Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-21
MRS. ToMpklNs ENDS STORY.
Woman Subjected to Severe Cross Ex.
amination-Ths Van Law incident.

u i r. +
Woman Subjscted to Severe Cross Ex.
amination-Ths Van Law incident.
lBy a STAFF Correspondent
Red Oak, Nov. 21.-One Of the most
strenuous days since the hearing of the
suit of Senator F. +. Jones. of Villisca,
to recover $4,000 damages for slander
from ]. N. Wilkerson, the Burns detec-
tive. was begun a week ago, was that
yesterday, when the testimony OF only
one witness was completed and that of
another begun. Mrs. Vina Tompkins.
who is regarded as the star witness for
the defense, was not excused until 3:45
o'clock in the afternoon, after she had
undergone an exhaustive direct exam
ination and still more rigorous cross
examination from Attorney Beeson, Of
Jones counsel.
Cross Examination Continued.
At the beginning OF Monday after
noon's session Of court, Mr.. Beeson
continued his cross examination Of
Mrs. Tompkins.
What did Wilkerson say to you
about talking about this?" Mr.. Beeson
asked, referring to the murder plot
which She is said to have overheard.
Il told him about so many coming
to me about 1t and he said to tell them
anything to get rid of them." Mrs.
Tompkins replied.
In the talk of getting you paid did
you refer to Wilkerson in that man
ner? Mr. Beeson asked.
''No sir" was the answer.
Jones Promised to Pay ExpenSes.
Mr. Mitchell then took his witness
again and asked:
'.Did you tell the truth this morning
when ] asked you of what>you saw at
the slaughter house?"
'eYes sir" Mrs Tompkins replied.
Continuing his questioning into the
connections of Senator Van Law in
bringing her back to Red Oak, Mrs
Tompkins said that Mr.. Van Law told
her and her husband not to see any
body, and to stay in their rooms units
readyt testify. She said Wilkerson
had never asked her to come to- Red
Oak.
Mrs. Tompkins further stated that
Mr.. Van Law told her that Mr.. Jones
had made arrangements to pay all her
expenses and that Van Law had said
"if you don't come down without a
subpoena we'll subpoena YOU"
Mrs. fTompkins also said that Mr..
Van Law had told them nothing about
the distance in which subpoena was
valid.
Quixxsd by Strangers.
. In her morning testimony Mrs.
Tompkins had said that two men from
Vilisca had come to see her at Mar
shalltown about what she knew Of the
murder. She testified that they did not
know Of the tmurder plot" however.
Mayor Lewte, Of Villisca, was said to
be one Of these two men. but Mrs.
rTompkins waS unable Il to positively
Identity hlmea1 soaes0f them when he
stepped before hcr ID court. Il (.
.'Yon can't recognize Lewis but you
could .recoEniEe Jonss?" queried Mr..
.Beeaon. II b.
"Yes. sif." ass
He hasn't got whiskers, --commented
Mr.. Beeson. sti
In the further direct examination on
this subject in the afternoon Mrs.
Tompkins said that Hank Horton,
marshal Of Yyillisca. who accompanied
Mr. Lewis, did most of-the talking.
''Why didn't you tell these men what
you had SEEM Mr.. Mitchell asked.
Il was afraid to and thought it was
none of their business the. witness
answered.
Another piece OF the murder plot
which Mrs. Tompkins did no tell in her
morning examination was brought out
In the afternoon. They could get by
with the marshal They could get by
heard by the slaughter house.
Feared Personal Violence.
Did that have anything to do with
she was asked.
"Yes, sir" she answered. She said
she feared personal violence to her.
In continuing his cross examination
Mr.. Beeson asked Mrs. Tompkins why
she hadn't told the statement about
getting by with the marshal" before.
She said she didn't think Of 1t.
Haven't you been asked again and
again to tell all you knew" questioned
Mr.. Beeson again.
II didn't think Of it, she replied.
Didn't Wilkerson talk to you and
tell you to say that?
mo. sir; 1 don't think he talked to
me-" she answered. There had been
court recess Just prior to the time
Mrs. Tompkins had made the state
ment.
by the time you have further talk
with Wilkerson you'll think up q whole
lot more, won't you?" continued MT,
Beeson.
p;dn'e Tell All to Van Law.
Mr.. Beeson also inquired very care
fully OF Mrs. T0mpkins why she hadnt
told all she testified to in her direct
examination this morning to Senator
Van Law at Marshalltown. The wit
ness declared that she was not under
oath when talking to Senator Van Law
aud she didn't think she had to tell the
truth until she was under oath. Mrs.
Tompkins also stated that she had told
Senator Van Law that she didn't re-
member all she had told to Wilkerson.
Asked IL she did, she said, Il did but
didn't want to tell him"
, Mr.. Beeson had the witness carefully
describe to him just how the three
men were arranged for the alleged
murder plot. The mar with the
!. whiskers',, she said, had his side fac
: ,g her. she said.
Didn't you state to the grand jury
that you couldn't identify the old man
because his back was to you."
NO, sir," answered.
Mrs. Tompkins declared that Jake
Weems, who she said was the. third
member of the plotters, was gambler
that she had seen him several times
before but never since that afternoon
on the banks OF the river
AZ 20 Being Kidnapped.
<Going into. the charge OF the defense
49, : a.l,n4 Ma hony, ..kidn a rodnt Mr.