The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-21

w nile the spectators, who crowded
every inch Cf space in the court room,
listened breathIessly, Miss Chamber
lain told with minute detail the story
that men and women in this and ad-
joining counties had both dreaded and
anxiously awaited.
No Women in Court.
The crowd that surged into the court
augmented by at least another hun
dred persons in the afternoon. 1t was
noticeable that not a woman except
Miss Chamberlain and her mother were
in the ROOM The rule regarding the
exclusion of minors was strictly en-
forced, Judge Grover being especially
desirous that none be present when
the plaintiff took the stand.
None of the witnesses who testified
during the morning session gave any
detailed testimo ony regarding the ac-
tual act of 'tarring." The prosecu-
ton used the witnesses simply in an
effort to establish a chain of evidence
showing the three defendants now on
trial were involved in planning the at
tack and actually started out to attend
the party" 1t is the contention of
these three men that they took no part
in spreading the paint and were not
present when it was done
She Tells Straight Story.
Miss Chamberlain described the at
tack on her in the country near Shady
Bend that hot summer night, in detail.
She spared herself none of the detail.
She told everything of her struggles
with Ed Ricord, that a woman would
hate to tell on the witness stand. Her
story was plain and straightforward
until she attempted to tell of her get
ting into the buggy after her exper-
ience at the hands of the men who
spread the tar. There It seems, she
nearly lost her senses. She could
hardly remember this part of her
story.
Ricord had pleaded with her to go
to the dance that night, she told the
jury. until, much against her will and
better judgment. she had consented to
go. He met her at Green's store and
they started, as she supposed. for the
dance.
Fights for Her Honor.
Scarcely had the buggy passed out
side the village when Ricord made i'm
proper proposals to her, she declared.
She refused and Ricord attacked her.
She struggled with him. This con-
tinued until the cross roads where the
There he stopped the horses and asked
her which direction they should drive.
She told him that she had been told
to drive east to reach the house at
which the dance was to be held.
They turned east and Ricord contfn-
ued his attempts to force improper re-
lations upon her. She struggled with
him while they drove half a mile
Then Ricord suggested that perhaps
they had better go back to town. She
said that she preferred to do so. They
were returning to Shady Bend when
five men met the buggy and held them
up
Tar Rubbed Into Her Flesh.
Two of the men took her out of the
buggy she said, while two held the
horses. They threw her TO the ground
end tore off her clothing. Then the
fifth one poured tar over the lower Part
of her body and limbs. He rubbed il
with his hand, she said.
She said she called to Ricord for help
hut he lid not respond. Later she saw
him lying in the grass beside the road,
hiding.
After telling about TIE motive of her
in a store at Shady Bend, |
Miss Chamberlain plunged into her
story.
Did nome one call you up on Aug
ust ~" was asked.
Yes, Ed Ricord,' she replied.
What dld he say2'
HE joked me little bit and then
said there was a dance at Beverly |
and he wanted ue to go with him He
said we were invited and told him