Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-27
FOR
JONES BEGUN
Sensational Red Oak Trial
Enters On Its Third
Stage.
BROTHER OF MOORE
CONSULTED SEER
Plaintiff Given Opportunity to RidicuIe
MFRS. Tompkins' Story as Originated
lin Mind Of Fortune Teller - Jones'
Attorneys Severely Grill Landers,
Who Told Of Seing Albert Jones En-
ter Moore House Night Of Murder.
[By Staff Correspondent ]

IBy StaT Correspondent
Red Oak, Nov. 27.--Counsel for Sen
ator Jones in his damage suit against
their attack, both on cross examina-
tion and in rebuttal testimony, on the
evidence given by E. H. Landers, Of
Shenandoah, that on the Sunday night
of the Moore murder about S:15
o'clock he had seen a man whom he
believed to be Albert Jones go into the
home of Joe Moore.
Landers was first given a further
cross examination. during which
Jones' counsel introduced in evidence
a letter which he admitted having
written from Shenandoah to Marshal
Horton at Villisca on June %, 1913. In
this ne said he saw the man enter the
Moore home "either on Saturday or
Sunday night" In answer to his un-
certainty at that time he said the
statement was "evasive." Landers
said he "evaded his real conscience" to
shield Jones.
Tom Poston, husband Of Mrs. Lam
ders' sister, was put on the stand by
the plaintiff in rebuttal and testified
that on the Sunday evening in ques-
ton Landers' wife was at his restau-
come down shortly after supper and
that they "sat and talked in front OF
the cafe until 1890 o'clock. He said
he and his wife had walked part way
home with them. Poston also said
that he served w. B. (McCaull with his
breakfast after s:15 o'clock on the
Monday morning after the murder.
On cross examination he admitted this
was the first time he had ever served
breakfast to McCaull that early in the
morning.
Wilbur Landers, 14-year- son of
z. FL. Landers, was also on the stand
this morning for the defense, being
called upon to testify that his father
had not eaten supper at home on the
Sunday evening OF the Moore murder
|. (By Staff Correspondent.) -
Red Oak, Nov. 27-The third inning
of the sensational slander suit of Sen
ator +. F. Jones of Villisca against J.
N. Wilkerson, arising from the detect
ives investigation of the Villisca az
murder Of 1912. was begun in district
court here late Saturday afternoon.
The defense formally rested it's case
after 3 o'clock and the plaintiff imme-
diately took up the introduction of re-
buttal testimony. The past two weeks
during (which the trial has been in
progress have seen two innings of the
suit threshed out before Judge Rocka-
feller, and the jury of twelve. For the
plaintiff, there were first witnesses who
| kor ocs1~
which it is claimed Wilkerson made
the alleged slanderous statements i'm
putting that Senator Jones was con-
nected with the Villisca murder. Then
the defense entered upon it's inning
and for the past seven days testimony
has been introduced on behalf of the de-
| tective seeking to establish justification
and to connect Jones with the tragedy
In this inning of the trial which was
begun late Saturday PLAINTIFF will seek
to tear down and impeach the tseti-
mony Of the defense. &
Seer Started Story?
The day was replete with tense mo-
ments as the trial progressed and In
one Of these what the attorneys fol
Jones characterized as the genesis OF
beginning Of the weird tale. of Mrs
Vina Tompkins that she overheard q
murder plot on the banks Of the Noda-
way was revealed. 1t came when Ross
Moore, brother of the murdered man
was on the stand, and he recited how
he had made a visit to the scene of the
old slaughter house on the Nodaway
where the plot was alleged to have
been heard. Asked as to how he came
to make this visit, he said that he haG
gone there on the suggestion of Mrs
Hamilton, Red Oak character who
has gained some reputation as having
the power of second sight, ETC., and
that she told him he would And an az
there. Attorney Beeson, for the plain
| tifk. brought this out with evident sat
isfaction.
Edward Landers was again on the
stand and subjected to a terrific grill
ing by Jones' attorneys. He reiterated
his statement amid almost breathless
silence that he saw whom he believed
to be Albert Jones enter the Moore
home on the night Of the murder. Al
before, however. his statement wa,
qualified by the statement that he "be
lieved" it and this was surrounded with
somewhat more positive statements or
further questioning from the Wilker-
son attorneys.
Few Witnesses After Wiikersen. NJ
The offensive had practically com
pleted its case in chief with the testi.
mony Of the defendant Wilkerson him
self but several witnesses were called
to the stand. Charley Moore, a
brother of Joe Moore, was put on the
stand to tell of his dead brothers ex-
periences, declaring that his brother
Joe, had been in the employ Of Sena-
tor Jones for about twelve years, prio,
to the time he established a business
OF his own six years before his death
Mr. Moore said that when his brother
went into business for himself and quit
the employ of Mr.. Jones he took with
him the John Deere line/of implements
formerly handled by the Jones store
His brothers business was pretty
good and growing at the time OF his
death, Mr Moore testified.
Another brother Of the murdered