The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-05
RECOGNIZED Her ASsailant Thru
the Veil He Wore.
LITTLE GIRL PICKS HIM OUT
Helen Trousder Makes Partial
Identification of Defendant.
Points Finger at Man in Crowd
ed Court Room.

It was tense half minute IN the
court of Topeka this morning when
the county attorney asked eight-year-
old Helen Trousder if she saw anyone
in the court room who looked like the
man she saw leave the outbuilding at
Waveland school, following the attack
on the teacher, Bertha Curran.
The court room was packed with
people from the Waveland neighbor-
hood. They were either for or against
the defendant They held their breath
and kept their eyes fixed on the little
girl as she gazed over the crowd.
Yes, that looks like the man. said
the eight-year-old girl, pointing her
finger at Alfred Vawter, the young
farmer accused by Bertha Curran.
However, the Identification was not
so complete as it sounds. In answer
to more questions Helen stated that
she thought Vawter looked like the
man because he was about the same
size. She did not see the face of the
fleeing man-it was covered with a
veil. Vawter wore none of the clothes
worn by the man who attacked Miss
! Curran. The little girls only method
of identification was through Vawter' S
size as compared with that of the flee
ing man at the Waveland school.
| Miss Curran was on the stand most
of the morning. The county attorney
and his assistants are taking care of
| her case. Nawter is accompanied by
| his aged mother who put up a bond
for his release at the time of his ar
rest, and his attorney is John Schenck
| The crowd in the court room indicates
that little farm work is in progress in
the Waveland neisnborhood today
| There are numerous little children in
the crowd and many babies.
Knew Him at the Time.
Miss Curran stated this morning
that she knew at the time the attack
was made in the outbuilding at Wave
land school that her assailant was
Alfred Vawter but she could give nc
reason for failing to name him al
the time. Frank Meyer a farm hand
was charged with the assault the even
ing OF the day on which it was com
mitted and Miss Curran stated she TOLD
some one that night he was not guilty
She could not recall who it was she
told
IF you knew who it was why didns1
you tell the people with whom yol
talked?'' demanded Mr.. Schenck.
Il didn't propose to tell any one,
she replied, until I talked with the
officers
Then why" asked the attorney
did you go with Charles Hixon, dep
uty sheriff, to see if you could identity
Frank Meyer as the guilty man?"
| Il went because Mr.. Hixon asked
me to-" she replied. 81 knew Moyel
was not the man I knew it was Mr.
| Vawter. l recognized him before hi
left the outbuilding."
Then why insisted Schenck, "dit
you ask them to dress Meyer up in
certain way to see if you could iden
tify him %
"Moyer was at Vawter's house" sh,
replied. ''Iz wasn't Interested in him
I was interested in the clothing The,
took it from a closet believed to b.
Vawter's"
Told of the Attack.
Miss Curran told of the attack il
detail. She stated that the man wht
attacked her grasped both of he
wrists when he entered the outbuild
ing and struggled with her, not sayin,
a word. She said he wore a gray sui
and either rubber boots or overshoe
and that his face was covered with ;
veil. However, she stated that tn.
veil was so thin she could see his eye
and eyebrows.
who was the first person to whom
you mentioned Vawter's name?'' asket
Schenck.
THE morning after the attack" re
piled Miss Curran, 81 asked Mr. Hixol
whether, if I know or thought 1 knew
who the man was, 1 should tell him
He said 1 should tell by all means.
then told him it was Alfred Vawter
| Mr.. Schenck attempted to show tina
the witness said she ''suspected' it wa
/
if she said suspect she did not re
member it and did not mean it tina
way.
There wasn't any suspect abou
it." she shot back at Vawter's attor
ney. 81 knew who the man was ant
told Mr.. Hixon So"
Then He Ran.
Miss Curran stated that when Iittl
Helen Trousder came to the door o
the clubhouse she told her to run acros
the road and call Mrs. Vawter ant
the girl leave and told her to sta,
where she was and wait until he
mother came. She stated that her as
sailant then began to act as if h
didn't know whether to stay or go
that he took both of her wrists il
one hand. pushed the door open ant
ran.
He did not run, she said, until sh,
had caught his right thumb between
her teeth and sunk them into it a.
far as she could force them. Her as
sailant. she said, wore gloves and sh,
did not know what damage her teetI
had done.
The school teacher said she stepped
out after the man left and watched
into a field in the direction of Vaw
ter's mothers home She admittet
that she then started to Vawter's hom,
across the road to telephone for hell
but could not get in
The hearing today is prelininar,
and the jury will determine whethe
or not Vawter is to be bound over t,
the district court for trial. Vawter i
a former Washburn student and hi
family is said to be wealthy.
Spirit of Mischief.