The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-08

sas to find home. He said that wiki
erson himself had told Bragg that he
was bad man. Then when the trou-
Bile arose. Bragg avoided meeting Wilk-
erSon and the day of the dance tele-
phoned Miss Patton, asking her to go
to Topeka with him. But she insisted
they should attend the dance. Atch-
ison's statement was followed closely
by the jury
After Wilkerson's affair with Miss
Patton had ended, he turned his at
tentions to Matte GlideweIl She was
the first witness called for the defense
did you keep company with Frank
Wilkerson for some time before his
death?" asked Schenck.
"I did,
Did he ever talk to you about David
Bragg?"
Yes. Several times"
Tell, if you can, just what he said"
I'VE were buggy riding one evening,
perhaps two or three weeks after
Christmas 1 told Frank I would like
to go see Dea Patton some evening.
Frank said he. would, too. L told him
he had better stay away or Dave would
get after him. Then he used an oath
and said, I will kill him if he ever fools
with me-"
The witness said she thought Wilker-
son was joking, but testified that
Wilkerson always referred to his rival
with a generous display of profanity.
She had several times heard Wilkerson
threaten OF whip Bragg, but never told
the defendant of these conversations.
Then Miss Patton was called and
after a few preliminary questions, the
court took a recess to listen to cita.
tions of legal points.
Prosecution Rests.
With the testimony of two eye wit
nesses-Frank Snoddy and Charley
Owens-the state rested its case
against David Bragg for the killing
of Frank Wilkerson. Both of the wit
nesses gave damaging testimony for
the prosecution.
Owens was on the steps with Will
kerson when they met Bragg. AS
they passed, Wilkerson said some
talking to Frank Snoddy, who was
near the top of the stairs in the dance
hall. Bragg asked Wilkerson if he
was speaking to him. Wilkerson
him whenever he desired. Then the
witness told the details of the shoot
ing.
Bragg continued to walk down the
stopped on the same step he had
met Bragg He was perhaps five
or six steps from the bottom. I
walked up four or five steps, walking
sideways and waiting for Frank. /
| did not see Frank hit or kick Bragg
and think I would have seen it, had
| anything occurred. saw Bragg reach
the door. then turn and begin shoot
ing. Both men, said something just
before the shooting, but, L couldn't
On his cross examination Owens ad-
mitted that it was very dark in
/ the hall. He was also not certain
but that Wilkerson could have struck
knowledge. Then the defense took
the witness over the. details of the
right of the shooting. Owens told
of Wilkerson giving the boys whiskey
He also recalled that Wilkerson made
/ the statement that he would give a
dollar to any man who would wbfr
pave Bragg that night; and if no one
/ wanted the money, he would do the
job himself Still. the witness de.
cared, he did not expect trouble
| when the men met on the stairs
Snoddy's testimony was in strict ac.
! cordance with the statement OF
owens. But Snoddy was at the tor
of the stairs, looking down on a dark
not distinguish persons in the hall be.
low and was sure a blow might have
been struck without his seeing it. Peo.
pie We're dancing in the hall an6
Snoddy said that the noise of the or.
| chsstra and moving feet might have
drowned conversation between Brags
and Wilkerson. But Snoddy wa'
quite sure that Bragg went to tht
outer door, turned b1ck and shot hi.
victim. On cross examination Snod.
dy said he was keeping company
with sister of the murdered MAJ
but lid not believe this fact would
influence his testimony. Then The
defense asked Snoddy if Wilkorsor
mad not attacked him with knife or
! one occasion, but the answer was tax.
! en- from the jury.
c. A. Sloan, a reporter. told of E
| statement made by Bragg the night O.
his arrest- Bragg had stated that HI
put the gun in his pocket expectins
trouble with Wilkerson.
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