The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-12
COFFELT TOLD Him
Bert Colby Acted as Spy and
Got Murder Story.
After Montgomery Was Slain
Gun Was Hid in Culvert.

Winfield. April 12.-The principal tes-
timony in the Coffett murder case Fri
day afternoon was given by Bert Colby.
a young man who for the last nine
months excepting a few weeks, had been
an employee OF the 101 ranch. Oklahoma.
A few weeks ago Colby was arrested at
Enid, Oklahoma, on the charge of COM
phcity in the murder OF Montgomery.
He was brought to Winfield and placed
in the same cell with Coffelt. Colby tes-
tilted to what Coffelt told him in the jail
about the murder. It was in substance
that Coffelt had killed Montgomery on
the night of October with a double
barreled shotgun, which he hid under
culvert in a ravine south of the resi-
dence after the deed was committed.
After that he walked to Arkansas City
where he got on freight train and rode
to Ponca City, walking from there out
to the 101 ranch, arriving about day
break.
Cross examination brought out the
fact that Colby was taken from the Enid
jail where three charges of larceny were
hanging over him, and was brought to
Winfield under the promise that If he
would testify in the COTfelt case for the
state, the charges against him in Okla
homa would be withdrawn. The defense
did not attempt to shake the story Col
by related about Coffelt killing Mont
gOmery. Colby and COffelt worked to-
gether on the Miller ranch and were
well acquainted. His story of how COT
felt committed the crime was taken with
a little salt by the large crowd of spec
tators present.
NJ J. Wilson, a carpenter of this city
was the first witness called after court
convened Friday morning. He testified
to seeing COffelt the day of the muir
der at the corner OF Main street and
Tenth avenue, between 2 and 8 o'clock.
In the afternoon between and o'clock
he saw him again on West Ninth ave-
nue. in front Of Geo. Miller's residence
After passing him Wilson looked back
and saw him going into the Miller
gate
Dick Dodds. jailer at Wichita under
Sheriff Simmons, had charge of Coffelt
in the Wichita jail in January after
his arrest, and heard a conversation in
which Coffelt told some conflicting
stories of his wherea bouts the night Of
the murder, but the defense objected to
the Introduction Of Dodd's testimony,
and the state withdrew the witness.
H L. Miles, of Wichita, travelling
freight agent of the Santa Fe, was in
Perry after the trial between the terri
tory of Oklahoma and the A1illers. and
had a conversation with Joe Miller in
which he said he would fix Montgom-
cry; and at another time was on the
train with him when he said that
Montgomery and he could not ride on
the same train together
DE La Plain, proprietor OF livery
barn at Ponca City, testified that COT
felt brought a horse to his stable DC
tOber and left it subject to the orders
of the 101 ranch. He then struck out
for the train that was going north.
Tom Hawkins testified that he saw
| Coffelt on the streets of Winfield at a
certain street corner watching Mont
goney and his wife as they passed him
| the evening of the murder.
w. w. Gilbert Of the Exchange hotel
produced hotel register in court bear
! ing the name of Coffelt registered on
! September 8. He said Coffelt told him
| he was detective and was looking for
a couple of men who had murdered a
woman down below Pawhuska in the
| territory.
Up to the present time the state has
| endeavored to establish a conspiracy in
which the spirators-Coffelt being
one of them-had threatened Montgom-
ery's life; also that Coffelt was in Win
field the day and evening of the murder
/ and that after the murder he made a
| hasty departure by way of Arkansas
| City, Ponca City and Bliss.
The state has woven a strong chain
Of evidence around the accused. and
claims yet to have other very convinc-
/ ing testimony.
The accused has shown much anxious
anxiety today. He sat most of the time.
his wife by his side and his ten months
old baby on his knee, watching every
witness that testified.