
Mrs. Nation Accordingly Dis
charged by Judge Hazen.

AT the special request OF MRS. carrie
Nation jury was impaneled in the dis
trict court this morning to try her on
the charge Of breaking, smashing and
destroying the doorway and peace and
quiet of the Noeser cold storage plant
in February, 1901.
Judge Hazen had been holding the
case over Mrs. Nations head like the
sword of Damocles. He did not intend
to set it for trial so long as the defend
ant was good She has been quite good
lately. Perhaps Mrs. Nation chafed un-
der the restraint. At any rate she wrote
Judge Hazen a letter and requested that
the case be set for trial. He accommo-
dated her.
Mrs. Nation like a hot wave in July,
waited into the court room at o'clock
this morning. Sylvan Kline, jointist,
VINO has been visited IN strenuous times
now past by Mrs. Nation, drifted in
also Both had cases set. Both were
smashing cases. Kline smashed up
Frank Longs restaurant and the night
cook, Sherman Joy, year ago Mrs.
Nation wanted to be tried for smashing.
Kline was not so anxious.
Mrs. Nation was clad in black skirt
with very broad girdle, a yellow linen
waist, a white neck ribbon which WiIted
on account of the heat. She wore a,
black bonnet with black veil done up
on top of the headgear in a sort OF Old
Virginia twist or Half Nelson. She car
ried bundles ranging IN size from a PHI
box to a bolt of muslin She carried a
handkerchief and had swung across her
shoulders a yellow satchel. She seated
herself and her bundles.
Mrs. Nation was alone, except for her
bundles. Mrs. White, who sued her for
back pay and won, was sitting in the
rear of the courtroom. Another lone fe-
male drifted in and saw Mrs. Nation $
dress unlocked in the back. She hooked
it Mrs Nation does not lace.
The case was called. The jury was
called to the box and neither the pros
ecution nor the defense challenged a
juror. The twelve men, tried and true,
were accepted and the case was COM
menced in seven minutes after the bell
sounded.
I'VE object to the Introduction Of any
testimony on the ground that the names
of the witnesses have not been endorsed
on the complaint" said Col. J. NJ Dunn
emil, attorney for Mrs. Nation.
9'It is not necessary in a miSdemeanor
case" said County Attorney Ga1en
Nichols, with an air of confidence
"Over-ruled," said Judge Hazen.
William Moeser was called to the
cold storage plant and that Mrs. Nation
broke into it early in the morning.
What was Mrs Nation doing?" ask
ed Nichols referring to the time thai she
was visiting at the cold storage plant
'She did the work, replied MOeSeT re-
ferring to the splinters and cordwoOd
left in her wake.
There were seven people in the crowd
at the court room watching the case.
One was the 5anitor Of the court house
and one was a man who stopped to rest
on his way home. The rest were there
as usual.
Mrs. Nations attorney did not care
to hold any conversation with the wit
ness nor to cross-examine him
Charles AIoeser was called. The same
objection about the names on the COM
plant was made He was not cross
questioned.
All this time Judge Hazen was read
ing law and had Bailiff John COyne on
the jump hustling law books for his in
spection.
Ex-Chief of Police Stahl was called
and the same objections made. Stahl
told how as a policeman it was his bus
mess to suspicion and that he suspect
ed early one morning when he saw Mrs.
Nation and her cohorts headed toward
the cold storage plant, that something
might happen. He trailed after
"What did Mrs. Nation do when she
got there?" was asked.
ssShe broke into the cold storage room
where rabbits We're stored, replied
Stahl.
By this time Judge Hazen had waded
through Hoyle and Blackstone
Can you cite the law which does not
require that names of witnesses be en-
dorsed on the complaint" asked the
court NlCnOlS-
'sWell. no, not Just now" replied
Nichols in a dazed sort of way. II was
going by custom mostly"
Lawyer Dumenil became SO excited
that he Strengthened up in his chair
and Mrs. Nation dropped her handker-
chief.
I'VE don't go on custom here said
Judge Hazen. What I want is law
Case adjourned until 1870 to give the
county attorney time to find the law"
When the case was resumed at 1:30
County Attorney Nichols was unable to
produce anything but custom to
maintain his side Of the argument.
Judge Hazen sustained the motion of
Mrs. Nations attorney and the case was
ended.
The court then went to work on the
other smashing case. Another smash
ing case calculated Mrs. Nation.
'sEVho, what?'
"A jointist smashed up a restaurant
and a cook" was the reply.
"Oh" said the Home Defender and
she went her way after requesting the
court to postpone the other case against
her set for Friday Then she will be
tried for smashing the bar stored in the
old omnibus barn and Attorney Nichols
will have the names endorsed on the
COMPLAINT.
Dead Bodv Of an Artist Found.