Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-09-06
NOW
BEING TRIED

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BEING TRIED
Made Confession That He Committed
the Foul Murders at Villisca When
Eight People Lost Their Lives
Selection of a jury which will hear
the trial of Rev. Lynn G. J. Kelly,
whom the state accuses of the villisca
ak murders of 1912. is we'll under
way in district court at Red Oak and
when adjournment was taken We'd
nesday night nine tuOrOrs. had sue
cessfully undergone the examination
of attorneys. They were passed for
cause at this time, being subject, how
ever, to, the preemtOry challenges
of which each side may exercise ten.
In all, fifteen jurors were examined
six being excused when challenged
by attorneys Of one side or the other.
1t now seems probable that a jury
may be- in the box and sworn for ser
vice by Friday night. The day pass
ed quietly in court and the develop
ments failed to produce anything Of a
oS0A NsAAA4 bAoSAAS s
Exercise Great Care
Attorneys on both-sides Of the case
are using extreme care in picking
the jury. The state is going into the
various phases Of the so-called Wiki
erson propaganda, seeking to learn
from the Jurors whether they have
ever attended any of Wilkerson's
meetings or read any of his literature
and what influence, IL any, such has
had on forming an opinion in their
minds. The sheet of 100 questions
circulated by the Deceive and directed
at F. F. Jones and Attorney General
Havner figure in the examination.
What the state terms the Iowa Pro-
tective association" and referred to
as an organization formed in that
community by Wilkerson to further
the defense of Kelly is also inquired
into by attorneys nor the state. In
this connection Jurors are asked If
they have had relations with Clarence
Miller, o. M. Rice, w. w. Arnold,
Jack Seefeldt, Henry Light. Charles
Luppold. Harve Willett, Joe Stillin-
ger, president: Clarence Miller, Sc
cretary and Ed. Peterson, treasurer
The treasurer is one Of the heaviest
taxpayers in Montgomery county.
The defense Is also going into the
question Of acquaintances and rel
atoms with certain persons. Among
these are Milo Ling of Elliott and
Hal Hansen, director in the Jones
bank at Villisca. The name of Bert
McCaull has also been asked about
and from one Juror. Mr.. Mitchell. for
the defense, inquired If he had ever
upon any occasion visited Carbon, or
knew Henry Whippls. Whipple is
a brother Of Wan Tompkins, who
testified at the Jones Islander suit that
she overheard the slaughter house
plot" when the Joe Moore murders
were alleged to have been planned,
according to her story. It was she,
also. who, during the SANDER suit
identified . picture of F F. Jones
as looking like q man she saw pre-
sent at that plot. McCaull was men,
toned in the Jones trial as being
prominently connected with Wilker-
sons theory OF. the az murders. DAT
/ ly papers read b. the 4urOFa and from
concerning devei0tvReAts In the WI
lisca case are touched upon by at
torneys for the defense In picking
their Jurors.
Two Sensations Sprung
There were two sensations in the
trial of the Rev. Lynn J. G. Kelly,
the preacher who is accused of being
the famous Villisca, Ia. ak murderer.
whose trial opened in Red Oak Tues
day.
The first was when the brothers
and relatives of Joseph Moore, whose
family Of six was completely wiped
out by the murderer, crowded around
Kelly in the court room, shook his
hands and told him they wished him
success in his trial. The second SEN
sation came when it was announced
that Attorney General H. M. Havner
Of Iowa has been indicted on a
charge Of intimidating witnesses be.
fore the grand jury which indicted
Kelly for the ak murders.
The attorney general was arrested
Immediately after the indictment was
returned and was released on bond Of
81 900 furnished by friends in Red
Oak. Havner is taking part in the
prosecution of Kelly and was in the
court room when the indictment was
reported to the county. The indict-
me1tt,Af Havner came after three
months of investigation by special
grand Jury, because Of bias in Mont
gomery county The grand jury was
in charge of Special Attorney Genun
Of Shenandoah.
HI Fight Over Confession
During the afternoon session,
which lasted but one hour. the de-
Tense made a strong effort to pre-
tnt ~ tho Foe
sion made last week by Kelly and all
but succeeded.
Under the Iowa law it is necessary
that the defense be furnished with a
list Of all witnesses four days before
cured last Friday. Saturday the list
of officers who secured the confession
was served upon Kelly. Tuesday
being only the third day since the
notice was served the court sustained
the objection shutting out the wit
nesses. which had the effect of leav-
ing none to identify the confession
which would therefore not be admit
as evidence.
But the triumph of the defense was
short. Attorneys for the state moved
postponement Of the trial until next
Wednesday. The court granted this
motion, and when court convened
Wednesday morning. the required
four days had elapsed and the wit
nesses identified the confession al
the proper time.
Hold Kelly Meeting
Wednesday night in the town
| Of Mount AETNA, in the northern part
of Montgomery county, the Kelly de-
Tense committee held a rousing meet
ing. which was attended by hundreds
of farmers, Detective j. N. Wilkerson
was the principal speaker. The
meeting was one of the series of gath.
erings which friends of the Moore