The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-25

him impossible for the wounds to have
been self inflicted.
'Why would it be impossible? 2?
Because of the length, depth and
position of the wounds
The physician said that the second
wound severed all the veins and arter-
les of the neck and the windpipe and
reached back of the vertebra.
c. L. Merrill. neighbor Of the Sapp
family. who was among the first to ar
rive on the scene of the tragedy, testi-
fed that Miss Sapp was still breath
ing when he arrived.
WhitIOw Excited.
The first thing that directed suspic-
ion toward Whitlow was his expression
to Harlan Taylor, according to that
through the crowd into the yard. He
said: us her throat cut? Is she dead?"
This was said, Mr.. Taylor testified,
with such an expression of agony and
once began to watch, and never once
gave up the hope that Whitlow would
tell something of the tragedy, which
he afterwards did.
Mrs. Sapp. mother of the dead girl.
was recalled to the stand and ques-
toned as to who burned the blood
stained dress worn by her daughter
when she met her death. She said she
did not know except that Mr.. Sapp was
present.
Whether Miss Sapp's dress on the
night of the tragedy opened in front
or behind was a matter over which
the lawyers wrangled much. Its i'm
portance lies wholly in corroboration of
WhitIow'e story that she drew from
her breast the razor with which she
killed herself in his presence.
The Dress She Wore.
Mrs. Sapp, mother OF the girl, said
the dress opened in the back. There
were no openings in the front, she said,
he IT0S Micro Tho
was made of embroidery and she wore
no belt. The sleeves were tight half
way to the elbow. The dress has been
burned.
The defense insisted that the dress
was still in existence, intimating that
the fact that it opened down the front
led to it's being concealed.
Your daughter had red dress, too,
did she not?' was asked.
mo, sir
"She had a reddish dress. didn't she?'
"She had pale pink dress"
Where is that dress now?''
II expect it is at the house."
Wasn't there a pocket in that
dress?'
mo, sir"
Didn't you move to Moran because
Miss Sapp wanted to go there?"
mo. sir
Miss Sapp's Home Life.
Miss Bessie Givens, who lives at the
City hotel, directly across the street
south of the Sapp home, was the next
witness called. She told of hearing
screams the night of the tragedy.
81 heard two distinct screams" she
said, "and then one kind of choked or
cut off"
On cross examination by Mr.. Oyler
Miss Givens said that the third scream
she heard was more subdued than the
first two and seemed to have been
stopped from some cause. She said
that she and the cook were talking
about the Sapps just before the
screams were heard.
,r""What were you saying about
-hem?"
well, we were talking about their
aice home and how quiet they seemed.
Mrs. Register said that the young
lady there must be getting rather old.
said yes. 1 guess she's an old maid.
man drive up there. if she had any
beaux. 1 said no, I had never seen
anyone around there"
cit was a matter of comment, too, |
that Miss Sapp was very strange
girl?''
mo. sir. never heard anything but |
that she was a good girl
LAS a matter of fact you have been |
staying at the Sapp home, haven't
vou?"
You have been there ever since the |
night of the tragedy, haven't you?"
mo, sir. I've been there only a week. |
I'm just stopping there until go to my |
nome in Mcpherson, Kan"
Mr.. Oyler read from Miss Givens tes- |
-innony given before the coronel's jury, |
n which she had said there were only |
.wo screams heard.
How do you account for the differ |
snce in your testimony"
'I was bothered when was first call
I'd to the stand over there" she an
;wered.
The attorneys for the defense said that |
hey were undecided whether or not |
hey would use any witnesses. They |
say they are certain of securing bond |
or Whitlow. Whitlow was smiling af- /
er the adjournment of the hearing. |
I'm not worried yet" he said He
alked a few minutes to his wife and |
'elatives before being taken back to
he Jail.