The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-19
PLEA OF INSANITY.
Set by the Defense in the Horne Muir.
der Case.

Kansas City, Mo-, March 19-The trial
of General Richard c. Horne, formerly
vice president of the Post Publishing
company, charged with the murder of
H. J. Groves, managing editor Of that
paper. was resumed in the criminal
court here today. 1t was expected that
General Horne would take the witness
stand late this afternoon in his own
behalf. The defense sets up the plea
that Horne was insane at the time of
the murder.
Louis C. Boyle, formerly attorney
general of Kansas, leading counsel for
,, General Horne. in outlining the case Of
the defense, said the defendant had not
been treated fairly by o. D. Woodward
president of the company that publish
es the Post. Woodward also is a well
known theatrical man, formerly of
Omaha. He was shot three times by
Horne at the time that Groves was shot.
but had sufficiently recovered to appear
as a witness today.
Attorney Boyle said that General
Horne's mind had shown evidence of
weakness at Marshall, Mo-. over two
years ago owing to business reverses
About that time Woodward had asked
| him to be editor in chief of the Post
| All Horne possessed at that time was
81, 900 insurance from his home that was
| burned, and he put it into stock of the
EOSI company. linen the paper, Boyle
| said, had deserted the Democratic
party. 1t was against Horne's advice
| and it worked upon the 1atter's mind.
| He was told by reliable persons, said
Boyle that Woodward had sold out the
Post for $4,000 and put the money in
| his own pocket. Horne was told by re-
! liable men that he would not get a
! square deal and finally he was told by
Woodward and his associates to get
| out
! James L. Roberts, of Marshall, Mo-,
| an attorney who knew Horne in Mar
| SHALL well, having lived across the
| street from the defendant, was called
as a witness by the defense. He told
] of Horne's moody condition, following
| his reverses While he lived in Marshall
and later after he had moved to Kan
sas City, and became associated with
| the Post. Horne, he said, was an old
line Democrat, and he worried still
| more when the Post printed certain edi-
| torials.
ct joked him. said Mr.. Roberts.
| about running a Democratic paper
that bolted the ticket. He seemed nom
| pfussed and finally said, I can't help ii.
1 haven't control. 1 am not writing
| those editorials. I have to take my
medicine
He told me later about writing edi-
| torials about Tom Johnson OF Cleveland
| and wondered why he could not get
IneIn lIllO the L Osl- nc SS1io AiAd4Iy liz
| 'tumbled that Johnson was favoring a
three cent fare and that there were in
terests in the Post that would not allow
| it,
He said he was not writing the edi-
| torials condemning Bryan and he want
ed me to tell the boys that he wasn't
| writing those editorials. Tell Them he
said, that I am Democrat yet Peo-
| pie Horne said, stopped him and asked
him. Dick, what does this mean?''
The defense is trying to prove that
Horne was made insane by worry over
| the loss of the money he had put into
| the Post and because he, a Democrat.
! was forced to work for a livelihood on
paper that was fighting a portion of
| his partV.