The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-25
PEDDLER LOCATED
RumOr That the Man Who Sold
the Razor Is Found.
An Important Point, Indeed, in
the Sapp Murder Case.
NEW TESTIMONY GIVEN
L. b. Kline Had Seen Suspicious
Characters at Night.
The Girl Appeared Calm Five
Minutes Before Tragedy.
Moran Doctors Differ as to HO"
Miss Sapp Met Death.

lola, Kan, Oct 25.-The preliminary
hearing of Samuel F. Whitlow. charged
with the murder of May Sapp, was
continued here today.
1t was rumored here today that the
prosecution had located somewhere IN
Oklahoma the man who had sold the
razor with which May Sapp was killed.
Prosecutor Peterson declined to talk
about the matter.
Constable Morrison's Story.
The prosecution began its attempt to
disprove Whitlow's story when they
called Cal Morrison. constable, to the
witness stand. Morrison told of finding
the razor in the Sapp yard on the night
of the murder. near where the body or
the dead girl was found. Later he had
met Whitlow, he saida-and the latter
came up to him exclaiming:
'Is she dead? Is her throat cut?"
just Before the Murder.
Mrs. L. B. Kinne, neighbor of the
Sapp family, testified that she was at
the Sapp home about five minutes be-
fore the tragedy occurred; g., she saw
actions. The young lady was al that
time in the house and appeared calm
and pleasant and showed not the least
testified that she had not noticed any
one lettering around the yard nor did
she see hardly any persons in the
neighborhood en- route to and from the
Sapp home.
Noted Suspicious Characters.
Mr.. L. B. Kinne, the husband of
Mrs. Kinne, testified that perhaps
once or twice a week, for many
months, he had noticed Miss Sapp
around in the family yard in the
lessIy around. Never with any ap-
parent purpose save perhaps on the
hot nights to cool off or get breath
of fresh air. There was never on
her" firmly asserted Mr.. Kinne. The
witness further testified that occa-
sionally at nights he had seen strange
character passing up and down the
alleys near the sapp home. Some
times there was one man and some
times two. No, he did not know
them He had never seen Samuel
Whitlow in that vicinity after dark
Other witnesses are being examined
The main point brought out yester-
day was the disagreement of two physi-
clans over the possibility of Miss Sapp
having slashed her own throat.
DR.. G. B. Lambeth and DR.. A. H De
Long, Moran physicians. testified con-
corning the nature of Miss Sapp's
wounds. The attorneys for Whitlow
offered strong objections when the
prosecution attempted to show the i'm
possibility OF suicide by the evidence
of physicians. DR.. DeLong testified that
he went to the Sapp residence the night
of the tragedy in response to a tele-
phone call.
''I found the girls neck cut nearly
from one ear to the other" he said. 'I
tried to open the dress in 'front.' but
could not and called to my wife, who
was in the crowd of persons about She
unbuttoned the dress in the back I
pulled the dress down from the shoul-
ders and found no f1utter of the heart.
I found another cut across the fingers
of the left hand. This wound was blood
less. The right hand was covered with
blood and dirt. 1 saw no CUTS
WAS there any opening in the front
of the dress?'' asked Mr.. Peterson
Yes, there was a tear about two
inches long or. the left side in front of
the left shoulder"
what kind of a tear?"
Like it might have been made by
hand
"CouId you tell from the wounds what
had been the position of the head?"
There are few probable conclus-
IONS
I'VE object" Mr. Oyler interrupted.
He may answer the question" Jus
ttce Potter decided.
The Head Thrown Back. He Said.
well. it looked as if the head had
been thrown back the physician
said.
'Tn your opinion was this wound
such a wound that it could have been
self inflicted by the use of razor?"
I'VE object" Mr.. Oyler cried out
but the justice ruled the question in
order.
able" the witness replied guardedly
did you make a thorough examina-
tion of the right hand, doctor?'' Mr
Oyler asked in his cross examination
Yes. sir, I thought 1 did at the
time. The hand was contracted"
How many suicide cut throats have
you ever examined?" Mr.. Oyler asked.
Probably a half dozen"
Here Mr.. Oyler asked the physician
of self inflicted wounds made with
raZors.
knowing Miss Sapp as you did and
making this examination. will YOU saw
whether or not 1t is possible that Miss
Sapp inflicted these cuts with her own
hand?'-
''The answer to that question might
hinge upon the point of nationality.
An irrational person might cut himself
pretty badly"
can irrational person would cut
himself worse than a rational per-
SOM"
"Yes''
\"That's ALL" Mr.. Oyler said
snilingly.
Dr. Lambreth testified to examining
the body of May Sapp the day after
in the neck and on the hands. In his |
opinion. Miss Sapp's head must have
been thrown slightly downward and
forward when the cuts in the neck
we're inflicted. He said it seemed to