The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-22
MANY ENEMIES.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
the Presbyterian church of Plattsburg,
was not able to find standing room and
he took a seat beside Judge Burns on
the bench, where he remained until
court adjourned. A majority of the
spectators were men, but there was
considerable Sprinkling of women. The
women prese7 t, judged by their appear
ance, are local social leaders, and most
of them had seats within the railing.
Mrs. Richardson, the defendant, had
a seat just inside the bar. Beside her
were her three pretty, little boys, John.
Frank and Howell John and Frank are
to be witnesses. Mrs. Richardson look
cheerful as to the outcome. She was
dressed in black. She followed all the
proceedings very intently. AS she is out
on bond, she was at liberty to come
and go as she pleased. Because OF this
fact, she excited much less interest and
attention than she otherwise would
have done.
Many of the relatives of Mrs. Rich
ardson and her husband are here.
Among them are: John d. Richardson,
of Chicago, her husbands brother:
Ralph Richardson, son of John Rich
ardson; Miss Alice Ferguson, of Chi
cago, a sister: Mrs. May Blum, of st.
Joseph a sister of the murdered man;
Miss Name Blum and Lewis Blum, of
st. Joseph Mrs. James Grant, of st.
Joseph, a sister of the dead man; Geo.
Crutcher, of Fort Worth, Texas.
brother-in-laW of Mrs. Richardson, and
Mr.. and Mrs. George Dawson, of Platts-
burg, distant relatives.
1t is a curious fact that Mrs Rich
ardson has no more loyal defenders than
the relatives of her late husband.
Both sides are represented by plenty
of lawyers The counsel for the state
are Charles F. Booher, Lloyd Booher,
prosecuting attorney of Andrew coun-
ty; Thomas Walker. of Plattsburg, pros
ecuting attorney of Clinton county, and
Kipp Cross, of Savannah. Mrs. Rich
ardson's lawyers are: Huston & Brew
ster, of ST. Joseph; ]. A Sanders, of Sa-
vapnah; Judge r. q. Culver, of St
Joseph, and r. H. Musser. of PIatts-
burg.
All the jurors but one are farmers
The odd one is a mail clerk. All are
intelligent looking men.
After the jury had been empaneled,
the names of the witnesses were called.
The only witness for the state wao did
rot respond was Miss Bessie Phyllis.
This created a slight stir. Miss Phyllis
has told several stories connecting Mrs
Richardson's name unfavorably with
that of several men, and the state has
expected to use her to show the reia-
tions existing between Mrs. Richardson
and Stuart Fife. An attachment was
Immediately issued for her. Before the
sheriff's deputies had had time to get
service on her, she appeared in the
court room.
Charles F. Booher began making the
staten ent of what the state intends to
attempt to prove at few minutes be-
fore IL o'clock His talk was brief, COW
ering but about fifteen minutes, and
contained nothing sensational and lit
tie that was new.
The most interesting part was where
Mr.. Booher said that, to prove mo-
tive, the state would undertake to
show that Mrs. Richardson's relations
with a clerk in her husbands store had
been improper. There was a dead hush
in the court room, as people leaned for
ward to hear the name of the young
man to whom he referred. But they
were disappointed. Those familiar with
the case knew, or supposed they knew,
that Mr.. Booher had Stewart Fife in
mind.
In opening Mr.. Booher explained that
the trial of the case had been trans
ferred from Andrew to Clinton county
to serve the cause of justice.
1.-The evidence will show" Mr.. Booher
continued, that on the day before
Christmas 1900 Mrs Richardson, the
defendant, remained at her husbands
store late in the afternoon, helping him
wait on customers, and that she went
home to a late supper, accompanied by
her husband and George d. Crowley,
his business partner.
After supper, Mr.. Richardson, as the
evidence will show, asked his wife if
she intended to go to the Christmas en-
tertainment at the Episcopal church
that night The children were to speak
at this entertainment. Mrs. Richardson
replied that she could not go with
them, DuL LndL Sne WOULD S0nQ CIleIu
and would later go herself.
1T will be shown that the children
did go, and that, a few minutes later,
Mr. Crowley and Mr.. Richardson start
ed down town. Mrs. Richardson told
them if they would wait until she could
dress she would go with them. Crowley
said he hadn't time, and Richardson
asked his wife: Will you be afraid to
go alone?' She replied, No There was
to be a performance at the opera house
that night. 1t had been arranged that
it should begin late-at o'clock, I be-
lieve-in order not to interfere with the
entertainments at the churches. Mrs.
Richardson told her husband that she
would meet him at the store after the
entertainment at the church. and go
with him to the opera house.
"At few minutes before 81 o'clock,
as will be shown, two of their little
boys came to the store and asked their
papa where their mamma was. Mr..
Richardson asked if she wasn't at
church. The boys said she was not.
Mr.. Richardson took the elder of them
aside, and talked to him privately a
few minutes. He then told the boy to
go home and get his mother. but the