The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-23
Witness Against H0rseshOer
Charges Revolving Acts.
Wanted to Kill Stallion for
Livestock Insurance, He Said.
FED 1T CAPSULES OF LYE
Stabbed 1t With Sharp Irons
and Tried to Strangle 1T.
Informant Says He Was Offered
$50 for His Silence.

Sensational charges were made to-
day in the court of Topeka against
Jack McGivern, horseshoer, $50
Quincy street, in testimony by Elmer
Nelson witness for the state, at the
preliminary examination on charge
of torturing a stallion named Ma
ior." in which witnesses stated Nc
Givern owned a half interest Expert
veterinary testimony was introduced
and attorneys waged a legal battle
royal. The examination is beng
heard by Judge Fisher before a jury.
Nelson, the states witness, teSt1f1ed
to the effect that McGivern ran a sharp
pointed iron into the horses flank
about sixteen times, hit the animal
over the head with an eight or ten
pound hammer and fed it capsules
filled with I've.
Efforts were made by the state to-
day to show that McGivern devised
such a scheme to kill the animal in or
der to collect insurance which he held
on the animal in the Topeka Mutual
Live Stock Insurance company.
Elmer Nelson. on the stand this
morning, stated that he worked for
McGivern, ESQ Quincy street, at the
blacksmith shop from the latter part
of July until Christmas, 1914
1.-The horse was i'll good cond1tlon
when I first went there" said Nelson
land I noticed it falling off one or
two weeks before Thanksgiving.
Told of One Incident.
Nelson stated that he went into the
horses box stall about or 10 CLOCK
at night about two weeks before
Thanksgiving and that when he enter
ed the horse plunged at him.
Il quoted him. said Nelson, land
hit him with my hand to make him
stand over. My hand struck an iron
rod sticking in his side. McGivern was
in the ocrner CT the stall. He begged
me not to say anything and took me
into the office and told me what he
had DONE
Nelson testified that McGivern told
him that he had done the act in an eff
fort to collect the insurance on the an
imal.
He offered me $50 to keep STILL"
said Nelson.
THE next day." said Nelson. ''the
horse was weak and sick and it's left
flank was swollen
The witness claimed that McGivern
later tried to knock the horse in the
head. McGivern he said told him he
was unsuccessful because the horse
would not stand still, but broke loose.
Nelson said that McGivern also told
him about an attempt to hit the horse
on the leg in an effort to crack its leg.
Later said Nelson when the
what was the matter with it, and he
told me that he had tried to choke the
ANIMAL
The witness then stated that just
before Christmas McGivern gave the
horse seven I've capsules, and that for
two or three days the animal would
not eat.
The examination consumed today's
session of the court of Topeka. r. S.
Gregg, of the Live Stock Insurance
company, and DR.. o. D. Kneisley, a
local veterinarian, testified. The hear
ing probably will not be completed
until tomorrow.
In a statement today to a State
Journal reporter McGivern denied all
the charges placed against him. When
placed on the stand in his own behalf
he will testify to that effect.
1t is expected that the jury in the
case will be taken to the McGivern
place at $50 Quincy street this even
ing to examine the stallion and the
stall and surroundings in which it is
kept