The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-13

The sheriff of Johnson county, Kan
sas. now is trying to find farm hand
who worked for the Bernhards about
six weeks ago. The sheriff said that
after the man left the farm George
| Bernhard told some of the neighbors
he was afraid of him
Feagle was questioned by the police
of Kansas City. Kan, last night.
Though he faced Chief of Police Zi1n-
mer Tor more than an hour, he main
tanned his innocence. In the examina-
ton Feagle became badly confused and
contradicted himself repeatedly.
| Feagle talked freely, telling of hav-
ing trouble with Mrs. Bernhard and
her son, but denying he was guilty of
relied because Morgan was hunting on
the Feagle farm, and again over a
boundary line. He maintained, how
| ever, that after the second quarrel. he
left the Bernhard fam and went direct
lily home. At $50 o'clock Wednesday
| afternoon. he says, he heard screams
coming from the direction of the Bern
hard home.
Inspector of Detectives Boyle, of the
Kansas City police force. has taken an
| impression of +ho fingers of Feagles
left hand, which he will compare with
the finger prints made with blood on
the wall of the closet in which the body
of Mrs. Bernhard was found. The
finger prints are considered one Of the
| strongest clews the officers have.
| Feagle's wife and his father, ]. B.
Feagle, have come to the aid of the
prisoner, both declaring him innocent
of any connection with the quadrupIe
murder. The elder Feagle said his
son had at times shown signs of in
sanity. He said the stains on the cloth
ing found in his sons home Monday
were made by red paint.
my son painted his house a dark
red some time ago" he said. after
he finished the work he discarded the
soiled clothes and they were hung in
q closet upstairs"
| my husband is innocent Feag1e's
wife said, land easily could clear him
self. But he gets ratified and I guess
that is what happened when the po-
! lice were questioning him. I shall
help him to prove his innocence"
Blood Stained Paper Found.
Olathe. Kan, Dec. 13.-Dr. D. E.
Bronson, coroner Of this county. en-
panelled a jury composed of W. H.
Holt, J. H. Dent, A E. Moll, Jasper
Kincaid, W. G. Keefer and Harry Case,
all of this city, who viewed the bodies
| of Emiline Bernhard and her son. Geo.
| Bernhard, and Thomas H Morgan and
| the party supposed to be James Graves,
| the four murdered people on the Bern
hard farm II miles north of this city,
and adjourned until o'clock Wednes-
The county commissioners in special
session offered a reward Of $500 for the
| arrest and conviction of the guilty
party or parties. If more than any
one person claims the reward, the COM
missioners reserve the right to divide
as they deem just and equitable.
Mrs. Nancy Mason, the daughter, is
here. It is learned that Mrs. C. E
Portwood of 125 East Thirty-first street
Kansas City, Mo-, is a niece, and Eli
jah Portwood of Liberty, NO., is g
nephew and Mrs. Matte Portwood. 20s
fremont, Kansas City, Kan, is g
gran6niece.
A Ssood-stained newspaper has beer
found about 80 feet from the barn
which was used by the slayer K
cleanse his hands 1t bore the name
of the Mississippi Blaetter.
The man who answers fully the de-
scription Of the person who stayed
Thursday night at the home of A. D
Brown was guest at the Avenue ho
tel from Sunday, the Sd, until las
Wednesday. He claimed to be from
Oklahoma. He left on the Strang lint
at 1890, Wednesday, saying to McIn
tyre Bros, proprietors of the hotel, tha
he was going to Missouri, where h,
could husk corn 'both ways" The sam,
man was at their hotel about two year
ago.
Although Mrs. Bernhard had in tn
Patrons bank about $1,000. and Georg
Barnhard $1,100, only $1,000 was givel
to the assessor last March, while Georg