Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-21

the first witness in this part OF the oe-
fense. Thorpe had told Of seeing 'Bill
Mansfield, the man who was at ono
time investigated in connection with
the Villisca murders. on a train at
Clarinda on the morning the murders
were discovered. The state contended
that no foundation had been laid e
Thorpe's testimony.
Before his testimony was stricken
Thorpe told that one OF the two men
whom he saw on the train that morn
ing was carrying bundle, wrapped
In a newspaper This Is believed to
have been one of the strongest cards
of the defense and It is understood
that 1t would have been or will be
yet shown that this bundle contained
some bloody clothing. Altho Mr.. Land
ers' story had been told once before,
when he was witness at the Jones'
Wilkerson slander suit last fall, it came
with startling force in this murder
trial.
Tells Of Seeing Jones.
Landers said that on Sunday eve.
ming, June 9, 1912, the night Of the
Moore murders, he had gone down
town to his sisters restaurant to help
her during the rush hour at supper
time. He attended the cash drawer, he
said.
What time did you leave the rest
aurant?" Mr.. Landers was asked.
II left the restaurant about or
shortly after" he answered.
Leaving the restaurant with his wife
Mr.. Landers said their trip home led
whit Mnnra
house was located.
"In going down there did you OBJ
serve anybody in front of you?" asked
Attorney Mitchell in leading up to the
climax Of Landers' testimony.
Il did at the corner. Just a block
west Of the Joe Moore house." replied
Mr. Landers
Landers said he didn't notice from
which direction the person came and
did not notice him at all until he saw
him about sixty feet ahead Of them.
The man kept walking down toward
the Moore house, in front OF him and
his >wife, Landers said. They gained
on the fellow, until when they arrived
in front Of the Joe Moore house they
were as close as eight or ten feet to
him. :! ss $50 ~ ,{. ~
did you know who 1t was them"
II knew who he was when he turned"
Landers said the Moore house was
dark. arg
When you got just south Of the Joe
Moore yard, which way did he go?'
asked Mr. Mitchell, referring to the
man Landers followed
He went into the house"
Tell the jury what you saw this man
do as to going into tho Moore house"
repeated Mr. Mitchell
HE opened the door and went in"
replied Landers.
did You know who 1t was that went
in there?"
Yes sir, Albert Jones'" promptly re-
piled Landers, and simultaneously the
state entered an objection but was
overruled.
Landers said he had known Albert
Jones as boy. This happened about
Sis o'clock, Landers said, as nearly
as he could recollect.
State Will Try to lmpeaeh.
Mr.. Faville for the state subjected
Landers to a rather long cross exam
ination, laying the foundation for i'm
parchment testimony which they ex-
pect to offer later. Mr. Faville shot
rapid fire questions at Landers regard
ing other incidents Of that Sunday eve
ming and pumped him down as nearly
as possible to exact details of his
story. Landers could no. give the
names Of any person whom he waited
on that night in the restaurant
In his cross examination he de-
scribed the man he saw go into the
Moore house as wearing brown coat,
dark trousers and black hat
Landers said his first impression of
the man he saw In front Of them was
that 1t was Ross Moore. He did not
definitely recognize him. he said, until
he turned to go into the house. Ian
ders said he recognized him then and
there. The man never looked back
once, according to Landers. He did not
rap when he went into the house. Ian
ders said he didn't remark anything to
his wife then about Albert Jones goina
into the Moore house.
Mr. Faville in his questions went
into several little trips that Landers
took from Villisca during the days
Immediately following the crime when
he was looking for possible clues on
the murder.
In his, cross examination Mr.. Faville
had before him the testimony. flanders
gave before q coroner's jury at VII
lisca, which met for several days fol-
lowing the crime, to inquire into the
circumstances surrounding the mur.
ders. The states attorney inquired o,
Landers II ne wasn't asked at that
time II he had seen any persons arount
the Joe Moore house that night, ant
that he had replied then that he die
not.
Il didn't put it in those words" Ian
ders said. II said, We'll. didn't think
l did, didn't say, u did not see any.
body"
Says Kelly Was Insane.
According to the testimony of C. ]
Morris, an attorney of Sioux Fails s
D.. Kelly in 1914 threatened to kill him.
self and also declared that he was
! 2 PRECEDENT Wilson. Mr.. Morris, who was
speaker of tho house during the isii
South Dakota legislative session, ant
also was at one time assistant UniteS
states district attorney at Sioux Fails
was put on the stand BY the defense =