The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-17
HIS NEICHB0RS
They Testify for Character of
Rev. Beers.
Wakarusa People Loyal to Old
Pastor.
WAS KIND and PATIENT
They Say in Treatment of His
Wife.
Said He Would Forgive Her
20 Times z.

his wife this morning. 1t was the same
old story. and practically the same
| questions were asked every witneS:
1 and the same answers given.
| From other witnesses who knew the
minister were drawn statements tha
| he fairly haunted the depot at Waka.
rusa at the time the evening trair
| from Topeka arrived there after Mrs
/ Beers had left last October.
| Il saw him at the depot half g
| dozen times. declared George R
Keel. 81 did not know what he was
| there for, but 1 could guess How
ever, he was not permitted to guess
During the morning Mrs. Phoebe ]
Nawter told of a conversation between
herself and the minister after his wife
had gone.
His manner toward her always was
kind and ccusideFate," she said, in
answer to que StionS. at must have
been two " eeks after his wife had left
he told me re needed her, and that
little Charles needed her.
IS I don't think I'd want her to come
back 1 said to him.
4 need her. he said, and she's
all right if the priests would only let
her alone.
Mr.. Nawter was standing near and
he said something about forgiving
people seven times, and Mr.. Beers
said. Yes, and l would forgive her
until seventy times seven
The witness admitted on cross ex-
am nation. did other witnesses, that
she had never seen Beers when he was
angry at his Wife and did not know
how he might act under such circum-
stances. She told of seeing scratches
and bruises on his face after his wife
left, as other witnesses have told
about, but declared Beers never spoke
ABOUT ther1 TO her. She said she talk
ed about the Sc marks after the tragedy
in Topeka
Keel. who told about seeing Beers
at the depot. was cross examined at
length regarding his knowledge of the
custom of Wakarusa people to be on
hand when trains come in.
Isn't it a fact that many people in
Wakarusa go to the depot as a matter
of course to see the trains come in? 90
he was asked.
THE loafers go down there" he an
swered.
Don't many people go there just for
the sake of seeing the trains come in?''
persisted Atchison.
mo. / don't think people go who don't
have business there except the loafers,
he answered.
Did you ever see Mr.. Beers when he
was angry at his wife," Atchison
asked.
NO, l never did"
You would not know then what he
might do or how he might act if he
were angry at herr"
NO, L cOuI0n say
Frank Leech a deputy sheriff under
Sheriff Norton, told of taking Beers to
view the body of his dead wife at
Bomgardner's undertaking parlors, and
declared he had fallen on his knees and
begun to cry when he caught sight of
the body.
You took Beers to the place where
his wife's body lay?'' was asked.
Eyes. I took him to Bomgardner's
chapel
Tell the jury what he did when you
reached there.
body he fell on his knees and began
Beers wept during this recital,
seeming to be overcome for few
minutes at the narrowing thoughts
that were awakened in his mind
The questions asked the character
witnesses" friends and neighbors of
the Wakarusa pastor, We're practlcaIIy
the same. The list included Z: W.
Smith. hotel keeper, Frank e Blood,
farmer, j. H. Foltz, farmer; Lewis G.
Stahl. lumberman; J. E. Pratt who
has lived in the vicinity of Wakarusa
for so years: c. NJ. Tomlinson, far
mer: ]. c. Blood, farmer; Will j.
Stewart, farmer: j. s. Jordan and Ell
mer E. Moran
After asking the name and bust
ness of each man the questions ana
answers invariably were:
ton of the defendant in Wakarusa and
for being peaceable, law
a hiding citizen ??
Il do
What is that reputation. good or
bad?"
1T is good"
The cross examination invariably |
was the same also.
Did you ever see Mr.. Beers with |
his wife when he was, for some cause, |
angry at herr"
No, sir
You do not know what his attitude |
might he in a case of that kind?"
No. sir.
And then Otis Hungate would ask, |
Did you ever hear it charged that /
Mr. Beers was inclined to be bad tenn
oered -
NO.
Did you ever hear it charged that |
le was violator of the law:
And invariably came the same. No"
Late in the morning several dentists
and physicians were placed on the |
stand in behalf of the defense, and by
hem the defense sought to prove that
10 outside agency was necessary fer I
he plate of false teeth which caused
Mrs Beers death to have lodged where
t was found.
DR.. George Port Ashton and DIR. J.
4. Solecki, dentists. declared the lower
,late is held for the most part by
.ravity. and that il is easily disiodg-
d They swore that the best fitting
,late may become illfitting after 1t has
,een worn several years, and the /
,ums shrink away from it They both
Ienied any personal knowledge of |
ase in which false teeth had been |
wallowed except when a person either
vas asleep, in commissions or in a
amt
Dr. Van Horn testified that in his (
pinion any unusual accident might oc-
aston the swallowing of false teeth,
nd declared the set found in Mrs.
seers' throat might have got there by
'eing swallowed. He also denied per- !