The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-09
Mrs. III. c.. Farrar. Whose Mysterious
Death the Authorities Are Attempt
ing to Clear Up.

Farrer was arrested by Chief Eaton
Tuesday and taken to the city Jail un-
til he could be questioned by the Off
GERS. Detectives went over the house
during the absence and searched every
thing but not a sign of chloroform
could be found and the items mention
ed by the husband We're found to be
untrue. Farrer said yesterday that he
broke in the front door, and Smelled
carbolic acid the first thing as he en-
tered. He then claims to have, found
the bottle on the china closet about one
fourth full of the acid and directing his
little 9-year-old girl to throw it in the
stove fearing that the two ~hildren
would get hold of it he went upstairs
to see what his wife was doing and why
she had not fixed his dinner for him.
She was lying on the bed, according
to his story, with her hair down and
her shoes off. At that time she was
still alive but was unconscious and af-
ter VainIy trying to make her speak he
rushed down stairs and turned in the
alarm to the neighbOrS and called up
the doctor.
There are many suspicious things in
connection with the story. The detec-
tiVes searched the ashes of the stove
tie, The fire was not very hot and the
bottle could not have been entirely
melted. This contradicts the story
about the disposing of the bottle of
says that he had been home once or
twice during the morning and he had
sneaked in the back door. She says
that he came around to the front door
at noon making believe that he had just
returned from work. She also says that
he had brought the bottle down from
the upstairs room when he came down
after he entered the house and he never
found it on the china closet. 1t is true
that the woman was not killed with
carbolic acid las her mouth and the
autopsy did not show it, But the acid
was sprinkled' pretty thoroughly over
the house and gave very strong odor
throughout the afternoon.
The autopsy shows that the woman
had been chloroformed but no signs
of carbolic acid were found. Farrer
when he proved an alibi that he was
working from o'clock in the morn
ing until noon. The police released
him but he is still under surveillance.
Couple Had QuarreIed.
Farrer and his wife have been quar-
reling ever since thier marriage three
weeks ago. However, they have been
living together about six months. Far
rer has a daughter that his first wife
is very anxious to procure by any
manner or means and she has almost
succeeded a number of times. The |
Farrer woman had a small five-year-
old boy who is also in danger of being |
kidnapped by relatives and thus their
this was rot sufficient to subdue others
and the neighbors state that they have |
quarreled almost every day since they |
were married-and neigh borS ought to /
know-they generally find out some |
way or other Farrer himself admits |
that at one time the moving van was !
backed to the house and half of his |
wife's goods loaded before she would I
give up and come back to him. He |
says that she has always been jealous |
and that the women over the White |
Star laundry have been telling her bad |
stories of his conduct. She has threat
and him also. Neighbors say that she
has been out late at night and some
times Farrer locked her out and she !
has been forced to spend the night |
wherever she could find a place.
Mrs. Farrer has a record that is
checkered to say the least. According
to the story told by her half brother
who lives just outside the city she was
half witted. He says that she has al
ways been crazy over men and has
had trouble with different men. Chief
Eaton of the police. force said that
Mrs Farrer was mixed up in the Keil
Moore affair about three years ago
when a man named Keil Moore killed
his wife and himself on account of
jealousy over the husband of this
Farrer woman who was then Mrs.
Ken, her husband working in the
Santa Fe shops. It is said that Mrs.
Farrer was directly responsible for this
double death. She was a rather frail Il
young woman about 25 years of age
and at one time was a beautiful girl.
She had thick black hair, hashy black