The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-10-07
FAILED TO CONVICT
Jury Which Tried Ruby Stevens
for Murder at lola Was
Unable to Agree.
ANOTHER TRIAL IN NOVEMBER
Mrs. Stevens Shot and Killed Clifford
kIstner, a Young Allen County
Farmer, Near Bayard.

The jury before which Mrs. Ruby
Stevens was tried at lola for the MUIR
der of Clifford Kistner, a young far
mer, was unable to agree and was
discharged by Judge Foust in the cir
cult court. 1t had been considering
the verdice for two days.
Mrs. Stevens received the result
without comment. Her eyes filled
with tears and she walked stumbling
ly back to the county Jail. Mrs. Kist-
ner, wife of the slain man, was not
in the court room when the jury re-
ported.
Judge Foust set the November term
of court as the time for new trial.
Clifford Kistner was murdered at
his home near Bayard, this county, on
the night of May 81. He was called
to the door by a young woman who
told his wife that her name was MA
rion Lambert" the name of the young
woman for whose death William Orpet
at that time was being tried at Wau-
kegan, Ill.
Clifford Kistner, you have ruined
my life" the young woman cried. Then
she fired one shot and fled into the
darkness. The young farmers body
fell near his wife, who had stepped
aside when Marion Lambert asked
for him.
Mrs. Stevens, who had been divorced
from her husband at Colurnbus, a
short time before, was arrested with
In a few hours at Mildred, where she
said she had expected to take a train
for lola to surrender to the sheriff.
A charge of first degree murder was
placed against her and, in default of
$4,000 bond, she was remanded to
Jail, having remained there constantly
since her arrest.
Kansas Red Cross Started.-The
first Red Cross society in Kansas has
been organized here and has begun a
campaign for the enlistment of 500
members. In addition to the usual
work of subsidiary Red Cross unit,
the new society will offer training to
classes of young women, who wish to
become first aid assistants and nurses,
with local physicians and nurses as
the instructors.
Lawrence already is a military cen
ter, with two companies of infantry, a
battery of field artillery, medical
corps and a supply company.
x X x
ImpaIed on SpIinter-S1iding down
a barn roof almost cost the life of
Kenneth Waggoner, 5-year-old son of
a farmer living north of Columbus,
and may yet cause his death The
boy slid against the end of a board
and splinter, eight inches long,
pierced his side, entering at the waist
line and reaching almost to the heart.
x x
Dies of Ptomaine Poisoning-A. B.
Brungarde, As years old, of Victoria
is dead at the home of his brother,
DR.. B. A Brungarde, at Salina, from
ptomaine poisoning after eating sar-
dimes.
x x *
Bitten by 2attIesnake. - Richard
Greiner, son of John Greiner, a farmer
near Upton, is near death from rat
tlesnake's bite. The boy was coming
home through a pasture when the
snake bit him. He told his parents
that he had been stung on the leg by
hornet and a physician was not
called until the boys limb was badly
swollen. Tue doctor recognized the
symptoms as rattlesnake poisoning.
X x x
Two Charged With Arson.-T. F
Kelly, a cement worker, and William
Hanks, a laborer, were arrested al
Salina on the charge Of arson. They
confessed to setting fire to Kel1y's
fa he
insurance.
Drowned in a WeII.-Robert McKin
ley, years old, was drowned wher
he fell through a trap door over &
well at the home of his grandfather
Benjamin Hageman. eight miles cas-
of Ottawa the other night.
Champion Baby a GirI.-Gail Ian
der, Is months old, is the champion
baby of Kansas She won the cham
piOnship award at the state fair bah!
show at Hutchinson, scoring 991a PEI
cent. Her father, Al G. Lander, i:
deputy probate judge of Reno county
Wants No New HaII.-A specia
GI6cI1On n0Iu at L0dNSnWOTIn TO vote
on a proposition to issue $150,0G0 il
bonds to build a new city hall, was de
feated by Alb votes. The vote wa:
light in spite of efforts of the cit
administration to arouse interest
x x
Boy Shot Sister, Aged 9.-The 9
year-o1d daughter of Pablo Chavez,
Mexican laborer, was shot and kiIlet
at Council Grove by a shotgun In tn.
hands of a younger brother. TIL,
family moved there last week from
Mexico.
New Gas vel in Chase County,
The Kansas Gas and Cement Compan!
of Strong City brought in a good ga
well on their lease near Usage Hill
east of ElmdaIe, recently. The sane
was found at a depth of about thre'
hundred feet.
Many Mismated CoupIes.-Forty
five Lyon County couples are asking
for divorce or separate maintenance
oozae, - ~ ha Oofa6o