The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-18
NO BLOOD STAINS
Impossible for Mrs. CaIdwell's
Statement to Be True
In the Salina Murder Case Ac-
cOrding to Sheriff Meyer.
MAKES A STRONG CASE
Was One of the First Parties to
Reach the House.
Nothing to Show That Any
Stranger Was Around.

Salina, Kan. Dec. 18.=Sherin Geo.
Meyer has been on the witness stand
all of today in the Caldwell murder
case, on behalf of the state and his
testimony makes bad showing for the
defendant, Mrs. Caldwell. The sheriff
stated that he was one of the first per-
sons to reach the Caldwell home on the
morning of the murder and that he
made thorough investigation of the
premises.
Not trace Of a window being open
ed ra footstep could be discovered
that would indicate an outsider did the
deed Mrs. Caldwell had told him that
she had not washed her face or hair
that morning which went to show that
see could not have slept in the bed by
his side as she claimed. The pillows
and sheets were bloody and there was
not race of blood on her face and
hair.
On the porch the sheriff found a
bloody towel and outside where a
bowl of water had been emptie1. This
was used, the sheriff thought. to wash
an ak which was found near the spot.
In the former trial Mrs Caldwell
had stated that she lay by her hus-
bands side asleep while the murder
mony will end the testimony for the
state. The case is expected TO &c 10
the sury on FRIDAY.
Salina kan, Dec. 18.-The court in
the Caldwell murder trial admitted to
evidence Monday the testimony given
by Mrs. Susan Caldwell before the cor
oner's jury the day after her husband
was killed Mrs. Caldwell's attorneys
hoped to exclude the testimony and for
two hours they argued in opposition to
its admission, but the court overruled
the objection. 1t is the only express
sion Mrs. Caldwell has made since the
murder.
With this testimony out of court the
defense could change its policy and
bring other issues I'M tna
In the testimony as read before the
court Monday afternoon Mrs. Caldwell
stated that the night her husband was
Killed the family retired at o'clock
and that she retired a half hour later
she soon dropped to sleep and was |
awakened at midnight, While the clock
was striking. Her husband was gasp
ing for breath and there was a rattle !
in his throat" she said.
Did you offer to help your husband?'
was asked
No. did not. I asked him what
was the matter
Mrs. Caldwell says that when her hus-
band did not answer she got out OF
bed, went into the kitchen and lighted |
a lamp and came back into the bed /
room and looked at him and saw /
something was the matter"
Did you go up to him and try to
awaken him, or to help hfn?'
NO, | called the hired man and my /
daughter, Lena"
Then what did you do?'
7 went back to the bedroom and hur- !
riedly put on my clothes
Then what did you do2"
Il went out into the dining room and /
the hired man came down stairs and
took the light and went into the bed
room, and when they came out they |
said that he was dead"
Didn't you go into the room when |
they told you your husband was
dead2"
mo, sir
why didn't you?"
tsXNbV he 80
to go in They told me to stay out Of |
the room"
When you heard your husband gasp |
inc for breath, or when you came into |
the room with the lighted lamp, or at |
any time after your husband called you
did you go to the bedside to help him. or
did you take hold of his hand or place |
your hand on his heart or did you do
anything in the way of relieving him?"
No sir. I asked him what was the
matter and that was ALL
Did you feel the jar of any blows
struck or did you hear any blows struck
as you were lying the bed by his
side?"
7 did not"
This is the substance of Mrs. Cald-
wells testimony as she gave it to the
coroner's jury. The attorneys for the
defense hold that when she gave the tes-
timony she was practically a prisoner
an1 under suspicion at the time. But
the court held that the testimony was
not T0TCeu from heT ana LndI Sne gave
it willingly.
Earlier in the day before Mrs. Cald
wells testimony was read. Mrs. Della
Pers1ey of Lyons, Kan, was placed on
the stand and testified that in 1902 while
Mrs. Susan Caldwell was visiting at her
home, she declared to the witness that
she had no love for her husbsN - l."
7 would rather meet a rattlesnake
than to meet Frank Caldwell" is the
statement Mrs. Caldwell is alleged to
have made concerning her husband i
do not love him, and / believe it a sin
that we should live together"
Mrs. Persley also testified that Mrs.
Caldwell came to her home in Rice coun-
ty a year or two before Caldwell was
murdered and asked Mrs. Persley and
her husband to take her son. Harry
Caldwell and give him employment OH
the farm and a home with them. Sne
alleged that Mr.. Caldwell mistreated
Harry and his conduct was such that
the boy could not live at home.
The state attempted to draw from
Mrs. Persley the contents Of certain
letters which Mrs. Caldwell had writ
ten the witness concerning the trouble
between Mrs. Caldwell and her hus-
band, but the court sustained an OBJ
lection made by the defense to the in
Persley could not state positively that
they had been destroyed.
The state placed a local photog-
rapher on the witness stand TO Identify
pictures taken Of the surroundings at
The Caldwell home the morning follow
lures, the greater part CT them being
phs of the interior of the Cald-
well house. One of them showed Cald-
well lying in his bed dead with his
head pounded into the pillow and the
blood stains on the bedcovers. the walls
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