The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-15
CAN'T BE FOUND
Georgia Cooper, Witness in
Gillett Case, Gone.
Her Loss Is a Blow to the
State.

Georgia Cooper, a star witness for
the state in the Gillett blackmailing
cases, is missing. Process servers
have been looking for the girl for a
week and it is believed that she has
left town.
The Cooper girl is an orphan. She
is IL years old and formerly lived in
Holton. Three months ago she came
to Topeka. After the arrests in the
Gillett cases, the girl made an affi-
davit in which she said that she was
the intended dupe for Charlotte
Thomann and Detective Medlock in
a scheme to blackmail a Valley Falls
man. The case dove-tailed the alleg-
ed operations in the Gillett case and
the girl was wanted as witness next
week. Now she cannot be found.
After coming to Topeka, the Cooper
girl is said to have worked in local
hotels and restaurants. For a time she
stayed at 716 Monroe, then she rOomed
for a few weeks in the Keith block.
Recently she moved to 402 Monroe, but
left this address two weeks ago.
Friends of the girl in Topeka state that
she has not been seen for a week. The
loss of the girl as a witness will be
seriously felt by the state, as her testi-
mony was considered the strongest of
corroborative evidence. While attorneys
for the state today admitted that the
girl cOu-d not D0 IOunO, In0y O0c1ned
to discuss her disappearance. Service
has been secured on all of the other so
witnesses for the state.
Last night principals in the case be-
gan to arrive in Topeka. Judge Pres
ton B. Gillett, of Kingman. complain
ant in the criminal libel suit against
E. G. Wilcox, Corey Black, H. G. Med
lock, Charlotte Thomann and H c.
Ericsson, came to Topeka yesterday
J. N. Tincher, of Medicine Lodge, is
also here. Today c. E. Bisbee, Burns
detective who worked on the case, ar
rived to attend the trial.
In the court room during the trial
will be many prominent Kansas law
yers. Among the attorneys to arrive in
Topeka today to attend the trial were
T. A. Noftzger, of Anthony, former
state senator; Fred Washbon, of An
thony; Dell w. Travis, of Pratt; Judge
Charles Lobdell, of Great Bend; Peck"
Day, of Kiowa county; Seward o. Field,
Samuel Griffin and G. NJ. Barber OF
Medicine Lodge. None of these attor-
neys will take an active part in the
trial of the case. Several of them are
subpoenaed as witnesses by the state
and G. NJ. Barber is subponaed by the
defense. Attorneys Field and Griffin are
interested in the trial of the Wilcox
disbarment case and are here to hear
the evidence in the libel suit. Judge
Frank Gillett, of Ell Reno, Ok, a broth
er OF preston B. GlileIt, is among the
early arrivals. Judge Frank Gillett
was formerly member of the supreme
bench of Oklahoma and in an early day
practiced law in Kingman county
At the hotels today, there has been
much speculation as to the probable
line of defense to be sprung by Will
cox, county attorney of Harper county
From the few witnesses summoned for
the defense, it has been assumed by
the state that the men will testify
mainly as to the good character of the
defendants. Other witnesses may be
called for the defense next week, but
their line of testimony has been careful
" safeguarded. Major A. NJ. Harvey
who is conducting the defense. re-
turned last night from Cincinnati.