The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-05-09

Intense interest is manifested in the
outcome OF the trial OF Mrs. Emma
Kaufman, wife OF a wealthy resident
of Sioux Falls. who is charged with
the murder of Miss Agnes Poleris, a
sixteen-year-old girl who was employ
ed as a domestic in the Kaufman
household. The case will be called for
trial during the closing days of a term
Of the state circuit court which now is
in session at Sioux Falls.
1t is expected that the case will be
called for trial during the last OF the
coming week or the first part of the
week following, the attention of the
court thus far having been occupied
with the work OF disposing of the civil
cases. The case of Mrs. Kaufman is
seventh on the criminal calendar.
Moses Kaufman, husband of the ac-
Cused, has been for quarter of a
century prominent in the political and
business affairs of South Dakota, and
until month or two ago was one Of
Falls Brewing company, of which he
was one OF the officers, but as stated,
he now has disposed of his interest in
the company.
Mrs Kaufman, since a week or two
after her arrest on June II of last
year, has been at liberty on bonds of
S25, 1000, which were furnished by
Sioux Falls friends of her husband,
she having been admitted to bail by
the state supreme court, which fixed
the amount of the bond required for
her release.
Woman Near Collapse.
Mr.. and Mrs Kaufman and their
son Charles, on July Of last year, de-
parted from Sioux Falls. and spent the
rest of the summer and the early fall
at summer resort in Wisconsin, re-
turning to Sioux Falls shortly before
the converting OF the November term
of the state circuit court. When her
case was called Cor trial at that term,
Judge Frank X. Aikens, attorney for
Mrs. Kaufman, moved that a continu-
ance be granted in the case. He filed
an affidavit OF prejudice against Judge
Joseph w. Jones, the regular presid-
ing Judge of the state circuit court;
Judge Z. G. Smith of the First (Yank-
tom circuit was called to preside dur
ing the settlement of the motion for
the continuance, and he also will pre-
side during the trial of the case. The
prosecution vigorously opposed the
granting OF the continuance, and not
until after a committee of physicians
appointed by the court had investiga-
ted Mrs. Kaufmann's physical condi-
ton did he grant the continuance to
the present term of court. IL was
shown by the attorney for the defense,
and this was corroborated to a great
extent by the committee of physicians,
that Mrs. Kaufmann's mental and
physical condition was such as to sub
ject her to grave danger of complete
collapse should she be forced to trial.
Mrs. Kaufmann with her husband
and son, have remained quietly at the
Kaufman home during the winter
and spring, and it is supposed that her
condition has improved to such an ex-
tent that she will be able to go to
trial at the present term. However, Of
this nothing definite is known, as not
the slightest information is given the
public as TO her present condition.
The line of defense to be followed in
her behalf also is carefully concealed,
and nothing definite in reference to
this will be known until the case is
actually being tried.
VIII Make Hard Fight.
The case will be holly contested at
every point. Behind Mrs. Kaufman
will be the wealth of her husband,
who has stood nobly by her during her
great trouble, and the services of