Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-16
{Bv a staff correspondent,)

(By Stan Correspondent
Red Oak, Nov. 16.-Not since the
day of the famous Tom Denison trial
has the court room at the Montgomery
county court house been the scene of
the intense interest which it was the
second day of the suit brought by Sen
ator F. F. Jones, of Villisca, against
j. N. Wilkerson, a Kansas City, Mo-.
detective, for damages in the sum of
100000 alleged to have resulted from
rumors and stories set af1oat by Will
kerson and imputing that Senator
Jones was the moving spirit in the
murder of Joe Moore, his wife and four
children and the two daughters of Mr..
and Mrs. Joe Stillinger, which occurred
in the Moore home at Villisca on the
night of June 9, 1912.
Attorneys Statements.
After sketching the story of the
Moore murders, r. w. Beeson. Of
Jones' counsel, declared in his state
ment to the jury: 81 claim that this
defendant has slandered and DETAINED
statement that he furnished the money
to pay for that horrible murder. We
are asking that he be placed right so
far as the verdict Of jury can place
him right
Stating that the plaintiff had four
causes for action, Mr.. Beeson declared
that on August 8, 1916, Wilkerson.
"who pretends to be q detective, held
public meeting in the brush south of
Villisca,"a and there talked for five
hours by the watch and that great
deal Of that talk was directed against
Senator Jones. THAT was after the
grand jury of this county had refused
to indict Senator Jones'" he added.
Beeson intimated that the purpose of
this meeting and of others which he
told Of was to arouse public sentiment
in Montgomery county so that Senator
Jones' might be indicted by the next
grant jury. "Wheas issneak OF, whis-
-kerssn mean Seas1 J6ngs. was an
expression attributed to Wilkerson at
one Of these alleged meetings. An
other statement alleged to have come
from Wilkerson was 1--WE have this
man Mansfield. who welded the ak.
and Senator Jones is the man that paid
the murderer of Joe Moore"
Beeson held that it was the conten-
tion Of the plaintiff that such state
ments were made falsely and mali
ciously."
"Old women stories and pipe
Dreams" was the description Beeson
applied to evidence which might be in
troduced to show Jones' alleged con-
nection with the murder. Before clos
ing his statement Mr.. Beeson leaned
over the table and shaking his finger
in the face of Wilkerson, who sat op-
posite shouted that the detective had
been here two years ITO frame up
case and convict an innocent man."
The expression so called detective"
was used frequently by Mr.. Beeson in
his statement.
Senator Van Law With Jones.
The presence by the side OF Senator
Jones Of Senator c. H. Van Law Of
Marshalltown injected new element
into the case. Before beginning his
statement to the jury on behalf Of
Wilkerson, Attorney Ed Mitchell of
Council Bluffs, took occasion to COM
ment on his presence in Red Oak. In
the midst of his opening remarks to
the jury Mr.. Mitchell turned toward
Senator Van Law and declared that
one Vina Tompkins from whom it is
claimed Wilkerson learned of an al
legged murder plot held on the banks of
the Nodaway, near Villisca, at which
Senator Jones Is alleged to have been
present, was ready to testify for Will
kerson in this trial. But now, she
comes here today in the care of Mr..
Van Law" "And her husband, too,"
rejoined the senator
I'VE do not claim that Mr.. Jones
81 -
body, but Joe Moore" declared Mr..
Mitchell. and then went on to say that
the man who committed the crime was
compelled to destroy the other sleep
ing members of the household in order
to keep under cover the perpetrator of
the murder
AS possible motive for Mr.. Jones
wanting to be rid Of Joe Moore, Mr..
Mitchell related how Joe Moore came
to Villisca years ago and worked for
MIR. Jones, wasla faithful employe and
gained the confidence of implement
men who later started him into busi-
ness, men with line Of implements
formerly handled by Mr.. Jones. This
was done to the detriment of Mr.. Jones,
the attorney said. Evidence will be in
trodnced Mr.. Mitchell said, dealing
with all Of Wilkersons actions which
he took as detective for the Burns
agency to locate the murderer of Joe
Moore and family.
May Show the Ak.
The name of Mansfield was fire.
quently mentioned in this connection
and the evidence will probably seek to
bring out that the AK with which the
murder was done was in his hands.
This ak, will be shown to the jury.
From Mr.. Mitchells statement it is
gathered that the defense will en-
daa uor To show that all of the ma eria |