The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-30
S. M, STEVENS TAKES
THE WITNESS STAND
Testimony in Arson Case Not
All Given.
WILL CONTINUE TODAY
Many Fine Legal Points Are
Involved.

The second day of the S. NJ. Stevens
case closed yesterday at 4:S0 with the
defendant on the witness stand and under
rross-examination.
Two witnesses were introduced by the
defense to show that the back door of
the Stevens store was in bad condition,
and could have been opened from the
outside.
for a time it looked as though the
fury would be sent down to examine the
door, but the motion of the county at
torney to that effect was afterward with
drawn.
At the close Of court in the afternoon
the attorneys were indulging in warm
argument over a question put to the de-
PENDANT concerning some fire in 1898. The
point viii be decided this morning at
O'Clock before the commencement of the
case
Mrs. Stevens was put on the stand yes
terday, and for over two hours was sub
5ected to direct and rigid cross-examin-
alton. Baby Stevens was also in court,
and behaved admirably, although seem
iDgIy demanding much attention from
the different members Of the family.
Mr.. Stevens father and Mrs. Stevens
father were also put on the witness
stand during the afternoon and testified
as to what time Mr.. and Mrs. Stevens
Visited them on January l. 1903.
The first witness called by the defense
was Paul Brown. Mr. Brown is also one
of the attorneys for the defense. He
said:
Il have been an attorney for the past
seven years. / was acquainted with Mrs
Stevens while she was in business. 1
went to Stevens and locked over the
store and went irto tao back room ami
looked at the back 1oor with reference
to its fastenings. It was very poorly
fastened. When I would shake the door
1t would rattle and was so loose that
you could put your fingers through II
crack near the jamb. / asked to have
some one there to examine it to use as
a witness 1 got Mr. Rogers to come
down and examine the door ! assisted
George Rogers in the examination of The
door"
What was the result?"
Objected TO and objection sustained
what was done by you and Mr.. Rog-
ers?''
1--WE went outside and closed the door.
I boosted Rogers to the top of the door.
He caught the top of the door and push
ed his arm through the crack, and by
the use of wire he could easily open
the door. The staple could be put back
the same way
Cross examined by Eckstein.
did you try to fasten the door again.
'.No sir
where was the hole?"
AT the top of the door,
''You could not get your hand through
any other place except the hole at the
top?"
No sir"
Did you see the staple from the out
side%'
NO, sir
Who was inside?"
mo one that ] know or.
1''Was Nj Stevens there?"
''Yes. sir: but 1 do not know whether
he was inside or out
How long did it take Mr.. Rogers to
reach down with the wire and lift out
the iron bolt"
Il don't remember"
ITO lift up the iron from the staple he
reached through with a wire?"
Yes, Sir"
could ne see the staple?'
II don't know
He could not set his head inside, could
he?'
NO. sir. he did not"
what time in the day did you try
this?''
DAY time"
There would he some difference in
doing this in day and night?"
YES; I suppose there would be"
Mrs Stevens was called next.
you are the wife of S. NJ. Stevens, the
defendant
Eyes. sir
with did You engage in the millinery
business?"
when 1 was Il years old