The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-18
TALKED TOO MUCH
HOrnbaker Told of Relations
With Mrs. MeEIheny.
State Tries to Establish Time of
Shooting.

PaoIa, June 1S-The first disin-
terested testimony that there was feel
ing of real devotion between Roscoe
Hornbaker and Mrs. Maude McElheny
was given today by Mrs Zelda Lewis,
former clerk in the Louisburg post
office, iE the Hornbaker murder trial.
The witness testified at the prelim-
mary hearing as Miss Zelda CroSSley.
but since has married.
Mrs. Lewis said Hornbaker fire.
quently spoke of Mrs. McElheny in
complimentary terms.
The witness said Hornbaker showed
her a letter addressed in endearing
terms which he said was from Mrs.
McElheny. These events she said
were about year before the tragedy
She admitted she entertained a feeling
of i'll will against Hornbaker and that
except for Hornbakers remarks she
never knew of wrong relations be-
tween him and Mrs McElheny-
Only a few spectators were on hand
today when the trial of Roscoe Horn
baker was resumed. Attorneys for
clude their case before night. The de-
fense plans to place Hornbaker on
the stand as soon as the states testi-
mony is in.
Overheard Phone Call.
Mrs. Mamie E. Marley, formerly a
teacher m the LoIisburg schools teSti-
fled to overhcaring a telephone con-
verSation between Hornbaker and
Mrs. McElheny when the line to her
residence was crossed with that lead
ing to the McElheny home.
She testified that Hornbaker told
Mrs. McElheny that he was going to
the country that day and wanted to
see her before he went. He told her
to send the children away. On her
repeated re-nonStrance he finally said:
Til be down there in fifteen or
twenty minutes. Have he children
away when L arrive Mrs. Marley
testified.
Mrs. Marley said she heard the click
of a receiver followed by the mans
repeated Hello with an exclamation
the other receiver was clicked.
Mrs. Marley said she had often
heard the same voices over the wire
but credited them to a pair of children
in an advanced stage of infatuation.
G. H. CroSSley, night station agent
at Louisburg, testified that soon after
the murder, Hornbaker remarked to
him that he believed they were trying
to connect him (Hornbaker) with the
murder. Crossley said he attached no
significance to the remark at the time.
David Wilson testified that he and
Hornbaker sat up all night with the
body of the slain man the night of the
murder and Hornbaker left the house
to get some oil for a stove. He said
he noticed the next morning that the
tub, placed over the supposed tracks
of the murderer had been removed.
L. c. Boyle, of Hornbaker's defense.
asked what became of the tracks of
the man who overturned the tub and
the supposed murderer's
tracks.
1t had occurred to no one to look,
was the testimony.
Time of Murder Puzzles State.
The hour of the shooting of
George McElheny. former Louis
burg postmaster, with whose muir
der Roscoe Hornbaker is charged,
xr-I,5 5oI,
sought to solve in the minds of
the jury at the afternoon session of
Hornbaker's trial here Thursday.
Edgar Hand, night telephone operator
at Louisburg, testified that Mrs. Nc
Elheny called foT DR.. J. w. Kelly at
a bout 10 o'clock. After this learning
of the tragedy the operator after put
ting through the call to DIR. Kelly,
answered an inquiry concerning the
sound of the shotgun, called his own
home and then called Hornbaker's
home.
The latter answered the telephone