The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-14
Stevens HAS IDEA
Who STARTED FIRE
State Completes Evidence in
Arson Case
DEFENSE HAS INNING
Testimony viii Al Be in by
Tonight.

S.M. Stevens created stir in the dis
trict court room yesterday afternoon
when he said, in answer to a question
asked by Attorney Eckstein, that he had
an idea who it was that attempted to set
fire to his wife's millinery store on the
night of January l, 1903.
Mr.. Eckstein had just asked the cues
ton. did you attempt 10 set fire to your
wives store on the night or January /,
1902 to which Mr.. Stevens replied en-
phatically that he did not. The next ques-
ton was. Have you any idea who did,
ana the witness Immediately answered
that he had an idea who did.
Didn't you testify at the former trial
that you knew of no enemies who would
do such a thing?'
Il balieye | did but at that time / did
not know Of any one. 1 have since found
out that l have some enemies
Then you have found this out since
the last term of cOurt?'
Yes sir.
Did | not ask you at the last trial
whether you had any enemies in the city
and you answered that you had none?'
y do not remember"
At the morning session of the court
nine witnesses Were introduced by the
state Their testimony was about the
same as at the previous trial.
Howard V. Wheeler was the first wit
ness called He is the local agent in this
city for the London Insurance company.
of London, England, and testified as 10
the policy issued to Mrs. Stevens on her
stock of millinery and also as to the date
that the policy was withdrawn, or can
celled.
AL Mendenhall, an employe of the
Palace livery stable, was then called. He
said that on the night of January l. 1903,
he saw the defendant, S. NJ. Stevens,
come out of the alley across the street
from the barn; that he came into the
barn and ordered his horse and then left.
Mendenttn stated that this was between
Z and IN O'Clock.
VIII Hoath brOther-in-law OF the de-
PENDANT. was then called by the state.
He testified for the defense al the former
trial and will probably be called by them
today. lie said that he was at the home
of MIR. Stevens when the boy from the
livery stable came after the horse that
he was in the house at the time.
F. A. Smith proprietor of the Palace
stables WAS the next witness. He tes-
tilted that he drove out to Hydraulic with
the boy. who was going after the horse
at Stevens home. and that he and the
boy lett the stable between and 6:2C
O'Clock.
Albert Sites. another employe of the
stables. testified that about O'Clock Mrs
Stevens and VIII Hoath drove by the
stables and left word for the boy To
come after the horse fright away.
l. T. Varney, the jcweler, whose place
q business was formerly next that OF
Mrs. Stevens. gave testimony concerning
the location of the clock that was IN
front OF his store and which has figured
prominently in the case.
Chief Walden was then recalled 20 tes-
tify concerning the box in which the
lighted lamp was discovered. \ box ex-
actly like the one in which the lighted
lamp was placed was then introduced
as evidence.
Following Mr. Walden Chief Burt was
called. He stated that when he was
called TO the store on the night in ques-
ton he 1guilO All OF the MI HUNS ~ bAiS
Show cases up; also all of the drawers
In the saiesroom were pulled open. He
further stated that the back door was
securely fastened and could not have been
opened from the outside without having
been broken.
Miss Mamie Hannibal was the last wit
ness called by the state. 1t was to her
and Miss Heath that Mrs. Stevens sold
the stock of goods on the 18th of Jan
suary. 1903
Miss Hannibal stated that the stock
was purchased by she and and Miss
Heath and that the price was I.ooo. of
which she paid $500, She also said that
Mr.. Stevens afteerward came to her with
a bill Of sale made out for $3.50, and told
her that he intended to file that one. as
Il would make better showing for him
in the case than the one for $1,000. She
also stated that If the bill was filed il
was done by Mr.. Stevens and paid for by
him. She denied that she had given the