The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-14
HIS WIFE'S STORY.
1t Hurts Gibbs and Brother in Ross
vile Fire Case.

1t Hurts Gibbs and Brother in Ross
vile Fire Case.
That George and Levi Gibbs had it
in for Mr.. Guth, of Rossville, because
he had garnisheed the wages of one of
them for a debt. and that she heard
both men deliberately planning to burn
out the Guth & Ohlfest mercantile
store at Rossville to get even,'' was
the testimony this morning given by
Mrs. Belle Gibbs, wife of Levi in the
case in which both men are charged
with burning several business houses
at Rossville.
At the beginning of her testimony
Attorney. Tinkham Veale for the de-
PENDANTS, objected on the ground that
wife could not testify against her
husband. The court held, however,
that the wife might claim the exemp-
ton and be immune, but that no one
else could claim it. Mrs. Gibbs was
perfectly willing to testify, so was al
lowed to proceed.
During the hearing it developed that
the family relations between Mrs.
Gibbs and her husband had not been
the best, but that they had quarreled
on numerous occasions, and she charS-
ed that he has not been supporting
her.
1T was two or three days before the
fire that George and Levi Gibbs sat
in our house and talked about Guth
having garnisheed Georges wages"
the woman testified. George said he
would get even with him if he had to
burn the store and that other teller"
referring to her husband, said you bet
we will.
She said they went out into the yard
to finish their plotting and that she
followed them a ways, and then went
back into the house.
Was Levi at the house the night of
the fire?" was asked.
He was not"
when did he go away?"
Just after noon the day of the fire
he said he wanted to go to Rossville
on business
when he returned die you ask him
how the fire started?'
No, 1 didn't
Why"
"'Cause every time I asked him any
thing he'd cuss me-
You asked him to go to work?''
Yes, 1 told him we were on starva-
What did he say?''
He said he didn't need to work, that
he had plenty"
On cross-examination the woman a1-
mitted she and her husband have had
trouble ever since two years after Their
marriage. She says they were married
eleven years ago yesterday.
Yesterday was Your anniversary
asked Veale.
mo, it wasn't nothing" snapped the
witness.
You and Levi have had lot of trou
bic, haven't your
Yes, indeed
Have his folks been trying to coax him
away from your
Il don't want any of them returned
the witness. They amt any OF 'em
wor having.
Were you having. trouble with him ar
the time of the fire p
No. I wasn't having trouble with him,
he was having trouble with me-
Did George and Levi have any money
after the fire.
Il don't know, only what they said.''
Did you see any of the money!
10, they didn't give any
The witness said that numerous o.
easions she had heard the Gibbs brothers
threaten to kill Guth and also City Mar
shall Has1ett of Rossville. and knew they
had it in for the whole bunch
This afternoon the mother and daughter
of the states witness this morning viii
tell what they know of the alleged pIo>
to burn the store. They said to have
been in the room and heard the same
p.otting as that heard by Mrs Gibbs.