The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-01-07
FIND MOTIVE FOR
MENZIE MURDER
PROSECUTION WILL sH0W THAT
DEPENDANT QyABRELLED
WITH MENz,h OVER
GAMBLING LAYOUT.
From lhursday,s Daily-

Wheeler, S. D.-The trial of Rob
ert Brooks for the murder of w. II.
Menzie and Miss Blanche Signal at
Geddes last April began yesterday
With the statement Of the prosecu-
ton. A jury was secured late last
night. Dr.. Fyle, who saw the bodies
shortly after their removal from the
burned Office, was the first witness
called. DIR. Efyle's evidence was in
had been no relations between Men
zie and Miss Signal, which might
have acted as a motive for a suicide
pact.
Frank Humphry, yard man for the
lumber company, occupied the stand
during the greater part Of the after
noon. He described the positions
Of the bodies and the finding of the
two CLAW hammers and the revolver
near the bodies.
1t is apparent the state will try to
show conspiracy and generalization
on the part of various interests and
individuals in this part of the DUN
try and that the murder was actual
ly committed by Brooks and other
gunner, who left the scene OF the
murder in an automobile shortly
after the alarm was given and the
lumber office found in flames and
that a false alibi was constructed TO
prove that he vas in Niobrara the
night of the murder.
Wheeler. S. D.-A motive for the
murder of w. II. Menzie, former
MANAGER OF the Farmers Co-Oper-
@aiVe' Lutnpei ollpais anu MS
nsalici'e otsiial' p~oohheepet u. .He
oiiIe ol me on Aptn -
WIZ oe p.ounceu a. .iie 'iiai o. NJ
ett r. niuohs' charssu WIN 'ne
uouole iiuruef' accorulhs 70 0eate >
a''ol1 ~ -. No ~ IN
nec.eu ~i.h .he p~ioseeulion so ial-
tnei ahu say e.luelpe u d oonsp'loos
wml ueseiop ihVoiylhs sGselal pei
sous VI ihteies's Meli hiioWh III
oo"'h Dano,a' tnu y II niuIuli
was e"ieiuHY piahieu anu an "Hpi
ifa,ieu IN auSaneV.
y. d. bech' Stdte > at'oiIes, yes
.elu iao ~ opeiliis - -,
W ohe I"i! ne'N - aSsisteu Wy I, =
WasHcl Vi eiouA J ans spie91li'il
we aNtoihss ssie'"l on.e1 -
aui.iVaA' VI oiouA Wy anu JONI
.ip'oh VI Heuues' "ie '''o'NesS ioi
h4oohs'
~ jury was mpi seven hol,ts
aitsh, court GoiSeiieu' ne lheh ~
mili .aeeioe .he caSe are hopeil w
W. "asHel. la.i'ed' '1nn rilan"tt /,
Waghef, 1armers =. -. ollrea1n'
lake Andes banker rfallh 1aie'
Hoe,iells, i"iiaet' 'usepn i,in
49,. 'euiister d '. M 49,
ria''e, Iaii..ei, ooo1S pulne' ~ w"s
hsl' iaiihsi' ~. iel1ison' 80
nei "a, - NIM.o" 81 uli..is sv 800
eins w 'o Iin 80, 81
,un nm nian, , ,@nsa H1urloo
nus nsillef' ''e Ma'oA'i"' Was
ner' 'iaiiiiel.
Nonii''.inS les.sn"nN.
ssn." az ~ g.. '''Sas ainoarana
Ia, $3.50 10 hni,a;nna ~ ~
mnicl cohslnAea 'ne puiiulnss or ,ie
wore seen 10 leaye tho mace. and mai
Brooks, the defendant, was later
seen in Platte, a short distance away.
The bodies OF Menzie and Miss
Signal were found in the ruins. The
heads of both had been crushed by
Blows with n hammer and a bullet
wound was found in MenZie's skull.
Both bodies were bound with wire.
a revolver, y chamber of which
had been fred was found near Men
zie. The latters hands were free;
the prosecution claims he freed them
by struggling.
The defense claims proof that
Brooks was in Miobrara, Neb., OF
the night of the murder.
Menzie. who was a radical reform
err. is said to have quarrelcd with
Brooks over a gambling layout,
which Brooks ran on the streets here
at an old settlers picnic. several
months prior to the crime.
Menzie also acquired some active
enemies in a bitter legal fight against
the so-cailed South Dakota lumber
trust. Several persons of wealth
were heavily fined in the state courts
as a result of Menzie's activities.
lived in Stony CITY.
SIS. p.a. +;ao /,
- ts. paa1aS ho.ol hana Nm
Maitress ~, 'ie iaaies N.Y. hels
ti ,eeeh.S s."seu ~ pnoal.s
no.ei ~ olouA M ~, 800 III, ~. -