The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-07
Got Revolver on Night of Tragic
Dance.
FORETOLD IN A DREAM
Told Officer He Had Vision
That WilkersOn Would Die.
Court Room Is Crowded With
Interested Farmers.

This has been tedious, trying day
for the states witnesses in the Bragg
murder case and the lawyers have
penpered the records with objections
that completely bewilder several hum
dred silver Lake and Valencia peo-
ple who came to Topeka to attend the
trial. Several of the states star
witnesses went to the stand today ana
told of i'll feeling that existed between
Frank Wilkerson and David Bragg
prior to the killing.
1T was shortly after Christmas that
Bragg went to the home of neigh
Dor. where he begged john McGulre
to give him a revolver. Bragg dlo not
get the gun until the following day.
AS he left the house, ne met MatIiS lug
CIdewelI. Bragg was excited anu
angry. In his conversation with the
girl he said he might find it neces-
sary to kill Wilkerson: ,
In the house at the time was MIS-
Fred Moore. Bragg stayed at the
Moore home. Wilkerson had pre-
viously told Moore that Bragg mad
made insulting remarks about MS
wife The state was anxious to show
that as d result of this trouble Bragg
Manned Man to kill Wilkerson. Mrs.
Moore went to the stand. She was
not a good witness for the state. she
said Bragg seemed frightened the day
he asked for the gun, but denied that
while the defendant was in her pres
ence Then Mrs. Moore recalled that
her son walked down stairs with
Bragg at the time it is claimed he
talked with the Glidewen girl. The
woman succeeded in recalling several
things that were not of material
benefit to the state and which she
had not told in the preliminary hear
ing.
On the testimony of Will Cook the
state will put much emphasis. Cook
was working with Bragg the day OF
the killing. Bragg asked him II
Frank Wilkerson would attend the
dance that night. Cook didn't know
At the camp that evening, Cook saw
Bragg go to the trunk and get his re-
volver. He asked Bragg what he in
tended to do with the gun; and the
defendant stated he might need it.
Then Cook told of Wilkerson leaving
the dance hall alone.--A new set had
just formed, when the dancers heard
two shots a moment later Wilker-
son rushed into the hall. Both hands
were over the wound in his breast, as
he exclaimed. I'm shot, I'm shot.
Bragg did it," Then he died. Cook
1oosened Wilkerson's collar, tie and
belt. A pint bottle of whisky was in
his pocket. Cook took that also.
Under cross mination the witness
said he had kept company with WIKI
erson's sister for several months, but
she did not go to the dance the night
Dea Patten, with whom the defendant
danced several sets. Cook admitted that
he had frequently talked of the muir
der with his sweetheart and members
of her family. But he denied that
threats and promises had been made in
case he did or did not testify for the
state.
DR.. HensIey Has Trouble.
At noon the state was having trouble
In an effort to qualify DR.. c. NJ. lens
ley as an expert witness. Hensley was
called to the county Jail the morning
after the shooting. He could not find
trace of injury on Braggs head from
a blow struck by Wilkerson the previ-
Gus night. He then examined Bragg's
chest. Here he found d depression end
a small red spot. He put an adhesive
plaster on the chest, but declared that
the injury was not from kick the
previous night and denied that Bragg
was suffering. But there was trouble
ahead for Hensley. He did not recall
ever treating another person for a kick.
He could not explain why he put on
the adhesive plaster when he knew
Bragg was not injured. Then the de
fense took the transcript from the pre-
liminary and waded into the physician S
former testimony. This caused all
manner of objections from the state
and the lawyers exchanged courtesies
to the delight of the big crowd in the
court room There were two trans
scripts and the court could not decide
which was correct. Each was made by
different parties. But this fact assist
ed the defense in laying grounds for i'm
Ipeachment and Hensley'S knowledge Of
bumps and bruises was written in the
records.
The attendance at the trial today was
large. Many of the persons in the
crowded court room are residents OF
the silver Lake district. Out in that
territory a weeks vacation has beer
declared by mutual consent and every
one who can get to Topeka is watching
the progress of the case. Many OF
these persons are witnesses in the tria
and will remain here the greater part
of the week.
its evidence and Will not complete its
direct testimony before Thursday
noon.
ForetoId in Dream.
In a statement made to G.. A. Rhein-
hart shortly after arrest. David Brage
stated that his killing of Frank Wilk-
erson had been foretold to him in {
dream the previous night. 1t was
Rheinhart, a deputy sheriff, who ar.
rested Bragg near the town pump II
Silver Lake a few minutes after thu
shooting in the dance hall.
Rheinhart did not see the murder
ne heard the two shots and said th;t
VViIkerson rushed in the dance hall
falling headlong in the doorway. Tht
deputy sheriff did not stop to see II h
was dead. At the town pump, .shor
distance from the hall. he found Bragg
sThe revolver was -stin in his hands
Bragg seemed oazeo anu ASKED VIII
he had done.
when taken to a restaurant, Bragl
declared that Wilkerson called him
vile name and cursed him as the tW
young men met on the stairway; an
fbat VVilkerson struck him behind tn
- rrbis blow Bragg told the sheriff