The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-17

| OF their two preemptory challenges.
while the defense used eight of their
twelve challenges. Odds favored the
| defense in the selection of a Jury In
| the case the state was allowed but two
Challenges, while four were permitted
for each of the three defendants II
was agreed that all of the three de-
I PENDANTS should be tried at this time
cases against Detective H. C. MedIock.
OF Topeka, and Charlotte Thomann. r
Summerfeld, will not be called until
the september term of court
Around the counsePs table was
gathered an array of widely known
lawyers. For the state appeared Comfy
Attorney E. r. Simon his assistant
James Mcclure, Harry j. Bone. United
States district attorney, and + N
11ncher, of Medicine Lodge. a former
law partner of Chester 1. Long. Conn
SCI Ior tne defense is of equal promi-
nence. Capt. Joseph s. Waters took
cnarse OF the examination of taIismen-
Other attorneys for the defense are:
Jonn g Waters, Major A M Harvey.
John e. Addington and ]. H. Warfie.
All Defendants Present.
All of the five defendants in tha
sensational ,.e action were in the court
room early. Charlotte Thomann
smiled pleasantly as she talked in a
low undertone to H. c. Medlock. the
detective who is to be tried with her
at the September term Durinp the
morning recess, Mrs. Thomann walked
to the seat occupied by Leta Foster
and her father. She greeted the vounr
country girl pleasantly, but the state,s
star witness did not appear to return
the familiarity. A few minutes later
Foster and his daughter left the court
room.
In the selection of a jury. it was
not necessary to draw a special venire.
by agreement jurors not engaged in
Judge Dana's division, were sent to
Judge Whitcomb's court and a jury
was selected with but two names re-
naming on the regular panels.
AT the afternoon session. Harry /
Bone outlined the case for the state.
He reviewed the affidavits made bv
Medlock, Ericsson. I1eta Foster ana
Mrs. Thomann, recited that their con-
tents had been repeated and publish
ed with view of compelling a COM
promise in a disbarment case against
WILCOX Then he charged that Black
and wilcox were behind the deal to
blacken the character of the King
man county jurist and that the Aft
davits made in Topeka in February
this year were false and that their
falsity was known by the principals
at the time the papers were signed.
Eaton First Witness.
The states first witness was r. w.
Eaton. 1t was Eaton who establish
ed the publication of the libel In
Shawnee county, but connecting only
Ericsson of the present list of defen-
dants.
Ericsson, Medlock, Leta Foster
and Mrs. Thomann came to my office
on February TO- the witness said in
substance. They laid some affida-
Wits on my desk, and said they wanted
them Acknowledged. I read the pa
pers- AS 1 turned to them. I said
the charges here are mighty serious,
do you people know what you are
signing?' Mr.. Ericsson assured me
that the ydid. We have the goods on
him. Ericsson said in referring to
Judge Gillett."
Then all of the statements were ac-
knowledged, each person indicating
that they had full knowledge of their
contents and that the affidavfts were
true. On February 19, Ericsson and
Medlock returned to Eaton's Office.
made some alterations in their original
charges and again signed statements.
The Eaton testimony was considered
by the state one of the strong features
ian the prosecution of the three de-
PENDANTS. While it did not directly
connect Black and Wilcox. County At
torney Simon secured some of the
missing links in his own testimony. He
was the next witness on behalf Of the
prosecution.