The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-27
May BE MURDER.
Rose Skanks May Not Have TAX
en- Her Own Life.
Salina WOman's Head Was All
But Severed From Body.
FOUND BY HUSBAND
Position of Razor Was Changed
by Someone After Deed.
Poverty Stalked in Home and
Many Quarrels Occurred.

Salina, Kan. Nov. 27.-Develop-
| ments indicate that murder NAV have
| been committed in this city and
that Mrs. Rose Skanks who was
| found by her husband with head
half severed from the body and a
! razor lying on her chest, may not have
| taken her own life. officers. includ-
| ing Coroner Armstrong, were called
! Immediately by neighbors upon hear
| ing the screams and cries of the hus-
band, though no positive conclusion
has been reached as to how Mrs.
Skanks met her death. Apparently it
make any statements until they make
a full investigation of the case and
they seem to think that they have
enough evidence to warrant a full in
VeStigation.
J. H. Skanks. husband of the
woman, told the officers his own story
of what he knew about the death.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he
told the officers the story and by his
side sat the mother. Mrs. Nettle
Skanks, Wringing her hands and sob
bling.
Had Threatened Suicide.
"She had been sick SO long," said
the husband, "she complained all
night of a pain in her side. She has
been sick off and on for about year.
w e ndQ the QOClOI ILLS
ing she got up only for a few minutes.
When pain got so bad she cried out.
sent for my mother, who lives just
across the street. Ny mother
poured out some assafoetida, just a
little bit and 1 gave that to my wife
in a glass.
My mother went home then and I
went out to the closet. I was not gone
more than five minutes. I came back
into the room and saw the blood squirt
irg up against the wall. l never touch-
ed her but called again for my mother,
who came running over. Then the
crowd came in
'She told me-" said Mrs. Skanks,
mother of the husband of the dead
woman, that unless the doctor could
help her that she would be better off
dead. When my boy called me across
the street telling me that she had cut
her throat, could not believe it. Then
1 remembered what she told me- Poor
thing, : he was still alive when 1 came
it. She looked up at me and then grab
bed at her throat. 1 couldn't do a thing
for her and she died"
Found Her Teeth on Table.
The woman's teeth were found on a
center table in the room. The razor
box was found lying on the floor close
to the bed. The body was lying cross
wise on the bed. the head next to the
wall hanging over the edge. The big
cash was thrown open and the blood
splattered scene was horrible. Blood
spurted more than a foot above the
head upon the wall Under the bed
was a great pool of blood.
Some suspicion arose Immediately as
to the cause of her death because the
police say the family has had quarrels.
The family is poor. Mrs. Skanks did
washing outside of her own family.
Suspicious of Murder.
1t is also known by the officers that
the razor which they found lying on
the womaEs chest had been moved
from the time it was first seen. The
officers claim to have the statements
of one woman who claims she saw the
husband handling the razor before the
officers arrived. There are several other
reports of g. suspicious nature which the
officers will: thresh cut. An inquest will
be held.
The cut on the neck is deep and long,
severing the head half way from the
body. An examination of the cut shows
that it must have required two slashes.
The Skanks have lived in Salina about
a year. coming here from Eureka The
husband is a laborer.
Mrs. Skanks was only % years of age
and has been married II years. She
has ono son, 9 wears of age