The Topeka state journal., 1911-06-10
away from him. as 1 didn't want to
have any trouble"
Afraid of WiIkerson.

Afraid of W1lkerSOn.
Then the witness said he knew of
Wilkersons reputation as fighter and
reiterated his former statements that
he was afraid of the man. Bragg said
Wilkerson was 25 pounds heavier than
himself and two years older. After the
early trouble he seldom if ever went to
Valencia alone. Then he told of talks
with Miss Patton.
'fDid Miss Patton ever tell you of
Wilkersons fights?"
'tShe did,
How did she know w?'
''Said he told her all e-bout them.''
why did you go to Valencia to
meet Frank Wilkerson?"
81 was afraid that if I didn't go and
try to settle the matter, that Fred
Moore would give me a whipping"
'Did you have a revolver with you? ?''
81 did not. 1t was at home in my
suitcase"
Before Robert Wilkerson came up,
was anyone joshing you?"
Eyes, the boys said I was in for a
licking"
''Tell what Robert Wilkerson did,
"He came through the crowd at the
depot, jerked me five or six feet across
the tracks and said he was a deputy
sheriff and wanted to search me-
The witness then said Wilkerson did
not find a weapon on his person. He
had small stick on which he had been
whiting, but Wilkerson did not take
it.
"Was anything said about fighting?"
"Mr. Wilkerson said. L suppose
you came to fight, and if you do, ]
will arrest you both 1 told him he
wouldn't arrest me, as I didn't want to
fight; and came to straighten the mat
ter up with Frank regarding the re-
mark which he said 1 made about Mrs.
Moore"
Did you tell him that if you could
not fight you would go homer"
ST did not
Bragg told of meeting Wilkerson in
the road one day. His rival was riding
horse. The defendant said when he
saw him coming that he entered q
field to avoid him.
What did Wilkerson say?"
"He called me some names that
don't want to utter before these Ia
dies and said that the first time he
met me he would kill me if he could
What did you tell him ?'
Il said. Frank I don't want to have
any trouble with you.'
Did you ever meet him face tC
face between that time and the shoot
| in?''
Il did not"
| Kept Away From Dances.
| Bragg declared that after this
meeting, he was more than ever
afraid of his fighting antagonist. He
said he refused to attend SeVera
dances because he was certain Wilk-
erson would be there and that there
might be trouble should they meet
| The night of the fatal dance at Silver
Lake, Bragg stated that he had for
| merly called Miss Patton over the
telephone and asked her to go to To-
! peka with him and cancel the dance
At the dance that night, he noticed
Wilkerson watching him closely. He
was certain that the man had beer
| drinking. Each hour he was surt
that Wilkerson meant to do him some
harm.
stated that he left the dance hall an6
hunted Ralph Patton. He urged Pat
ton to get the ladies and start fol
home. But Patton was drinking and
refused to CO.
LAS 1 started back to the dance
hall" said the young man. "I passed
a crowd of young men on the street
Frank Wilkerson was there. AS
passed, I heard him say something
about whipping me. I did not stop
but went on back to the hall"
Here, Bragg said he remained, unit
"Chick" Glidewell called him from the
room. He did not know what was
wanted and left the hall. About sly
steps from the bottom landing, Glide
we'll stopped. He handed Bragg
SOmeUn1nS. 1T was a DOIC1e- Inc de-
fendant said he took it in his hand
saw what it was and returned it with
out taking a drink. He was certain
he had taken but one drink the night
OF the killing.
Story of the Killing.
Just as the bottle was returned
three men entered the door. The light
above made it impossible to recognize
persons in the dark hall below As
he returned the bottle, he heard some
one say, You better hide that, you
| little devil It was Wilkerson who
was talking Bragg asked Wilkersor
| if he were speaking to him. With ar
oath Wilkerson said he would speal
| to him whenever he - please. By
| this time Wilkerson was about the
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