Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1903-10-29
Edwards Murder Case.

4
noon. 1t took about two days to
impanel jury after which the evi-
dence was introduced.
| The defendant, Don T. Edwards,
had been arrested for the murder OF
his father, VIM T Edwards on Aug
ust, 10TH last. His brother Ray had
also been arrested on the same
charge but when the case came up
for trial, the defense asked for the
severance of the defendants and that
they be tried singly. This was
granted by the Court and the case
against Don T. Edwards went to
trial first.
The evidence adduced by the
State showed that on the 10Th day
of August, Don T. Edwards came
home to Plains from Kansas City
and that with his brother Ray, they
went to the Edwards place, ~
miles northeast of Plains. where the
tragedy occurred; also that both boys
were armed with revolvers; that the
body of VIM T, Edwards was found
by the threshing crew; that Don had
gone and told Albert Hemple that
he had killed his father and to go up
and look after things. He then re-
turned to the house and got his
brother Ray in his buggy and went
to the town of Plains and surrender
ed to Deputy Sheriff Orner to whom
they said, "I or we have killed the
old man and want to surrender"
1t was also shown that VIM I.
Edwards had two bullet holes in his
body, one just back of the left ear
which ranged toward and lodged
near the rear of the right eye. The
second ball entered the left side and
ranged upward toward the right nip
pie and came out. Either of these
would have proved fatal. This is
in substance the case of the
prosecution.
The defendant interposed the plea
of self-defense, and that the deceased
had made threats against the said
defendant also his mother and sister,
and had also been guilty of incest
with his own daughter, the sister
of the defendant and that he was de-
Tending himself and these against,
the attack of the father.
The defendant Don T. Edwards
took the stand in his own behalf
and testified that on the said day
he and his brother did go to the
Edwards home and that after they
arrived there and stopped a few
minutes that the deceased requested
the defendant to go with him down
to the threshing machine, and while
on the way asked him if he had
gun. After stopping at the machine
few minutes, both deceased and
defendant returned to the house and
tied the team about IS yards from
the house, that deceased started to
the house but changed his course
and entered the water-closet which
was about so feet east of the house,
the defendant went to the porch on
the east side of the house where he
met his brother, Ray, his mother
and sister, Adah. There they i'm
parted the news of defendants crime
upon his sister and also the threats
upon him. In a few minutes the
deceased came from closet and his
countenance so frightened the
mother and the daughter that they
started to run into the house and as
they started the defendant told them
to get out of the way. Defendant
then testified that deceased as he
came out made the threat, "G-d-
you I'll kill you and the whole out
fit" and then threw his hand back
as if to draw a revolver, that he
drew his revolver and fired twice as
fast as a double-action gun would
work. He testified that deceased
fell and he did not hear him utter a
word. He also said that Ray did
not fire, also that deceased was in
his shirt sleeves and wore a vest.
1t was also shown by the sister
that deceased had threatened hel
life few days before and that he was
guilty of the crime mentioned above.
1t was also shown that the deceased
was a man of bad reputation and
had upon several occasions before
threatened the life of the defendant
and also the other members of the
family. This is in substance the
evidence as introduced.
The defendant was represented
by Judge Wall, of Wichita and A
7. Bodle Jr., of this city. TIL.
prosecution was represented BY
| County Attorney Selvidge, Judg'
, Peters, of Newton, and R. w. Grigg
| of this city.
The jury was composed of tn,