The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-14
HER REASON GONE

of Olsen.
Olsen viii not go onto the stand to tes-
, tlfy in his own behalf.
Story of Brutal Murder.
Weeping ON the witness stand as she
described the killing of her husband, Wal
4 ter NeWfarmer, by TONY Olsen, a
man nearly twice his weight and much
| larger, Mrs. Walter NeWfarmer, the
| star witness of the state In the murder
case here, has finished telling her story
to the jury. Every detail and incident
that happened in the house occupied
by Newfarmers and Olsen was taken up
| by the woman and clearly explained.
The defense instead of trying to break
down her story tried to strengthen it
and show that insanity was to blame
| for the killing.
Mrs. Newfarmer told about the i'm
proper advances made to her by Olsen
the Wednesday before the killing, how
she had repulsed him and had not told
| her husband because she feared it might
cause trouble. Olsen. she said, admit
ted that this was the reason he had
| discharged her husband from his en-
ploy.
Child Pleads for Fathers Life.
4 According to her story, after Olsen
| had seriously injured her husband and
she was trying to stop the flow of blood
| Olsen. drove her away and struck her
husband % or 80 times with a corn
farmers little daughter stood by and
pleaded with her father, then breath
| ing his last:
/ please papa, don't die"
Mrs. Newfarmer herself was threat
! ened when she tried to interfere The
| dying man pleaded for his life but no
| word touched the heart of the maddened
ranchman who rained blow after blow
upon his former employee, stopping only
| when he saw the last spark of life
| had left his victims body.
| J. G. Waters, of the defense, cross
| questioned the witness, but instead of
1 down Testimony a
she had given it, only brought out
more clearly the story already related
| and emphasized the horribleness of the
/ killing. He pictured Olsen as a crazed
man killing his assailant while the
| wife and child begged him to spare
| their husband and father. At this point
in the questioning there were very
The state closed its case with wit
! nesses, Sheriff W. E. Carr, Undersherin
/ Henry TOrgeson, and George w. Par
ker. The bloody clothing of Olsen and
! Newfarmer were brought before the
court AS to whether the defendant will
be placed upon the stand, has not been
| stated.
The story told by Mrs. Newfarmer
waiter was working for Olsen. We
went there either the 2Sth or 29th of
February. We were there until 28th
Monday. Walter and Olsen were
friendly as far as I know. had new
| er heard of there being any personal
! trouble between them.
ut was on Saturday night that /
| learned that Olsen had fired Walter.
| 1 learned it from Tony Olsen himself.
They we're both at home for supper.
understood that they were going to
town and were going in Walters
buggy. They left together with Wal
ter's horse and buggy. They return
in first. left some groceries in the
kitchen and hung up Walters coat
and then went upstairs. Walter came
in In about two minutes did not
see Olsen any more that night. Olsen
got up about half hour before the
rest Of US arose. Walter and 1 got up
between and 6. Olsen came back
about or In the evening. He walk
horse. Father Newfarmer and I were
sitting on the porch
Quarrel Over Check.
after Olsen went to the barn the
boys came in to supper. Olsen re-
fused to discuss his remaining away
from home. After supper he did up
the work and Mr.. Olsen sat at the
table reading. As was our rule we
Mr.. Olsen retired first. Next morning
Walter asked Olsen for his pay and
Olsen refused 1t. saying that he would
not pay him until we moved Walter
replied. We'll see about that He
then went to the barn to hitch up his
horse Olsen sat down at the table
and wrote out the check and took it
down to the buggy and handed 1t to
Walter. Walter then drove away to-
wards Diamond Springs. Olsen then
came back to the house and stayed
only a few minutes He went down to
the barn and rode away on his horse
without saying where he was going.
He didn't return until about o'clock
in the afternoon.
About p. m. Olsen came into the
house. He asked for some shells for
the shotgun I asked him what he
wanted with them and he said, I am
going to shoot a steer that keeps
breaking out. was making apple
butter and had 1t on my hands and
went into the Mushroom to wash my
hands and he went into the pantry
and looked on the shelves. After he
came out of the pantry he went up
was pale. Hc was upstairs for 10 or
8 minutes. He was so quiet and did
not move around in his room any, and
was worried that something had
happened to him. so I went to the
door and called to him and said:
Tony, I would like to talk to YOU
few minutes if you have time.'e
Fears Woman Told Husband
He did not answer me and I went
on with my wor'-, and after while he
called to me ara said, Elsie. if you
want to talk to me come upstairs to my
ROOM I took the baby with me and
went upstairs. He was sitting on the
side of his bed I said, Il would like
to know what the trouble with Walter
is?" and he said nothing only that he
did not want him any longer He spoke
about me being a good friend Of his
and what good friends we had always |
been. He said he was in trouble and
crazy but / am thinking of doing some |
thing DESPERATE I told him to be ?