The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-12
CHARGED WITH
WIFE MURDER
John Duncan Arrested by the
Police Last Night
WIFE DIED YESTERDAY
He Is Alleged to Have Beat
Her to Death.

Mrs. Sallie Duncan. (eolored), died yes
terday morning at 10 O'Clock and John
Duncan is locked in the city jail with
the most inhuman form Of wife murder
hanging over him. John Duncan was
arrested last night for the murder OF his
wife by beating her until she died from
the injuries. A warrant will be sworn
/ out in the city court this morning by
the father of the dead woman and
already detectives have been weaving
the net Of evidence against her husband.
The evidence against him so far is purely
circumstantial. but the officers hope to
find more substantial proof. and they
believe that when the man is brought
before a court that they Will be able to
produce witnesses that viii lead TO this
mans conviction on the charge Of man
slaughter.
Mrs. Duncan died at 10 o'clock, but no
action was taken even by the members Of
the family until o'clock yesterday after
noon. when the coroner's attention was
called 10 it by the aged father. and upon
investigation Coroner McCoilister found
sufficient facts 10 warrant the arrest Of
the man and 10 take official action and
coroneT's inquest viii be held this after
noon or tomorrow morning and possibly
post norton examination VIII be held.
The fact Of the lateness OF the mans
arrest was caused by the taciturn dispo-
sition Of the dead woman. She absolutely
refused TO tell where and how she came
by the injuries that lead 10 her death.
She has been injured week or ten days
and the tenth rib on the right side is
fractured, but she absolutely refused to
tell the physicians how she came by that
wound and she only divulged that secret
to her sister. Mrs. Rebecal Brown, and
that lady refused to tell what she knew
until she was brought on the witness
stand. either in court or before a coro-
ner's jury. She told her father some Of
the facts, however, and when these were
given to the coroner and that Official had
made inquiries Of the attending physician
he determined TO take action and immedi-
ately gave orders to have John Duncan
arrested and held until ths case had been
more thoroughly probed.
Deacon Alfred Gibson. one of the best
known colored men in this city. but
whose residence is now in Winfield. is
the father OF the dead woman. and it
was through him that the investigation
was commenced. He told the following
story TO a reporter for the Eagle last
night:
Monday evening I was handed a tele-
gram saying that my daughter was not
expected to live and for me 10 come to
Wichita at once. I came here yester-
day afternoon and went Immediately 10
the rooms Of my daughter and found her
conscious, but in great pain. I stayed
and talked with her a few moments and
then left the room and called my other
daughter TO me and told her TO give me
the facts Of Sallies sickness. She looked
around as if she thought someone would
hear her and then I knew that something
was wrong. told her to tell me every
thing and 1 would see that no one would
hurt her, and she did. I cannot tell you
anything she told me. but I am satisfied
that my daughter died from the effects
Of a beating and kicking she received
from her husband. l have known for
some time that John Duncan was not
treating my daughter right and not long
ago l heard that she ran away from her