The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-23
SAVE HER FATHER
CrittentOn Home Inmate Makes
Charges Against Dead Man.
Trying to Furnish a Motive for
Murder of Tom Bair.
TESTIMONY WAS WEAK
Girl Fails to Identify Picture
of Alleged Betrayer.
Fathers Trial for Murder Will
Begin Tuesday.

AS a slim chance to furnish a mo-
tive for the murder of Thomas Bair.
the attorneys of Oliver Smith, the man
who on March 2 stabbed Bair with a
butcher knife, win charge the murder
ed man with crime against Smiths 20
year-old daughter. Anna Belle Smith.
The girl, who is at Crittenton home.
has made a deposition before a notary,
in which she makes serious charges
against Thomas Bair.
This deposition was made and sworn
to by her in the face of statements she
had made to the matron of the institu-
ton. two of the girl inmates, two doc
tors, the county attorney and Sheriff
Lucas. To them she had stated that
she did not know who was guilty.
At the Crittenton home the names of
the unfortunate girls are hidden under
nome de plumes given them by the
matrOn upon entering the institution.
Two of these girls, known as Geraldine
and Corinne, she told that her mother
wanted her to testify that Tom Bair
had been intimate with her, and that
she was going to do it to help her
father.
When cross examined while making
her deposition Saturday the girl denied
part of these statements, but admitted
enough to satisfy County Attorney
Geraldine, were telling the truth.
Notice was served upon County At
torney Hungate Friday afternoon that
dispositions would be taken at Critten-
ton home between the hours of and
4 Saturday by Hib Case. attorney for
Oliver Smith. Attorney Case appeared
at 10 o'clock as did the county attor
eny and sheriff. Anna Belle Smith was
questioned and cross questioned for
three hours but stuck rigidly to what
ed To 10 . statement
She stated, in answer to questions, that
her intimacy with Thomas Bair was all
during the month of July, 1905. The
cross examination by County Attorney
Hungate disproved part Of her testi-
mony When asked to describe Thomas
Bafr she repeated without hesitation,
Tall, brOad-shouldered, blue eyes and
light hair County Attorney Hungate
then handed her three photographs.
and asked her if she recognized any of
them as a picture of Thomas Bair.
After a moments delay she chose a
photograph and said, That's him.
The picture was marked exhibit A.
and attached to the deposition The
photograph was of a man who does not
even resemble Thomas Bair, deceased,
and was used as trap.
Before the cross-examination was fin
ished. the deposition had so badly
strayed from its mission that it is
doubtful whether it will be introduced
as evidence.
While the girl was making LLcSS
statements she was facing, beside tho
county officers Mrs. Mary E. Van
CIeave. of the Crittenton Home associ-
alton. and the two girls, Geraldine and
Before the arrival of Attorney Hib
Case and the notary, VIII jenkins, the
girl had been questioned by the county
oficials. She told them things about
her actions at the Savoy hotel but ad-
ded that she did not know who was the
guilty man. A few minutes later, IN
der oath. she named Thomas Bair. and
denied some of the statements made
previously.
Mrs. Van Cleave. who was present
during both confession and sworn state
ment. was greatly amazed at the girl,
whom she had expected to tell the same
story. After the examination was over.
and the girl had sworn to and signed
the deposition Mrs. Van Cleave ap-
preached her and said Il hope you will
think more about this in the next few
days" The girl cried
Since Thomas Bafr was murdered by
oliver smith Mrs. Smith. mother of
the girl has talked with her daughter
at the Home 1t was after this visit
that she told Geraldine and Corinne that
although she did not know Tom Bair.
she was going to testify against him.