The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1906-12-06

at Sioux Falls, last week, ana IN TONES
hardly audible three feet distant
pleaded not guilty to the charge rest
ing against her.
Judge Aikens. leading attorney Tor
the defense, demurred to the informa-
ton on the ground that it was imper-
feet, but was promptly overruled by
Judge Jones. Judge Aikens then gave
notice that he would move for a con-
~tinuance over the term, and the gen.
eral impression is that the case VIII
not be tried at this time.
Mrs. Kaufman was attended In
court by her husband and son. Only
a few knew she was to be arraigned,
and the court house was nearly bare
of spectators.
Mrs. Kaufman has just returned to
Sioux Falls after ar absence, extend
(, ing from last June, when herself, nus
band and Charles, their son, departed
for an unknown point in the East, fol-
lowing the action Of the state supreme
court in admitting Mrs. Kaufman to
bail in the sum of $4,000, a bond for
this amount having promptly been
furnished.
Mrs. Kaufman returned to Sioux
Falls a few weeks after their depar-
ture, and has remained here through
out the summer and fall. Charles
Kaufman was constantly with his
mother during the voluntary retire
ment.
The trial, without doubt, will be the
most noted criminal case in the his
tory of the courts of South Dakota.
Many Wounds on Body.
Mrs. Kaufman may not have been
responsible for the death of the girl
only her trial will determine that-but
that the girl was the victim Of foul
play is firmly believed by thousands,
who have familiarized themselves with
the case.
After the girl died In a Sioux Falls
hospital on June ! last her remains
were prepared for burial, and shipped
to the home of her parents, who re-
side on a farm near the little town
of Parkston, Hutchinson county, in
the southern part of South Dakota.
The funeral was held and the body
was inferred as had been arranged.
After the funeral the fact that a
wound had been discovered on the
girls head by a young woman friend
Of the dead girl became a matter of
general rumor among the people OF
Parkston and vicinity, and the citi-
zens of Parkston soon became SO
aroused owe the matter that it was
determined to disinter the remains Of
the girl for the purpose of making an
examination of their condition.
This was done, and other wounds,
bruises and gashes, which played so
important a part in the preliminary
hearing of Mrs. Kaufman, were dis
covered. When announcement of
these additional discoveries was made,
States Attorney Quinn of Hutchinson
county and the leading business men
of Parkston announced 1t as their in
tention to make a thorough investi-
CATION, so that In the event a crime
had been committed, punishment could
be melted out to the guilty party or
parties, regardless of who they might
occupy In life.
Probable Line OF Defense.
The defense will probably base
their case on the fact that the girl
was affected with anemia Oack of
blood, accompanied by vertigo dizzy
spells).
The gashes, bruises and wounds
found upon her head, body and limbs,
it is believed, will be attempted to
be accounted for by the defense by
these frequent falls. it being alleged
that on one occasion she fell down
stairs through having no control over
her lower limbs.
The theory of the prosecution Is
that the girl was deliberately beaten
and pummeled to death by Mrs. Kauff-
mann, and that on at least one occa-
sion she threw boiling water on the
girl after the girl had fallen to the
floor, the water being used. as Mrs.
Kaufman is alleged to have ex-
planned to Peter Erickson, a former
hired man of the Kauffmanns. and the
star witness for the prosecution, ito
get her up"
The Kauffinanns have resided in
Sioux Falls for about a quarter OF a
century, and are known to practically
every man, woman and child in the
city. MI. Kaufman for years has
been prominently identified with state
politics, and is generally known
throughout South Dakota and adjoin-
ing states. Until this case not a
whisper Of the slightest wrongdoing
has been heard in connection with
any member of the family.
Mrs. Kaufman, like her husband,
is Of Jewish descent. and many years
ago. before her marriage to Mr.. Kauf-
mann, was adopted by a well known
family of Sioux Falls pioneers,