The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-03
APPEAL TO BAILEY
MarysvilIe Citizens Want Mr..
Coleman's Assistance.
Much Excitement Over a Man
slaughter Trial.
RICH MAN CHARGED.
Mr.. Cochran Says County At
tOrney Is Indifferent.
People Fear Pusch May Conse-
quently 60 Free.

c. Cochran, of Marysville, came to
Topeka today to ask Governor Bailey to
INSTRUCT Attorney General Coleman to
assist in the prosecution. of the Pusen
manslaughter case in Marshall county
which comes up for trial the first thing
in the Marshall county district court
next week. Governor Bailey will make
further investigation before acceding TO
the request.
Mr.. Cochran says there is a feeling on
the part of many of the best citi-
zens of Marshall county that E. A. Ber-
ny, the county attorney. will not prose
cute the case as vigorously as it should
be, but will allow the defendants to es-
cape conviction. In fact he intimates
that thare is more or less politics mixed
up in the affair and that some promin-
ent political leaders in Marshall county
are under obligations to Pusch and are
DESTROYS of shielding him.
The ease grows out of the death of
Miss Kate Strohme last July, and as a
result of the verdict of the coroners
jury Charles F. Pusch and DR.. j. K.
Hausman were arr ssted for causing the
girls death.
Puscb is a wealthy cigar manufacture
err It is said th2t his is one of the
largest cigar factories in the west, and
he is worth considerable money. Miss
Strohme was an enploye in his cigar
factory. When she died, Cochran asserts
Pusch made an effort to secure, a spec
ial train to rush She body to Homes
Vile, Neb., before an investigation could
be made, and did succeed in getting it
shipped only a few hours after her
death. Some of the people of Marys-
vile were suspicious, however, and they
persuaded the coroner of Gage county,
Neb., to exhume the body and hold an
autopsy. which developed the fact that
ho DIR died the result of
ton.
The eoroner's investigation in Mar
shall county and the arrest of Pusch
and Dr. Hausman followed. They
mad were released under $500 bond
each. The case is set for Monday morn
ing in the district court of Marshall
county.2
Cochran says that Pusch has boosted
that he owns the county attorney ana
other officials, and that he has no fear
of being convicted. Cochran also says
that there is an intense feeling in Mar
several times there have been tnreaIs
of lynching him. He says that on one
occasion fifty men organized themselves
tic lynch Pusch, hut that he pleaded
with them to let the law take its course.
for which the mob abused him and call
ed him a coward out they did NOT at
tempt to lynch Pusch at that time.
Now those who believe Pusch guilty
the case taken out of the hands of the
county attorney. The only way that
can be done is by having the governor
instruct the attorney general to take a
hand in the prosecution. swhereupun All
assistant attorney general can be APP
pointed to take cha -ge of the case This
is what Cochran and the citizens who
are backing him w; mt done. He did not
know just what WIS necessary until he
had a talk with Attorney General Cole
man, and Immediately afterwards he
teIephoned to some of the county Off
GERS at Efarysville 10 circulate a petition
there as hurriedly rs possible asking the
governor to take ACTION in the case, III
order to show the sentiment of the PEG
pie. Mr.. Cochran himself went home this
afternoon. and he says he can have d
big petition here by Monday. He Is
afraid The case will be called and dis
posed of though before the governor
acts. and after that it will be too LATE.