The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-15
TRIAL FAR away.
Neither Side Seems Anxious to
Hurry Matters
In Connection With Guinness
Murders Before a Jury.
WAITING ON PUBLIC.
State Seems Inclined TO Watt
for CurbstOne Verdict.
The Defense Appears Well Sat-
isfied With Situation.

he DeIenSe Appears Well Sat
isfied With Situation.
Laporte, Ind, May 15.-The report of
the coroner's physicians to the effect
that 1awbones found at the Guinness
farm yesterday came from the skull
OF an adult human being is all that is
required to confirm the establishment
of the corpus delicti in the case against
Ray Lamphere. according to the prose-
cutting officials of this county. Just
when this formal report will be made
is uncertain. The same doctors con-
sidered their findings on the bodies
found in the cellar of the Guinness
home for ten days or more before
making a formal return concerning
them to the coroner. 1t is scarcely like
ly that the same delay will occur in
the present instance. but the failure of
some or the doctors to express them
serves positively last night may mean
that a difference of opinion is about to
ensue. In that case a long discus
sion. possibly terminating in a split
verdict might result.
Sheriff Shutter was jubilant over his
discoveries last night and resumed his
Investigations today. The material on
the east side of the cellar where the
bodies were found, has all been
screened but the possibilities of the
refuse piles are by no means exhaust
ed The ashes were shoveled from the
east side to the west side of the foun-
dation and partially back again dur
ing the search for the bodies and the
subsequent cursory examination of the
ruins for evidence. AS consequence
some finds Of considerable value to the
prosecution may yet be turned up, and
when the screening Is finished the
sheriff has the sluicing and panning
method to fall back upon. This novel
method Of unearthing evidence has
given several results already although
the amount of ashes gone over has been
inconsiderable.
Water Is Scarce.
The lack of an adequate water sup
ply is the chief obstacle to this branch
Of the work but a force pump INSTALL
ed recently has partially remedied this
defect. The well on the farm is de-
pended upon for the water and the
sheriff may yet decide to add a gaso-
line engine to his equipment with the
idea of obtaining steadier work from
the force pump than results from the
windmill power used at present.
The bits of shining metal found by
the miner among the piles Of bolts,
nails and other relics of the farm
house will bear evidence Of fact even
if they do not prove to be gold filings
Ii.
Each globule is fixed into the Gin
ders with which it came in contact
and moulded into all sorts Of irregu-
lar shapes. No better testimony can
be found to the ferceness of the fire
which destroyed the farm house and
it is on alleged tremendous heat en-
rendered in the flaming ruins that
the state must depend for support on
it's contention that the head of Mrs.
Guinness was incinerated on the morn
ing of April %.
The case against Ray Lamphere
probably will be brought before the
grand jury Monday according to the
first revision of the schedule. The
time of his trial is less certain. I'm
til Sheriff Shutter has exhausted the
possibilities at the farm house, it is
scarcely likely that the case will be
present rate of progress this will
mean a delay of months.
The prosecution is in fact almost
ready to switch over from it's former
attitude, which contemplated an i'm
mediate trial. Discussion of the
battling aspects of the affair has been
so general and the prevalence of
opinion hostile to the states side so
unexpectedly strong that the chance
of having to submit the case to a jury
Influenced by these circumstances is
more than a remote possibility.
Much of this condition is due to
the failure of the curbstone debaters
to consider the salient facts already
brought to light. 1t is the hope of
the prosecution that opinions formed
as a result of these discussions will
change or at least grow vague with
time. In that case a postponement Of
the trial to the next term of court
would, they believe, be an advantage
Gus move.
The defense shows no anxiety to
push the matter.
She Was a Rope Dancer.
Christiania, May 15-Mrs Belle
Guinness, the central figure in the La
porte. Ind, murder mystery, details
of which have been received here is
remembered in Christiania as a girl,
assisting her father, PETERS Paulsen,
travelling conjurer and magician,
who gave performances at all the
fairs in Norway. She performed as
rope dancer. and aften was seen in
short skirts and fieshings, half freez-
ing before the tent extending an in
vitation to the public to step inside.
Her three sisters and brother also
took part in the show. The father
made enough money eventually to re-
tire to a small property near Trondh-
jem. Mrs. Guinness has many reIa-
tives in Norway.
ExpOser of X. G.. c. Is Dead.
Chicago, May 15.-Felix Grundy