The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-02
C. NJ. Guist LIS Charged With
Murder of C. B. Cuist.
Findings of the CorOners Jury
Resulted in His Arrest.
MEN WERE RELATED.
Strong Chain of Circumstantial
Evidence Woven.
So Far No Motive Has Been Dis
covered For the Crime.

Newton, Kan, July 2.-The coron er's
jury 1mpaneled to inquire into the
manner in which c. B. Guist met his
death I'VE and one-hah miles southeast
of Burton. Kan. brought in verdict
to the effect that his nephew, c. M.
Guist was responsible therefor and
recommended that he be held for a
preliminary hearing before Justice OF
the peace. The accused man was I'M
nedfateIy arrested and lodged in tho
Harvey county Jail at Newton
c. B. Guist, n years Of age, had re-
sided in this county since 1871, until
two years ago, when he removed to
wichita He arrived at Bufrton Mon
day night and the evidence showed
about 1880 O'Clock started to walk to
his farm five and one-half miles south
east of town This farm belonged to
the old gentleman. but was occupied
by the nephew G. B. GlIist was seen
about $3.50 o'clock that same night at
the home of a neighbor about a mile
and a half from his destination, where
he stopped for a drink of water. This
is the last time he was seen alive, so
far as can be learned.
Tuesday morning the 10-year-old son
OF c. NJ. Guist, when returning from
an errand to the home of neighbor
and on crossing a. small creek, noticed
a hat lying ON the bank He ran
around to where 1t was, thinking per-
haps some boys were there fishing. He
then noticed the legs of the body, par
TALLY submerged in water, sticking
from under the bridge He notified a
neigtbor near by, who, in turn, notified
ney, and they at once proceeded to the
scene
Evidence Is CircuTustantiaI.
The evidence against the accused
man is wholly circumstantial Before
the dead man left town he purchased
EfG F1f IN
his body was found one of these twists,
and in a coat pocket hanging in one
of the rooms of the nephew's home, it
was testified, was found a package
containing five of these twists. A Burr
ton grocer testified to having sold the
elder G1ist six twists. and identified the
sack as the one he had used to wrap
the purchase in This coat found hang
the one c. B. Guist was carrying when
he left Burton.
On the bridge under which the body
was found there was quantity of
grass chaff. An examination of this
chaff showed that 1t contained human
blood. In the box of a wagon standing
in the yard of the nephew's home was
found quantity of the same kind of
chaff, while a microscopic examina ton
OF spots on the wagonbed showed them
tc be blood spots.
In the house was found q pair of
overals, belonging TO the accused, on
WHICH were DlOO0 bLdIASs d S1OlSuu,
one barrel of which had been fired re-
Gently, the coat above referred to, and
other discriminating evidence.
No motive for murder has been found.
The dead man left two daughters who
Will inherit his property, so that the
nephew will not profit in that way.
The uncle held his nepheW's note for
$40. but this Is secured by a mortgage
which can be collected by the heirs
so that there was no prospect of being
able to escape Payment of the note by
taking the life of the holder thereof
The accused man has been married
but his wife left him some months ago
since which time he has been living on
the farm, alone save for a 10-year-old
son.
Fatal Shot Fired Through Screen.
From the front door of the wretch
ed, four room. implanted farm house, |
the murderer evidently fired the fatal l