Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-08
BRIBERY STORY
BRINGS DENIAL
Mrs, Willard, Witness For
Wilkerson, Tells Of Eff
fort to ssBuy" Her. N
OFFERED MONEY
BY JONES, SHE SAYS
Man Who Mrs. Willard Alleges Made
Preposal That She Change Her Evil
denee Goes on Stand and Denies, Az,
iegations-Judge Orders Jurors Bar
red From convsrsins With Outsiders
Effort to Bribe Jury Hinted At.
lBy a Staff Correspondent ]

GBy Staff Correspondent,l
Red Oak, Dec. .s.-Jim Atkinson, the
Stanton farmer whom Mrs. Alice Will
lard yesterday charged with offering
her financial inducements to change
the testimony she has given for the de-
fense, was put on the witness stand
this morning by the plaintiff and de-
MED ever having made any such offer
to Mrs. Willard. Atkinson's story was
that Mrs. Willard had told filn Monday
afternoon that the evidence she had
given was worrying her and wanted to
talk with him about it. The automo-
bile trip to Villisca was arranged for
this purpose. he said. During the ride,
Atkinson declared she, asked him for
advice as to what she should do.
She said she was sure she knew the
men she testified of having seen," At
kinson declared, but that she said she
might be mistaken" It was this that
she said was giving her, concern, he
testified Atkinson said Mrs. Willard
told him she did not want Jones to be
convicted on her evidence alone. There
was absolutely not one word said about
getting money for changing her testl-
mony," Atkinson declared. Atkinson
also swore that on last Memorial Day
Mrs Willard told him she could get
$500 from Wilkerson for her testimony.
Testimony Disputed.
On cross examination 1t was brought
out that Atkinson was carrying sub
.poena for the plaintiff since last Mon
day morning. Atkinson had testified
he walked almost to- the depot with
Mrs. Willard Monday evening to take
the train and that upon her request
had turned back to get $au auto for the
trip.
He said he met Hal I1ausen; director
in the Jones bank in Villisca. within
seventy feet after he left Mrs. illerd,
and made arrangements with him for
the use Of his car. Hausen has been
sitting at the counsel table much OF
the time during the trial, Atkinson
denied he had any arrangements to
meet Hausen there.
Mrs Willard was given an hours
cross examination this morning but
persistently denied she had made previ-
GUS arrangements for the automobile
trip to Villisca with Atkinson. She also
denied walking to the depot that eveni
ing with him but was on the station
platform Of the depot while the train
was there and had then walked away
with friends.
New Evidsnes Startling.
The slander suit OF Senator F. F.
Jones. of Villisca, against ]. N. Wilker-
son, which has been replete with evil
de1ce Of startling nature ever since 1t
started nearly four weeks ago, took
what is regarded its most sensational
turn late this afternoon when Mrs.
Alice Willard, q material witness for
the defense, testified that during an
automobile trip she made, from Red
Oak to villisoa with Jim Atkinson last
Monday evening she had been told Il
she would go on the witness stand. and
retract what she had already said she
would be paid for it and taken care OF
the dest Of my life" Mrs. Willard ats
the witness who Sswore she saw two
men whom she believed to be Senator
Jones and w. B. McCaull talking with
men she thought to be Bill Mansfield
and Harry Whipple on the corner OF
the Toe Moore vacant lot, the Satur.
day night preceding the murder,
Mrs. Willard's story is perhaps the
most startling that has been told from
the witness stand during the present
trial. She said that on Monday eve
ming she had missed both the tfeini
which leave Red Oak for Villisca about
s o'clock and was waiting in the depot
for the $3.50 train when Jim Atkinson
told her he was in an automobile and
she might ride home with him. Mrs
Willard said she got In the car near
the Evans hotel, just across from the
depot. She said Atkinson told her z
Swede from Stanton was driving the
car.
HNow was there any talk by Mr.. At
kinson after you got out of town hore
some distance about your testimony
and about you getting money II you
had testified the other way or anything
Of that kind?' asked Mr. Mitchell.
Mrs. Willard responded: "He asked
me what the Moores were going to pay
me for my evidence. said they were
MT going to pay me anything. He said
well, it looks like they ought to pay.
said / hadn't done it for money ana he
said il you had been on the other side
you would get some money out OF IT
And says, how much, and he said
well, probably couple OF Thousand
and said wouldn'r do It for any
money, and wasn't doing it for mon
ey, that had knew what had saw
and was not being paid for any of It
and I wouldn't take money FOR II ..ss
Now what did, he suggest thai, YOU
do, Mrs. Willard. what II any suSges-
ton did he make to you as to your tes-
timony?', continued Mr.. Mitchell.
Tells OF Money Offer.
AHe said-he asked me II had any
one, any witness to what I had seen on
Saturday night and ] said no, that
Miss Freeman was dead and I didn',
know where Mr.. MacCrae was He
says, well, that Is going to put youth
bad to prove what You did see and he
said Mr.. Jones has witnesses to prove
that he was not thero and 4 says we'll
I can't help that. ! says n havss't