The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-12
READY FOR JURY.
CONTINUED flom Page one.l


At the dance in Silver Lake, the de-
Tense argued, Bragg took more ABUSE
than any other man should take or IN
Justice be expected to take. Not until
after Wilkerson had struck and kicked
time, they declared, did Bragg come
to his own defense. Only when Wal,
kerson advanced down the stairs ana
the defendant believed his life in im-
mediate danger, it was urged, did the
Young man fire the fatal Shots
Large Crowd Hears Speeches.
The iurv and the crowd followed
these arguments closely. AT $3.50 theTe
was no Indication that the crowd Wouid
leave before the close OF L1,bo
speech at o'clock. 1t is crane WHO
is expected to administer the stlnglhs
arraignment of Bragg and portray
him as the premeditated slayer OF the
young farmer.
In the corridors of the court house
TODAY there was much speculation as
to the final outcome of the case. III
a few instances real money was pet on
Rragg's chances for nbefty anu I'M
prisonment. Many persons VINO nav
followed the case closely oeclaIe &C.
bragg will be acquitted on the nrst
ballot and will not spend the night IN
the county Jail. Others arc OF tIe
/ oninion that a verdict will not pe
reached until some time toIhoii y" .
But few of the persons VINO p i
conviction expect greater Pun EItar
than some degree of manslausliCei:
| w p Atchison made the opening
isnaach for the defense. AT 3 cloch
! he gave way to J. J. Scheack; ocieliS n
lhad left the evidence lot AlchlSon 60,
Immediately started on merciiess O. O.
raignment of the proseco'lont ter,snt
he showed no signs OF aoa Ieiie -
Crane. who will close for the state' -
expected to conduct his crusade alons
Similar lines and repay the crowd Ior
Its close attention to the long trlal.
Evidence Completed Saturday.
Evidence in the Bragg murder case
was completed late Saturoay a,,-+
noon and Judge Dana adjourned cour
until this morning, that tne ~. 20 =
the arguments and tackling VefolcI
in the case. Several witnesses Me.e
used in rebuttal by the state, put Inelr
testimony did not shake the deIehse
to any considerable extent. -
When Bragg himself lett the VIZ
mess stand late in the Afternoon. he hao
withstood the tedious cross exanlHa-
ton and appeared as cool ana sIeauS
as at any time in the trial OF the Ease.
To be sure the defendant was httle
shy on minor details. He dld not
know how many inches or 1eet ne
stood from Wilkerson at the Tune OF
the shooting. Neither was he CERTAIN
as to Just the position OF MS pouy
when he was kicked. ANOAliiCI "oS
sure whether he met Wilkerson on the
sixth or seventh step from the pottoIn
of the stairs. But Bragg said IL was
an exciting moment and ne olun
| take notes on the details. Laying
iaside these little lapses of memory on
1 detail the state found but little in
Bragg's testimony that brought JOY
to the prosecution. In fact there has
seldom been an inexperienced witness
| in a Shawnee county court VINO mas
r-Nir a -
inal story more consistently than
Bragg.
one of the last acts of the defense
was to follow up the impeachment OF
Frank Snoddy. star witness FOR the
state Already several witnesses had
told of Snoddy's conflicting state
ments Even the young mans father
thad been called to the stand. He told
the jury that the boy related to him
1.-THE remark of Wilkerson that he
would give a dollar to anyone Mno
would whip Bragg, or he would whip
him himself. Snoddy had repeatedly
denied this statement on the witness
stand.
The last witness called in the i'm
peachment was Mrs. Nora Patton. She
was at the fatal dance in Silver Lake
She saw Wilkerson that night and
after the shooting talked with Frank
Snoddy.
What did Snoddy tell you?" asked
w. E Atchison.
HE said he heard Frank say ht
would give anyone dollar who would
whip Dave Bragg that nigh. and if nc
one wanted it, he would whip hin
himself.
What else was said by Snoddy?''
He said he didn't intend to tell any
one about what Frank said. as h'
wanted Bragg to be sent up as Ions
as possible
Did you see Frank Wilkerson tina
night?''
II did
Tell if he was intoxicated
well, I smelled liquor on his breatl
and thought he was Intoxicated. H
acted very much as he did on forme
occasions when he had drank to-
5 much"
With this testimony the defens
rested. Several witnesses were thel
called in rebuttal by the state. Thei
: testimony was short and shortly afte
. a o'clock Judge Dana adjourned court
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