Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-23
ANDREW J.. WHITE TAKES STAND
IN NOW FAMOUS klMMEL
INSURANCE CASE.
ACCUSES ATTORNEYS OF
ADDING TO oEPoslTioNs
Fails to Remember what ne Told
Lawyers in 19o8-Asks That Deposi.
ton Rs Withhold - il Shows Him in
q Bad Liaht-Nervous Man Becomes
Defiant Under Gross Examination.

the kimmel claimant, who for five
years has declared himself to be
George A. Kimmel. former Arkansas
City, Kan. bank cashier. made that
time in the Kimmel Insurance suit to-
day
While sitting in the witness chair he
faced Mrs. Estelle Kimmel. who he
ated him before jury few days ago.
Mrs. kimmel gazed keenly at his face
but he did not return her look.
Dispositions bearing on the suit were
being read when the claimant entered
the court room. When his name was
called he went to the witness chair
and addressing Federal Judge Amidon
said:
Judge, I'm nervous this morning
and hardly in condition to stand this
ordeal"
DO the best you can" said Judge
Amidon. "and don't be afraid"
The claimant said he would like to
have a physician examine him but
Judge Amidon said he thought that
was not necessary. The claimant gave
his name az George Alfred kimmel
said he was brother Of Edna kimmel
Bonflett, and son of ]. Estele Kim
mel His direct examination ended
at this point.
Defiant Rathor Than Nervous.
On cross examination he seemed de-
fiant rather than nervous. His an
swers were sharp and snappy. He was
asked abont his deposition which he
gave in Auburn prison in 1908. He
testified he did not remember the date
and that he told the attorneys when
the dispositions were taken that he was
not competent to testify. He accused
the attorneys Of having put data in
the dispositions that he did not say.
He testified in reply to questions
that he was not able to recall any part
of the dispositions he gave In prison.
Many statements in the depositions are
opposite the sworn testimony given by
other witnesses.
1T is unfair to read that deposition
before the court" the claimant said.
Because it shows me up in false
light. The reading Of 1t shows man
who was not mentally strong. All my
memory was practically a wreck"
Kinnoll Tells Of Abuse.
The Kimmel claimant story OF an
attempt to drug, imprison and finally
to murder George A. Kimmel. because
of his refusal to buy stolen express
bonds in Arkansas City. Kan. in 1898.
was told to the jury in the United
States district court by William P
Lardner. OF Duluth Mimi. a witness
for the defense
Lardner said tho story which he re-
peated was told to him by the Kimme'
claimant when he visited Auburn. n
Y. prison In 1909. He referred to the
claimant as George A. Kimmel. The
story was the first attempt which has
been made by the defense to supply a
motive for the abuse to which the
claimant says he was subjected
"He told me that a man. introduced
by a letter from his uncle" testified
the witness. asked him to buy stolen
express bonds. When he refused ne
was ordered to Kansas city where he
was called from a hotel and taken to
a roominx house by the man who called
for him.
"ffe became Ill thru drink his uncle
gave him and the next he remembered
was that he was In st. Louis He
escaped from his captors. but was over :
taken on the streets by three men VINO
had kept him In a room.
"One OF the men cut his thumb OH
with a knife, another Knocked him
down with a club and left him Tor
dead on the street. Somebody found
hin, and sent him to a hospital where
he was a patient for two months
when he got we'll his mind was az
fected.
He said that he went from ST
Louis to various cities. thence 10
Niles, Mich. where he saw his mother
and afterwards travelled In many coun-
tries"
Lardner in his testimony identified
the claimant as Kimmel whom ne
knew In boyhood and related how the
claimant recognized him At the prison
Johr M. Shetland. identification ex-
nert Of the Auburn prison. showed by
means OF photographs the resemblance
which he said existed between Kimmei
and tho claimant. Tho only difference
the witness testified was in the ears
those Of the claimant being a minutest
fraction longer than Kimmers. He ex-
pressed the opinion that the two pic
-