The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-03


grounds for the impeachment of Mrs.
Laura Buckwalter of Wichita, when he
cross-examined her regarding testi-
mony which she had given in the Trial
of a case in Sedgwick county. It is
the plan Of the defense in the damage
suit to impeach Mrs. Buckwalter on her
isworn testimony given in the trial of
a libel suit against members OF the
Universalist church.
As Mrs. Buckwalter took the witness
stand this morning. Attorney McKeever
produced a transcript of the testimony
in the Cniversalist church libel suit.
Mrs. Buckwalter had previously tessi-
fed that she was not and had not been
a member of the Universalist church.
Later she had admitted that she re-
ceived letter from the church board
expellfng her from membership.
Libel Suit Against Church.
Because Of her expulsion, she brought
suit against church leaders for libel.
In the trial Of that case. Mrs. Buckwal-
ter testified she was a Universalist and
had been a member of the church for
several months. 1t is because of the
alleged contradictory statements in the
libel suit and in the Hodges case, that
attorneys for Governor Hodges will seek
to impeach Mrs. Buckwalter's testi-
mony.
| Said She Didn't Join.
Are you sure you never joined the
Universalist church?'' McKeever asked.
Il did not Join that church." was the
answer.
did you make this statement in a
former trial against Universalist church
join the Universalist church?' And
did you answer In A. o. U. w. hall?' -
asked McKeever.
IT did not mean that Joined the
| church,
Were you asked in that trial, How
long were you member? and did you
answer. Just a few months"
Il didn't mean that was a Univer-
salist."
Were you telling the truth when you
| said you we're a member of the church
| in that trial in Wichita?''
II didn't join the church," persisted
the witness. Il just worked with
| them"
McKeever's Crossfiring.
At the opening of the morning ses-
sion, Mrs. Laura Buckwalter, Mrs.
Vests companion, was still on the
witness stand. Her gril1ing crossex-
animation Of nearly q half day had
not been concluded and Ed McKeever
resumed the task of dragging from
! the Wichita woman the details Of her
| flee in April. McKeever spent ten
minutes asking Mrs. Buckwalter ques-
tions about the places visited by the
| two women after the alleged attack in
the governors Office. They spent
some time in the state house, went to
two doctors offices and to the office of
E. r. Simon, a lawyer. At 5 o'clock
more than six hours after the alleged
attack--Mrs. West went to her room
at Fourth and Kansas avenue.
did you go to lunch that day?"
asked McKeever.
mo, sir"
"Ride the street cars?"
mo. sir"
Did Mrs. West lie down to rest?"
mo. Her shoulder hurt too badly"
when did you go to Hutchinson"
1.-The following night"
Take a Putnam"
NO"
You mean to tell the jury that this
woman was SO sick she vomited
and leaned on your arm, and yet you
| had been from II o'clock in the morn
| ing until in the evening running UP
| and down the streets, up and down
stairways, to doctors and lawyers Of
| fees and showed her red spot to four
doctors, two lawyers. the attendants
| out at the Hutchinson reformatory and
to a newspaper reporter" demanded
! McKeever.
I'VE didn't run up and down the
street." replied Mrs. Buckwalter with
feeling. And didn't say all OF that.
either
Attorneys on Their Feet.
Did you receive a letter of which
this is a copy?" asked McKeever. sud
denly changing his course.
Yes, 1 did," said Mrs. Buckwalter,
| looking at an exhibit. Attorneys for
the plaintiff were on their feet object
ing. The letter was a copy of one
mailed to the witness stating that she
had been expelled from the Univer-
salist church. Mrs. Buckwalter de-
MED that she was or had been a Uni
versalist, but admitted receiving the
! letter on which she said she later
based a suit for damages. After a
heated controversy between the at
torneys, the letter was admitted.
jury. 1t stated that Mrs. Buckwalter
! had been expelled for conduct unbe-
| coming a Christian Mrs. Buckwa1-
ter stated that she was Methodist.
| A Shrewd Witness.
| Leaving the controversy over the
salist church, Mr.. McKeever returned
to the testimony in the Sullivan case
| and laid further grounds for the i'm
! peachment of Mrs. Buckwalter. The
lawyer and the witness furnished
| lively half hours entertainment for
the crowd in the court room as they
badgered each other regarding the
! testimony introduced to convict the
man for whom the woman sought a
pardon.
Mrs Buckwalter was a shrewd.
| cunning witness. Time after time she
lodged McKeever's questions only to
| argue a .oint to the jury regarding
| some alleged point in the case tried
| in Wichita This cross fire of Ques-
tiOns and answers added spice to the
hearing and the running fire of Ques-
tions and answers was interrupted by
| numerous objections from plaintiffs
| counsel.
Now about that church communi-
cation" asked McKeever, did you
answer it?"
Il don't remember"
You wrote and asked them for q
letter, didn't you?"
| Yes If thew considarad ma