The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-02
KEC PARTY FATAL
James Hayden, Whose Skull
Was Fractured, Is Dead.
Story of Row Which Led to His
Being Slugged.
HE FURNISHED SANDWICHES
For Payment Empty Beer Mug
Was Hurled at Him.
Fled, but Afterwards Returned
and Was WayIaid.

Desire to pay for drink and refusal
| to pay for sandwiches led to the arrest
of five white men for the murder of
a negro, James Hayden, who died of
| fracture of the skull at Stormont hos
| p1tal last night. Bud Muir, "Fattie''
Bennett, Dave Williams, Mark Will
| liams and Jimmie Johns are in the
county Jail awaiting the result of the
coroner's inquest this afternoon. Each
denies striking the blow that killed
Hayden; only Muir and Johns admit
attending the party which ended so
fatally for the sandwich man.
Hayden, who lived at Lake and
F1tteenth streets, with his wife, met
his death in an attempt to collect 81
for ten fish sandwiches, sold at mid
night last Saturday. The quintet i'm
pl1cated in the crime are police char
acters who divide their time between
selling liquor and serving time for it
in the city Jail.
Everyone wanted to pay for the
foaming cup-nobody wanted to pay
for the sandwiches. Hard on Hayden
the result was the forfeiture of a
mans life.
escapade as told Tom Lillard, county
attorney, through the bars of the coun-
ty Jail:
Muir and Johns Looking for Trouble
Muir and Johns, looking for trou-
bic saturday night, called on Mrs.
Smoke" Williams, who promptly di-
yulged the whereabouts of a keg party
which was being celebrated with due
pomp east of the bail park. The two
men hailed a cab, hustled Mrs. Will
liams into it, and drove in state toward
the scene of festivity.
According to Muir. the party had
passed from hilarity to inebriety Half
a dozen men were sprawling about
on the grass-asleep. Muir and Johns
looked long on the cup and drained it
to the dregs.
who's going to pay for this party?''
drawled Johns.
Il WILL said Muir. He extracted a
bill from his pocket.
Take it back. boy,'' said Johns; and
tipped it impolite1y in his partners
face.
Whats the matter with it," growled
Bud It's not counterfeit is it?''
Jimmie responded by deliberately
aiming a goblet in the direction of
Buds forehead. The glass splintered.
Covered with blood, Bud rose, stagger-
in due time, arrested by one of Sher-
iff Kiene's deputies.
Hayden Came at Wrong Time.
1t was at this time that the unfor-
tunate Hayden arrived with his sand
wiches.
':Give US ten" ordered one of the
boys; that's a dollar; here's your
pay" And he pitched a glass at the
astonished sandwich man. Hayden
left for his home, dropping lantern
and hat in wild flight and screaming
as he ran. His wife met him at the
returning for his lost property. AS
the negro, followed by his wife, ap-
preached the scene of the debauch, a
man rose from the tall grass, dealt
a hlOw with hP9VU
strument, and kicked him viciously in
the face as he fell. Just who was that
man-there's the question that is puz-
zling the county officials.
Hayden's wife shrieked for help;
her mother and sister came to the
rescue. The three dragged the un-
conscious man to his home. He grew
steadily worse, was sent to Stormont
hospital Sunday night, and died there
this morning.
Be Arraigned for Murder
When the county attorney curtly in
formed the quintet they might be ar
raigned for murder with malice afore-
thought, four of them denied having
been present al the affair.
Il wasn't there said "Fattie" Ben |
net. sullenly. Il was in bed"
I'D gone home in the hack stated
Muir, passing hand over his
bandaged brow.
The two Williams boys, upon whom
a large amount of suspicion rests, de-
MED having been present and hinted |
about procuring an alibi.
81 was there, all right" admitted |
Johns but 1 wasn't near Hayden"
The shiriff's office is carrying on an
alert investigation. The inquest is to !
be held this afternoon. The quintet |
are in cells at the county Jail, await
ing the verdict of the coroner.
Three Suspects Released.
Three of the five men who were
held in Jail on suspicion that they
were connected with the assault which
caused the death of James Hayden |
were released late this afternoon. They
are Bud Muir, Bennett and Johns The
inquest on the death of Hay
den was postponed until tomorrow.