The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-27
Bloody BedclOthes Destroyed on
Police Chiefs Order.
Neighbor Saw Men Lurking
Near Mcdaniel Home.
"UNHAPPINESS" IS DiSPROVED
Husband of "WOman in Case"
Testifies for Mcdaniel.
States Case Shattered by Wit
nesses for Defense.

St Joe, MO, NOV. 2f.-lne uele-ise'
in the second day >of testin ony in be-
half of Prosecutor Oscar D. McDaniei
who is charged with having murdered
his wife, continued to attack, in the
criminal court here today, the states
theory that the accused man and his
" e had been unhappily married
The defense also sought to show
that bedding from the room in which
Mrs Mcdaniel had been attacked
was burned without the knowledge OF
the prosecutor. Testimony # Bernard
Goedecker, a travelling salesman ana
neighbor, was that the bedding had
been burned within two hours after
Mrs. McDaniels had died il. St. JOS
eph hospital. This was done upon
permission of the police authorities,
the witness said and probably with
out McDaniers knowledge.
Mr.. Goedeker told also of having
seen two strange men nes-r the prose
! cutors home two nights before the
murder. He watched them stink
behind a tree opposite the home and
expressed himself as fearing them be-
cause of the threatening letters NC
! Daniel had received. The defense
claims Mrs. Mcdaniel was murdered
by men who had been prosecuted by
: the accused man. Several witnesses
: were introduced and testified that the
Mcdaniel home life had been con-
genial
. MS. Krucker's ex-Husband Testifies.
Following the introduction of wit
nesseS who testified the accused man
, / and his wife had been happy, John
. Krucker, divorced husband of Mrs.
: Dagmar Krucker, was called to the
, stand by the defense. Krucker was
divorced the day Mrs. McDaniel was
murdered He described that he and
his former wife had been intimate
= friends of Mr.. and Mrs. MCDANIEL,
meeting them at outings and parties
several times week, for years.
How did they conduct them
selves ?" he was asked.
s"They seemed very congenial He
i said the accused man represented him
in the divorce proceedings; another Il
torney represented his wlfe, ne sald.
was there anything between YOU
and your wife in which MCDANIEL was
: mixed up?"
There was rot Krucker answered.
was there ever such a suspicion in
your mind or is there now?
NO" he answered.
t The state examined at length con-
cerning the divorce and brought out
the fact that it had been obtained the
same day Mrs. Krucker filed her petit
I ton.
, Mr.. Krucker went to tho Mcdaniel
home about 6 O'Clock the night the
, prosecutor wife was murdered to OBJ
tain possession of his child which Mrs.
$ Krucker had sent there.
= Advised Against Divorce.
Ibid not Mcdaniel advise your wife
s against a divorce ?" he was asked by
the defense.
Yes" Krucker answered
Mrs. Orestes L;tchell, wife of Mrs.
, Kruckers attorney followed Mr..
Krucker on the stand.
Mrs. Krucker came to the Mcdaniel
home the afternoon following the
y murder. Mrs. Mitchell said. Mrs.
: Krucker was there when Mrs Mitchell
: left at 9 o'clock that night and also
the next morning when Mr.. Mitchell
: returned to the home, the witness de-
Fclared.
Mr. Mitchell who is president of the
board of education, followed his Wife.
''McDaniePs grief seemed very real, -
; he said, telling of having seen the ac-
, cused man at the hospital before Mrs.
Mcdaniel died. He seemed to have
collapsed and lay on a cot.'
. Mitchell said he and several others
cleaned the room in which Mrs. Nc
Daniel was murdered. after having
heard she had died.
Mcdaniel viii Testify.
: Twenty-four witnesses having been
examined, it seemed possible that
either Mcdaniel or some of his imme-
diate relatives might take the stand
before the day is over.
!, Judge C. F. Stror head of the de-
: fense counsel has announced definitely
: that he intends to place the accused
prosecutor and his aged father, d. L.
Mcdaniel, one of the wealthiest farm
ers of Buchanan county, on the stand
before the defense rests. 1t also is
considered pre- BILE that the accused
prosecutors mother, who believes
: firmly in the innocence of her son
will be called to testify concerning the
: relations between Mcdaniel and his
/. wife.
Children Not Witnesses
! 1t was doubted, in view of declara-
: tions of defense attorneys, If any of
i the three Mcdaniel children-Helen,
Marion and Odell-would be summon
ed as witnesses. OdeH the ten-year-
Q old boy appeared in court for the first
7 time Saturday as did the prosecutor
J mother and sat beside his father
2 whose arm was around him most OF
|. the day.
i The defense placed twenty-four of
4 the fifty witnesses it has subpoena ed
upon the stand Saturday. 1t was con-
a sidered possible its case may end to-