The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-19
IS READY TO HANG
DIR. Elan Expresses No Desire
to Make q Defense.
Charged With First Degree
Murder by the Coroner.

Kansas ClIyr NON. 4U."OHs w AAAA6SAAA
T. Elam of st. Joseph, Mo-. was
charged today with murder in the first
degree after a coroner's inquest into
the death of w. Putnam Cramer of
Chicago, who was shot by DIR. Elam
in a room in a downtown hotel. after
doctor had for several weeks watched
the movements of Cramer and the
doctors wife. John Torpey, a hotel
detective, testified at the inquest that
when he went to the room with DR..
Elan, and found Cramer dead on the
floor, Dr. Elam told him that he had
bought an automatic pistol Just be-
fore leaving St Joseph and had come
down here to get Cramer." c. A. Will
liarrs, the policeman who arrested DIR.
Elan, testified that the steel bullet
fired by DIR. Elan passed through
Cramer's chest and through the back
of a chair in which the victim was
sitting.
DR.. Elam was not called to the
stand. In a statement made at police
headquarters just before the inquest.
the doctor showed intense remorse. He
said: IT do not believe there was
anything improper in the relations be-
tween Mr.. Cramer and Mrs. Elam.
The shooting was one of those acts
accomplished in a moment that wreck
the remainder Of a mans life. A man
never knows his weakness until the
test comes. If this matter comes to a
question OF showing WIouSuOIu8 Oh
the part Of my wife had rather be
hanged
Dr.. Elan added: when I went to
that room I thought l had absolute
control Of myself, then" The doctor
snapped his fingers and made a ges-
what happened inside Of the
room?"
Il don't want it to appear that I'm
unwilling to talk" he replied. 81
realize that there is a certain interest
here and the community Is entitled to
know certain things. But there is no
need of going into what happened in
the room. It's done. My life is
wrecked and that ought to end it.
You will do me a favor If you do not
The doctor then was asked as to
employing counsel and what his de-
fense probably would be.
II have not any interest whatsoever
in the future" he said.
''Nothing is further from my mind
than to commit suicide" Elam said.
"I am involved in enough trouble al
ready without adding any more such
acts to my record"
Story of the Quarrel.
The story of what passed between
Cramer and DR.. Elan, when the two
were in the room alone together at the
hotel Immediately before the killing
was related to a reporter for the Star
this afternoon. Elan and Cramer
went up on the elevator together with
out a word. Cramer unlocked the
door. Elam entered ahead Of him.
Cramer sat down. at the same time Of
fering Elam a chair. ELAN refused
it. Nervously he walked across the
room, 1T want to know the truth, :"
Elan said.
TT has been a bad misunderstand-
ing" Cramer began. 1T has been
simply a harmless filtration. indis-
Greet I admit, but harmless, I assure
clam was still walking about the
room. Cramer sat in the chair. He
was perspiring slightly, but in
steady voice told the story. Elan nod
ded his head from time to time.
Cramer said he was telling simply
what had happened.
you lie," shouted E1am suddenly,
his nervous walk stopping with Jerk
as he confronted Cramer. You lie.
I want the whole truth and must
have it." Cramer sprang to his feet
anerily and he headed for the door. -.
Il won't talk to you any longer
Cramer said, "I won't stay In room
and let any man talk to me like that.
He walked to the door. ELAN wheeled
toward him. "Sit down." he command
ed. "Sit down."
A revolver flashed from Elam's pock-
ct. Looking into the revolver Cramer
backed step by step, into his chair
Elam stood over him. The revolver was
pointed at Cramer.
You tell - me the
truth damn you," Elan said. "Tell
| me the truth"
Cramer sat still.
Just then the revolver went OF. Cra-
| mer rolled from the chair, his should
ers and head slipping under the bed.
| Elan felt his pulse. He saw the man
was dying. He walked downstairs and
| said: I've done 1t"
| Elam's defense, when his case is
| tried, will be that the revolver went
off accidentally-that he did not intend
I to shoot.
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