The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-12
HITSGASCOMP ANY TO TRY N. 7. OLSEN
Custer Begun Young Charged With
preme Court. Killing His Assistant
Receiver Also Asked by the Cut Knife
Utilities Commission. After Fight.
BIG SIM is ASKED WIDOW STAR WITNESSI
Halt Million Dollars With Death
by Young Landlord
Action Also Newfarmer Killed After
County Court Being Made Helpless.
Cut Head Off With Corn Knife
After Fight.
WIDOW STAR WITNESS
SheWas Threatened With Death
by Young Landlord.
Waiter Newfarmer Killed After
Being Made Helpless.

Council Grove, Kan, Dec. 12.-
With Ga members of a venire of 95
men exhausted the first day, it seemed
unlikely today that the Olsen murder
case would be ready for the hearing
of evidence before Wednesday morn
ing. The state has three challenges
remaining and the defense has seven
challenges. Eleven men were in the
1 jury box this morning. After the jury
/ is secured the opening statements of
] counsel are expected to consume the
remainder of the time today.
The case in which n. It. Olsen, son
of one of the wealthiest farmers in
Kansas, is charged with the murder
of Walter Newfarmer, a farm hand in
his employ, on August %, has attract
ed greater interest than any criminal
case heard here in years. Both the
dead man and his slayer are of Swed-
ish descent and the characteristics of
that race are to play an important part
in the trial
Story of Brutal Murder.
Briefly, the story of the crime is
that Newfarmer was employed by
Olsen on his farm at Diamond Springs,
near Burdick. Olsen contracted to
pasture cattle for stockEen and, it
is reported, accepted more cattle than
his acreage of pasture warranted.
NeWfarmer is alleged to have told this
and Olsen discharged him.
NeWfarmer had hired to Olsen for
q term of months and did not believe
he could be thus discharged. He went
to Council Grove and consulted an at
torney about his rights. AS he ap-
preached the Olsen home that night
the trouble occurred. In the first fight
Olsen is said to have used a razor
and cut his former assistant badly,
perhaps fatally. Then, it is alleged
by the state, that while Mrs. New
farmer tried to carry her husband into
the house Olsen returned with a corn
knife and hacked and cut NeWfarmer
until he severed the head of his victim
from the body. Mrs. NeWfarmer was
also threatened when she tried to pro-
tect her already badly injured husband
from his infuriated antagonist.
Widow Star Witness
The star witness of the state will be
the widow OF the victim. She with
her 3-year-old child, witnessed the
killing.
According to her story told at the
time of the murder she was preparing
her evening meal on Monday evening
when she heard her husband cry for
help. She ran to the door and saw
Newfarmer running towards the house
and Olsen holding to him and slash
ing at him with a razor. She went to
the aid of her husband and succeeded
While she dragged her husband to-
ward the house Olsen seized a corn
knife and returned saying:
I'll fix him; I'll finish him now"
He then killed Newfarmer, hacking
the head from the body.
Olsen Appeared Friendly.
That morning, while her husband
was in Council Grove, she said, Olsen
had appeared friendly and told her not
to worry that she would not be COM
PEELED to leave the place.
After the murder Olsen went to
Council Grove and surrendered to the
authorities. When the officers went
to the Olsen farm to investigate the
killing they found a mob of armed
men and it is believed the intention
was to lynch Olsen if he could be
found.
dant who is called Tony by his
friends, was formerly the richest far
mer in Morris county, paying taxes on
a quarter of a million dollars. He is
now an extensive land owner in Cow
ley county. He is directing the de-
fense of his son.
NeWfarmer was a small man, weigh
ing about 13O pounds and aged Sc years
old Olsen is a large well built young
fellow of 27 years and weighs 100 pounds.
He was more than a match, physically,
for the man he killed.
The county attorney bases the muir
der charge entirely upon the second at
tack, no one but the prisoner having
seen the beginning of the trouble.
G. A. Crowley. one of the abIest law
ers Morris county ever produced, is con-
Quoting the case for the state and is
He was elected a year ago. Arrayed
against him are former Congressman
J. NJ Miller. Judge Nicholson. Newton,
and Captain J. G. Waters of Topeka
George Morehouse of Topeka is attend
ing the case.