The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-06
WHAT THEY SAW.
NeighborhoOd Scandal Aired in
Beattey Inquest.
Witnesses Tell of Actions of
Rousseau Mead.
AT THE BEATTEY HOME
On Excellent Terms With Hus-
band as Well as Wife.
Investigation Adjourned to
Await Result of Analysis.

Monday afternoon the coroner's jury
began hearing testimony in regard to
the death of H. j. Beattey, the Me-
noken farmer who died suddenly.
On account of the seemingly intimate
friendship of Mrs. Beattey and Rous-
eeau Mead, the neighbors demanded
that a thorough investigation be made
and Coroner Hogeboom ordered an au-
topsy, an inquest and a chemical anal
ysis of the stomach of the dead man.
A short session was held by the coron-
erss jury Monday afternoon and the
hearing was adjourned until next
Monday when Prof. j. T. Lovewell will
report on the analysis of the stomach.
The first witness examined yester-
day was S. T. Coleman, a farmer VINO
lives near the Beattey home MI.
Coleman said: 81 have seen Rousseau
Mead go through the fields to the
Beattey home. He and Mrs. Beattey
had a poStoffice under the bridge L
was sowing oats one day and saw Mr..
Beattey go to town. Later Mrs Beat
tey came to the bridge and put a letter
under the sill 1 SoWed a round AGAIN
and when / came back Rousseau Mead
was sitting on his horse near the bridge
looking toward Beattey's. Mead slip
ped off his horse and got the letler-
When he saw me he said he was IN
spectins bridges as the road oVerseer.
Mead would go TO the bridge Another
time saw Mead going across the pas
ture. Suddenly he dropped to the
ground and now and then raised nlmselt
and looked. He could see Beattey on
horseback
IT heard that Mrs. Beattey said that
Mr.. Beattey might have taken poison,
The second witness was J. M.
Priddy, who lives half a mile from the
Beattey farm. Mr.. Priddy said; Ihe
actions of Rousseau Mead and Mrs.
Beattey made common talk in the
neighborhood and many people SAID
feathered. 1 have seen Mead ride up
to the fence around the Beattey place
and Mrs. Beattey would so out to see
him. have seen them in town to-
gether and have seen Mead go to the
Beattey home twice a day. 1 went to
the Beattey home as soon as L heard
of the death. Mead was there asleep
In the kitchen. Beattey was sick the
night before he died and Mead was
there at the house. Mead went to
town and got a prescription filled Tor
Beattey. The neighborhOod was dis
gusted with the conduct of Mead
and Mrs. Beattey for the past two
years When Mr.. Beattey died Mrs.
Beattey went past six farm houses to
Rousseau Mead's two miles away. In
a conversation with Beattey not long
ago he told me he had heard of an
organization to whitecap- or tar and
feather Mrs. Beattey and Mead. He
remarked to me that if it had not been
for Mead he would not have a hoof on
the place for when he was sick it was
Mead who looked after the farm for
him. Beattey came to my place some
time ago and ne was exhausted. When
went to the Beattey home after the
death Mrs. Beattey was crying and
was getting ready to go to town with
Mead to make arrangements for the
funeral
Ibid you ever hear that Mead offered
ln14 fer~ 70 cot frrNr
Mrs. Beattey?' asked Coroner Hogeboom.
Eyes. heard that replied Priddy.
George Morstorf was the next witness.
Some two weeks ago he was tried in the
city court on the charge of disturbing the
peace of Mr.. Beattey and Mead. Beattey
and Mead heard that Morstorf had talked
about the conduct of Mrs. Beattey and
Mead, and Mead and Mr.. Beattey went to
1orstorf's home and called him out and
charged him with gossiping. Some words
passed and Beattey and Mead had Mors-
tort arrested. At the trial Morstorf was