The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-15
Sheriff's Evidence Damaging to
George Tennyson.
Testified That His Shoes Fit
Tracks at Window.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Detective Relates an Interview
With Defendant.
Accused Him of the Killing and
the Son Didn't Deny.

Marysville, Kan, Feb. 15.-When
court convened Friday Sheriff Barrett
resumed his testimony in the George
Tennyson murder trial He told of
finding mans tracks in the ground
near the window through which the
shot was fired which killed the de-
PENDANTS father. David Tennyson.
Tracks were also found in a meadow
southwest of the house. These led tow
ard the railroad across little creek in
the edge of Frankfort.
Tracks were also found in town. Bar
rett followed these to near the Kauf-
man home, where George Tennyson
went the night of the murder. Return
ing to the house, he asked George Ten
| nyson for the shoes he had worn that
night. Tennyson went into the house
and got them. The sheriff fitted them
to the tracks he had found and said
that in his Judgment these tracks had
| been made by Tennyson's shoes. He
also told that when he found the gun
in the old house he had found a box Of
shells in a tool chest there. The shells
were produced and he identified them
as the ones he found. He also fdenti-
fed the shell he had found in the gun
and brought in the gun with which the
state asserts the murder was commit
ted.
Mr.. Barrett was ross-examined by
Mr.. Gregg and said he left Marysvil1e
about 10 o'clock the night of the muir
der. About mile from town he met
man walking toward town He did
not know who it was. Mr.. Gregg asked
the sheriff If it was not the same
man he went to see in the Missouri
penitentiary a few days ago. The sher-
| If did not know. He was asked If this
man had not told him that he had been
vxff crJI1 toy~ 0f q mil n
nyson home when the murder was COM
mitted and had walked from there to
Marysville that night. The sheriff said
that the man had told him this but that
he did not believe his story.
The court ruled that the reason for
not believing was not proper testimony
and most of the testimony relating to
this man was ruled out. The sheriff de-
MED making any arrangement with
James Wolf of Frankfort to secure and
divide the reward offered for the APP
| prehension of the murderer of Mr..
Tennyson. He had had some CONVEX
/ sation with Wolf about the matter.
Mrs. r. w. Stumpf, daughter of
| the murdered man, was then called
to the stand. She testified that she
was married about five years ago and
had visited her parents frequently
since her marriage. On one of these
visits she had heard George Tennyson
and his father quarreling about the
use of horse and buggy. George had
intended to use them without his
fathers knowledge but the father
had found out about 1t and went out
and caught George getting ready to
loudly. She did not remember what
they said except that they swore.
This quarrel happened about two
years before the murder of her father.
She remembered no other quarre1s
between George and his father. She
4 ,r<g 81 hof ho1 q Jo1r To-,
per and that he recovered quickly
from his fits of anger. When he was
not angry he had a good, pleasant
disposition. She believed that her faith
err had been hard and strict with her
in some things. He was also strict
If she had told of this quarrel between
George and his father, she said she
had not.
She was asked If she was there tes-
tifying to try to send her brother to
the penitentiary- This question was
stricken out by the court, but she had
answered mo- and broke into tears.
Tennyson's widow also broke into
sobs which could be heard all over
the court room. She was taken from
the court room and remained outside
until she had recovered her COM
posture.
Mrs John Potter, another daughter
Of David Tennyson, was the next wit
ness. She had never heard any quar-
rel between David Tennyson and his
George had treated her father well,
and he had not obeyed very well. She
had not visited very often at the home
of her parents since her marriage
Mrs J. w. johnson said she was a
daughter Of David Tennyson and that
since her marriage she had visited
her parents at their home at least
once every three weeks. In the
spring of 1905 she heard her father
complain to George ABOUT not get
ting up early and milking the cows
while he was feeding the pigs. George
replied to his father that he would
milk when he got ready. He went
out in a few minutes and did the
milking.
M. NJ. Has<in of Frankfort testified
that lie was a member of the jury at
the coroner's inquest on the body of
David Tennyson. He heard the testi-
mony of George Tennyson at the in
quest but did not remember the time
he said he left home the night Of the
murder but thought it was about
o'clock. He remem bered that George
Tennyson had said that his fathers
gun had been used to commit the
murder and that he thought it
strange that a stranger could have
gone in and got It from the old house
without being bitten or causing a dis
turbance by the dog tied in the house.
Mr. Vending said that he was
home until about o'clock that night.
He then went down town after some
medicine for his mother, who was
very sick. He heard shot shortly
after he left the house. The sound
OF the shot seemed to come from the
east. He did not remember seeing
George Tennyson, nor did he remem-
! Der meeting Maude Sylvester on her
way home from the restaurant.
Frank Dwinel1e told of visiting the
Tennyson home the night the man