The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-13
BHhA NJ A@ w. w. ~ @@HTA0
Self Defense and Emotional In
sanity, Olsen Declares,
Are Responsible for Death of
Walter Newfarmer.
TO BRING WIDOW In
Her Character Is to Be Attacked
by Defense.
Dead Mans Record to Be At
tackled in Court.
TO BRING WIDOW IN

Council Grove, Kan, Dec. 13.-
Emotional insanity for the second at
tack and self defense in the first one
Will be the defense of 'sTony" Olsen,
on trial here for the murder OF Wal
ter Newfarmer. Other attempts to
save young Olsen from going to the
penitentiary will be made in the aff1-
davits to prove that Newfarmer was a
deserter from the army, that he had
a bad record there. that he was Of
quarrelsome and dangerous DISPOSE
tion and that Mrs. Newfarmer was
really relieved by the death of her
husband.
Jury Secured Tuesday.
The Jurors were secured late Tues
day afternoon, after calling the second
special venire. The jurors are: A. L.
Huggins, Henry Schamp, J. w Mark
ley, John Rockliff, FL. w. Strouts, w.
r. Hylton, Grover Filby, G. w. War,
e e. Forster. A. Houcke. John Our
We're from the regular venire drawn
for the December term of court
Prosecuting Attorney G. A Crow
ley made the opening statement, in
which he set forth the facts of the
case One fact which he gave great
stress to was that for some twenty
four hours before the crime was com
mltted Olsen had been in apparently
disturbed mental state, and that he
acted as though he was in some bust
ness which was causing him consid-
erable worry. This condition had
peen noticed by Mrs Newfarmer. This
IS one OF the points which will be used
BY the defense They will try to prove
that Olsen hal been worried until he
was driven into the act
The state also stated that at one
time, shortly before the killing, that
olsen had made an insulting proposal
to Mrs Newfarmer, which she resent
ed, but did not, however, tell her hus-
FEf gr4rr
the killing as given by Prosecuting At
torney Cowley. Mrs. NeWfarmerM sat |
and wept. Throughout the afternoon
she Enanifested much interest and |
when witnesses answered questions as |
she desired them answered.
State Calls Sixteen Witnesses.
The state called it's witnesses and 1
16 We're sworn. Chas. Atkinson was /
put upon the stand and the prosecu- /
ton attempted to prove that Olsen /
from an upstair window had seen
NeWfarmer returning from town and
went out to meet him. r. G. Waters.
Of the defense cross questioned the
witness, but gained nothing particular
ly. Dr. C. C Harvey, coroner was
next placed upon the stand and was
questioned as to the condition of the
murderer at the time he arrived One t
point Of his testimony which will be
by the defense, is that there /
was only one cut upon the throat. The
there were three distinct decorations.
Robert Baird was the next witness.
The liabilities are that the state
VIII today place upon the stand Mrs.
Elsie Newfarmer, wife of the murder
I'd man, who was the only eye witness
Of the crime.
n. T. Olsen sat by his attorneys dur
ng the trial and seemed unconcerned.
His father and brother are with him.
and are a great source of comfort to
him. His father, John Olsen, is with
lim- He feels confident Of acquittal
md feels that the boy, his favOrite
;hild, was driven into the act COM
nitted. He expressed himself to
Journal reporter today as to the boys
last life. He said, THAT boy never
vas bad and had never done anything ]
wrong before" Olsen, a man of about {
z or Is years of age, is a fine look
ng, dark haired fellow. The defense
re supposed to possess strong evil /
lence as to the character of Newfar- y
ner, which they claim not to be the
lest- This will probably not be /
'rought out until in defense. {
Big Crowd in Court. 5
The court room was crowded, stand {
ng room being at a premium Tt is {
expected that the crowds will grow :
5 the case advances. t
The character of the widow of his t
ictim is not to escape attack, the re-
ort at the court house Is, in the effort
o save her husbands slayer. That {
he sought to establish improper rela- y
ions with her husbands employer is q
ne of the allegations the defense, it is T
eclared will make on the testimony ,
/ Olsen himself
Elsie Newfarmer, the widow, is well
nown in this section Her parents
We at Wilsey, a small town several
liles west of here, and they are high
Z respected and well known But, it
ill be charged by the defense, after
unning away to Kansas City with her L
usband she ceased to live as a wo- i
nan should and later sought to in
olive her husbands employer with in
entions of blackmail later. j.
Of course the state will bring evil
ence to disprove these assertions. She I
as lived in this section nearly all OF h
er life. She is attractive and well L
ked. d
He Has Strange Defense =
Olsen. in his double plea of self de- !;
9nse and temporary insanity, will de- .
are that he was attacked by New
armer when the latter met him on +
le way home from town after con- c
srence with an attorney. He Will say
lat he had razor with him because II
Q had formerly had trouble with
ewfarmer and feared him. He used $
will be his plea, to defend himself. ii
After leaving Newfarmer badly in
1red in his wife's care. Olsen will de- %
ARE that he went to the house to get
butcher knife for the purpose of r
Itting his own throat, believing he r
ad committed a murder. Then when
G learned that his victim was still
live the emotional insanity drove him
, kill Newfarmer.