The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-01
All Witnesses Profess Ignorance
Of an Assault.
ON THE STAND.
Tells Of Her Husband Coming
Home Drunk.
Did Not Know That He Had
Been Hurt.

Mrs. Sophie Bjorkman, widow of
Charles G. Bjorkman, president of the
Swedish Library association. into the
cause of whose death an inquest is
held today, was placed upon the witness
stand to tell the story surrounding her
bereavement as seen from the home in
cidents. The widow between sobs, told
of her wifely entreaties to her husband
not to go back up town Sunday morn
ing and of his being brought home
to die without her slightest suspicion
that he was wounded and in danger
The widow is crippled and walks with
a cane. She mounted the chair with
assistance and had a heartbreaking cry
before the first question. Attorney
Atchinson first tried to lead her mind
away from her sorrow. succeeded in
quoting her, and then asked her to
tell the story.
He went to the hall Saturday night"
she said He wanted me to go with
him and take the children but 1 said.
No, I can not get them ready but you
go on and when the little ones go to
sleep I'll come down on the street car
There was a mask ball at the hall and
ne wanted me to go. I just could not
get ready to go with all the children.
I'm cripple you see and 1 couldn't
get up and down the stairs to get them
ready. But I waited for the children
to go to bed and go to sleep. I had
lots OF trouble for they would not
sleep; it was Is minutes after 10 when
they all were asleep and when 1 look
ed at the clock L thought how tired
was and decided would not go down
town so late. l went to bed and wait
ed. I slept little but kept awake and
worried until I got up and it was 2
o'clock. I tried to sleep again. After
Il long time he came; it was 8 or in
the DonrninO DRINK (chn hrnxe
into crying again) a-and l help him
get into bed.
HE slept then until about 9 O'Clock
in the morning, when the children, be-
cause they loved him SO much. were
playing around the bed and wanted
him to get up. He didn't eat much
breakfast-some coffee-and then said
he was going up town again. I said,
No, don't go now. Won't you stay
home for dinner and go up this after
and come home and stay all after
noon,' and he went.
1.-The next time 1 saw him was when
saw a man bringing him up the
what was afraid of. He was drunk.
The man with him said he had fallen
down. The man wanted to help me
put him to bed, but Charles turned and
said, I don't want stranger in the
house So he went out.
There was blood on my husbands
face and his ear, but I did not know
he was hurt and in danger. He could
hardly talk and only mumbled. I got
him to bed and was going to wash his
face. but he motioned as if to let him
be. and I thought I'd leave him COM
Portable. Once he looked up and said,
Sophie, dear, 1 know it isn't right.
1 won't do it again I began to get
afraid and called Mr.. Tulin, who came
over, and after awhile we thought
maybe we ought to get a doctor. The
doctor came and injected some medi-
cine in his arm. Then he went to
sleep; that was the last The widow
broke down again and was helped
from the stand.
Had Been Hit on Head.
skull, explained that the fracture in
the skull found at the post mortem
was a fracture of the inner skull wall
merely and that the outer skull was
not broken nor the skin cut nor
scratched. The jurors and the doc
tor were taken to the club house of
the Scandinavian Sick and Benefit So
ciety at 21S West First avenue in the
police patrol wagon to view the steps
down which Bjorkman fell. After
looking the place over it was the opin
not have been fractured and the other
bruises, on account of their position.
have been made by the one fall 1t
was his opinion that the man had been
kicked and had been hit on the head
with a smooth round instrument.
The broken derby hat of the de-
ceased was placed in evidence. It is
broken directly above where it would