The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-14
New Light on the Pittsburg
Murder Case.
Prosecuting Attorney Sheppard
Scires the Police.
WOMAN WAS KILLED.
Husband Accused of Crime Prob.
ably Innocent.
Negro Witness Is Real Slayer,
Says Prosecutor.

Pittsburg, Kan. Feb. 14-Declaring
that Ed Luke. charged with the muir
der OF his wife, whose body was found
in vacant lot on August 81, three
days after the crime. is innocent, and
that the states own witness, a negro,
is guilty of the crime, Prosecuting At
torney Jake" Sheppard, Of Crawford
county, scored the police authorities as
incompetent and lazy.
Further than this, Sheppard declares
he will show that Mrs. Luke was as
saulted before she was slain, and that
men he employed to solve the case
when the police failed will show the
murder was committed with an iron
bar.
The bolt is thought to have been ta-
ken from brickyard here, witnesses
testifying there were several at that
place, George Hill, the negro, now ac-
cused by the prosecutor of committing
the crime, swore on the witness stand
that he had seen Ed Luke, husband of
the murdered woman. talking to a wo-
man at the place the crime was COM
mitted. and at about that time.
Negress Framed" Story.
Prosecutor Sheppard declared at the
preliminary Saturday afternoon that
Tildie Dials, the negro woman who is
raid to have <ound pocketbook in the
alley back OF where the crime was COM
nitted, was at the home of Hill the
day the pocketbook was found.
The younger brother of the negro
woman, Romaine, testified he found the
rocketbook. but on cross examination
said he had been told by his sister to
tell that story
Prosecutor Sheppard asked for con-
tinuance of ten days to get further
evidence. In asking for time, the at
torney bitterly scored the authorities
of Pittsburg for their laxity in efforts
to solve the case. declaring they had
made no attempt to bring the right
parties to Justice.
Il have had men with me for three
days" he said, who are experts in
hunting down crime. and 1 will show
not only that Ed Luke is innocent, but
that this negro Hill is a perjurer and
the man who committed the deed and
is now trying to send an innocent man
to the penitentiary.
Police Are Incompetent.
THE city of Pittsburg, is reeking
with crime and criminals. Its guardians
of the peoples rights are asleep or in
competent. If this is not so how is 1T
that little child can find the false
teeth the murdered woman wore, on the
spot where the crime was committed
And the finding of the teeth oc-
Cured six months after che crime was
committed. The men employed found
where an iron bolt such as the murder
was committed with could be obtained.
The police of Pittsburg failed in find
ing any clew to the crime. The police
say they have secured the scene of the
crime; tramped the city in search of
the murderer. Yet no results were OBJ
tanned. 1 ask a continuance of ten
days and the guilty party will be con-
victed."
Hill, the negro. threw the police off
Ills trail by Immediately notifying them
after the murder that he had seen Ed
Luke talking to woman at the time
the woman were standing on the side
walk near the vacant lot where the
body was found. Many witnesses We're
called in an effort to break down the
regro's testimony at the preliminary,
but failed