The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-20
ALL WERE DRUNK.
Inquest into WilkersOn Murder
Indicates This.
1. b. Patton Reverses Himself
When Called to Stand. -

The inquest into the death of Frank
Wilkerson, who was shot Friday night
at. Silver Lake dance by David
Bragg. is in progress in the court room
of the city court today.
While the main facts of the shoot
ing are repeated as told officers Sun
day. there is strong evidence of an
attempt on the part of number of
Bragg's friends to shield him.
This was disclosed first in the testi-
mony of /. B. Patton, d young farmer
living a mile south of Valencia. Bragg
has been keeping company with his
sister and rode to Silver Lake Friday
night with the brother and sister. Pat
ton told County Attorney Simon Sat
urday in the latter's office that Wilker-
son was a peaceable enough fellow and
that on the night of the dance he had
not been drinking and that he had
never heard him make any threats
against Bragg.
On the stand today. he said Frank
Wilkerson was of a Cuarrelsome ma
ture and apt to start fight If he had
a few drinks. He said Wilkerson haq
a pint of wisl6y and seemed to be un-
der the influence of LIQUOR. Further;
he said Wilkerson had said in a crowd
of boys about an hour before the
dance: "I'l give anybody dollar to
whip Bragg or I'll bet anybody a dol
lar [ can whip him myself
When Simon called the witness at
tention to the discrepancies in his
stories, Patton defended himself by
stating that he was so polluted FIJI
day night he did not remember dis
tinctly, but that his mind was clear
today. Asked where he got his whis-
ky, he hedged by saying he took 1t
away from guy, he couldn't Tem en :,
Der who, because he was so polluted
He was still polluted he said, when
he talked to County Attorney Simon
Saturday
He admitted to Simon that after he
had talked to him, he had seen Bragg
at the county jail, had also seen Rop-
ert Alexander, for whom Bragg
worked and who is befriending him,
and several others. He admitted further
that he had given Bragg little drink
from his bottle and that Bragg had
stepped between two buildings to
drink it. The bottle contained about
two swallows he said, and Bragg DID
not take all of it.
Coroner H. H. Keith interpoSed here to
remind the witness that he had made the
statement to him at the dance hall an
hour after the shooting that Braggs had
taken four good swallows from has pottle.
Keith also said that Patton was nor NOT IN IN
sisted he was not drunk when Wllkerson
threatened BraggS an. hour before the
shooting, although he had been lew
minutes before. that he was drunk again
after the shooting and that he was drunk
when he talked to Simon the next day.
He refuses to state who else heard W1iker-
son threaten Braggs but says there was
seven people in the party. He Will be
given time to tell straight story and
If he does not, he may be charged with
perjury. He did not see the killing;
The story of the shooting agree with the
statements secured by DIR. Keith at the
scene. DR.. Amis was called to give ms
findings in post mortem examination Ihe
bullet which penetrated the heart and
| lung was exhibited The second bullet
which cut through the right forefingeI
was found by Amos Jones, un under
| taker at Penwell,s,s in the Wilkerson innel
| coat pocket
| Though Miss Patton is in attendance
| at the inquest and will be called upon te
! testify and though it is admitted Braggs
| kept company with her, it is denied thai
! the two young men were in feud over
her Instead, it is said, the two ha6
uuarreled over certain married woman
! of silver Lake. Several witnesses saic
the men were not on speaking terms.
Attorney w. E. Atchison appears a:
/ counsel for Braggs and is conducting 6
cross-examination of witnesses. He ant
| John Schenck probably will defend tht
| accused murderer. Both the prosecution
| and the defense have StenographerS tax
/ ing the testimony of the inquest
! The coroner's jury nearing the evidence
| consists of H. S. Allen. A. NJ. Russell, f
M Ward, M. Martin, J. Q. A. Peyton ane
| H c. Bowman