The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-12
TELLS HIS STORY.
Capt. TillOtson on the Stand at
H0lton.
Why He Planned kidnapping Of
Marian BIeakley.
SNOWY THE PAPERS.
Believed Mrs. Barclay Entitled
to the Child.
County Attorney Schenck
Springs a Sensation.
SHOWN THE PAPERS.


/ positively believed he was in the right
when he planned the kidnapping Of the
/ incubator baby; that he had been led
to believe Mrs Barclay was entitled to
the custody Of the child by Mrs. Bar
clay and by different Kansas CITY at
torneys. and that he was not on the
scene Of the abduction in Topeka last
August is the defense Of Freeman H
TiIIotson, head Of the T1IIotson Detec-
tive agency of Kansas City He is
charged with the KIDNAPPING Of Marian
BIeakIey. and took the stand in his
own defense this morning
The veteran detective stood up well
under both direct and cross examfna-
! ton When court adjourned at noon
Mr.. Schenck was only half through his
cross examination of the witness
The decision Of the courts IN Illinois
on the legality Of the adoption papers
was read TO the jury by Attorney
Wright. Mr. Wright has a convincing
style and he read with proper ufec-
ton the sensational papers which told
in detail Of the birth. the family
troubles and the circumstances of the
birth of Marian BIeakIey and another
child in ST. Louis
The court room was crowded with
linen and women. who in breathless 81
/ Ience listened to the long touching
story Of the case
When some Of the beautiful letters
# between Mrs Barclay and Mrs. Bleak
ley were read many women in the au-
dieuce Wept- These letters, filed with
4 pathos and the innermos- thoughts Of
the broken hearted women. were read
effectively by Attorney Wright One
jurors eyes filed with tears during the
reading Of the communication
The letters between Mrs. Barclay and
Mrs. BleakIey we're filed with the most
touching sentiment To read them one
would never think that the friendship
and love at one time could be super
seded by the bitterness thar now exists.
t TiIIotson on the Stand.
The first action Of today's session was
to cau Captain Tfuotson to the stand
After the usual preliminary questions.
Attorney Crane entered into the evi-
dence vital to the defense-that Capt.
TilIotson thought he was right IN try
ing to kidnap the incubator baby
did you ever see any letters writ
ten by Mrs. BIeakIey?" asked Attorney
Crane
Yes. sir" replied the witness
What were the contents %
One was q letter from Mrs. BleakIey
to Mr.. BIeakley in which she said that
she wanted thirty-five dollars to buy 4
casket for the dead child born to her
She also said that the chfId's leg was
curved, corresponding to her husbands
broken Leg
Did Mrs. Barclay have any ether
yes. sir. She had the adoption pa
pers with her which gave her custody
OF the baby"
Yes. sir She had the opinion of
the Illinois courts and she told Of Judge
Smart's decision giving her the child.
and she said she believed she had the
right to the child"
! Did you take these papers to a law
yers2'
yes. We took them to John H At
wood of Kansas City"
what did he tell your
/ Here Prosecutor Scherck objected.
saying that advice from attorneys was
no excuse for a criminal act
/ A tilt between the attorneys followed
TfHotson was finally allowed TO say
| that he had been told that Mrs. Barclay
had a right to the child
Were you in Topeka the day the
girl was taksn2''
"Yes. sir
"Out at the BIeakIey houne7"
mo, sir
Where were you?
IN Chief Detective Germans Office
in the Santa F'e building
Were you there long,
From 9:15 to II in the morning
Did you eat dinner with Bert
yes. sir; at the E1ks club
Did you have anything to do with
the taking of the chHd?"
Not a thing"
Did you make any agreement with
Mrs. Barclay TO this effect 30
mo, sir. I said I would have moth
ing TO do with IL"
Admits Writing Letters.
TfTIotson admitted to the writing OF
the letters to Mrs Barclay in which
-
child and was making arrangements.
He also admitted his signature To
bank drafts, hotel registers. ct cetera,
introduced in the evidence Of the
state
she said: The child belongs to me
by adoption and by all rights. and
have the right TO get it and take 1t al
any time, in any place and any
where"
In cross examination Prosecutor
Scheuck kept up the boEbarding OF
questions on the defense
Captain TiIIetSon was weak on dates
and names but he was positive as tc
1.-THE main points in the case.
According to the testimony he first
met Mrs. Barclay IN his office in Kan
sas City, when she appeared with q
letter Of Introduction from the Buff
: faIo office Of the Piukertous- Captain
: TfIIotSOn said he had his first orders
from this Office on the work OF Iocat-
ing and keeping close watch Of the
child. both in Oklahoma and Kansas
: a man was employed by Capt TiIIoc-
lson to keep tab on the baby EVERYDAY
? for one month when Mrs. BIeakIey lived
: in EIgin- Kan. and the report was
: made To Capt TiHotsou every day
i Judge John C Pollock. of the fedora
IcoUrt- has been subpoenaed for the tria
and he is expected 70 appear in HoIton
tomorrow. The conversation said tc
have occurred between Judge PolIoch
| land Capt Tiuotson ha< bsen brought