The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-04
LOOKED STRONG, SEAT0N SAYS
Governors Parole Clerk Tells
of Mrs. Vests Actions.
Claims She Didn't VOmit or
Cry in Private Office.
WROTE ONLY TWO LETTERS
Hodges Turned Correspond
ence Over to Sam SeatOn.

Defense Witnesses Feature OF
Fourth Day Events.
Two eve witnesses to the scene in the
governors private office-Ad5utant
Csneral charles I. Martin and 2. G.
uonkins-today testified for the de-
tense in the West-Hodges damage sun
and denied that Governor Hodges
struck the plaintiff. Mrs. Lucia west.
Roth denied that the governor seized
the woman's hand or Wrist. Nei'iei
saw Mrs. West cry. Their stories were
sirect contradictions Of the statements
nv tho plaintiff and her companion.
Mrs. Laura Buckwalter.
The testimony of the two men in the
governors office at the time of the al
legged encounter, was easily the feature
of the days proceedings in the $z,SlO
damage suit against Governor Hodges.
As the men told their story, the IL
Jurors leaned forward in their chairs
and listened attentively to the testi-
mony Both witnesses were cool ana
deliberate and told in simple language
without contradiction. the incidents
surrounding the visit OF the TWO woH-
General Martin, VINO was present
during every minute of the alleged as
sault upon Mrs. West, was one OF the
most important witnesses Tor the oe-
fense. His deposition had been pre-
yiously taken in anticipation or the call
ing of the Kansas troops to Mexico. On
the stand today, Martins story dove
tailed in almost every minute detan the
testimony he had given before q notary
public several weeks ago. z. G. Hop
III, oor rnnnrfar
counter when Mrs. West carried copies
of the Dobbs letters from the COVER
nor's office. He was not, however,
witness to all Of the incidents in the
office.
Martins Cross Examination.
Cross examining General Martin
this afternoon, Otis Hungate asked:
Did you hear the governor request
the letters?"
Winess said he did not. Neither
did he hear Mrs. Buck> liter tender
them to him.
"What else was said, further than
you have related?"
Only a Hired Man.
MRS. Buckwalter said, You are
our hired man. We have right to
these letters 1 think she said,
These are copies OF papers that MT.
said, Mr. Seaton had no right to give
them to you"
"When Mrs. West grasped the pa
pers, did the governor seem to grasp
papers also, or to hold them down?'
Held them down."
when she brought them up with
her right hand did the governor use
one or both Of his hands,"
zone hand
''While they were there with the
papers, was Mrs. Vests body and side
ntct trYrcf
mo, SIR
"Could you see Governor Hodges
right hand and shoulder"
Eyes, sir"
jolt to Plaintiffs.
This statement was a severe jolt to
the plaintiff, whose attorneys sought
to show that Governor Hodges might
have struck Mrs. West without Gen.
eral Martin seeing it.
did the governors fingers touch
Mrs. Vests fingers?" asked Hungate.
Don't think so. Is barely possible
think So"
Ibid you hear Mrs. West say any
thing as she took hold of the papers %
mo. SIR
Ibid you see Mr.. Hopkins during
this scene?"
mo, SIR"
you didn't see Hopkins out in the
other room?"
Didn't see him.
Colonel Rain on Stand.
Col r. Neal Rain, quartermaster
general in the adjutant generals Of
nee, corroberated the story Of Adju-
tant General Martin regarding the
visit of Mrs. West to the Office.
''What did Mrs. West say?" asked
/. N Hawkes., referring to the plain
tif's visit.
"She came in and asked for Gener-
al Martin and asked If he was on the
governors staff"
'Was she crying?"
Didn't see her cry"
ibid she appear ill?"
ssNo"
''Tears in her eyes"
didn't see any"
Plaintiff complained OF her hand
having been injured by the governor
said Colonel Rain. General Martin
asked to see the hand. She refused
to show it. Colonel Rain followed
the women into the hall. He watched
the women as they stopped at G. A
r. headquarters. Mrs. West did not
vomit at that time, said Colone
Rain, in contradiction Of the EVIL
dence Of the two women.
did you notice anything that in
dicated Mrs. West was sick?''
did not
Did you pay any particular atten-
tion to Mrs. West?" asked Hungate II
cros0-examiuation.