The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-12
Ard SEEKS TRIAL
lola Farmer Springs Surprise
at Prosecution.
Bound Over on $4,000; Little
New Testimony Offered.

lola, March Troy Ard was
bound over for trial to the Allen
county district court here today on
the charge of having murdered his
wife, Viola Ard, in November, 1914.
He was Immediately released on bond
of $4,000. The action came at his
preliminary hearing when Ards at
torney after consultation with him,
asked that Ard be held for trial.
My client has had the finger of sus-
picion pointed at him for more than
TWO years. j. Z. Sheppard, the attor-
ney said. HE wants to go before
jury of twelve men and prove himself
innocent"
Connection between the Ard pro-
secution and the recent trial of Eldon
Hawley. who lived near the Ard home,
a statutory charge by Miss Latimer
was claimed by J. E. Sheppard. attor-
justice that the defense would base
part of its attempts to clear Ard with
testimony adduced at the HaWley trial.
Pistol Is Il Circumstance.
The hearing continued at length,
several witnesses being examined con-
corning events leading up to the saluI-
der. DR.. r. E. Mcmillan, county cor
oner, described the wound that caused
Mrs. Ards death, saying it was made
by a 50 calibre pistol c. G. Krok-
strom, a hardware merchant of Els
more, declared he sold Ard pistol
of that calibre shortly before the muir
der. +. j. Dunfee, county sheriff, teS-
tilted he had learned Ard carried the
pistol the night of the killing and
added that Ard told him the rear of
the motor car was filled with smoke.
The defense them in an announced
intention to draw out further details.
of the states case, placed County At
rFlr a &c rndn
stand. He was questioned only brief
ly and Mr. Sheppard after a short
consultation with Ard asked that he
be bound over for trial
Sole Witness Testifies.
The court room began to fill up
two hours before the time set for the
/ hearing to start and when Ard enter
ed, it was crowded with townspeoplt
and others who had come from the
district in which Ard lived. Miss
Katie Latimer, sister of the slain wo-
man was the first witness.
She was on the front seat of the
motor car, Mrs. Ard was driving when
tailed the killing. not varying from the
, version she has given several times
before. Ard was on the rear seat.
Il was leaning against the back of
the seat and Viola was leaning for
ward, Miss Latimer testified
Roy was sitting in the center of
the back seat leaning forward with
his arms crossed on the back of the
front seat.
Trio Shot at Once Before.
"As the car topped a rise. a shot
was fired, Viola fell forward and to
one side 1 grabbed her.
And drove the car home. He made
no effort to learn who fired the shot
the witness said. After they reached
home, she said:
Roy took Viola's watch and brace
let off and remarked Here's a woman
who always was true to me- he did
not cry or grieve until the neighbors
and relatives had arrived"
Ard had talked to her about the
case only once, she said. That was
the day before the funeral
He came to me and told me not
to talk to anyone about the case" she
declared He said he might be ar
rested at any time and he wanted me
to keep STILL
She also told of a shot having been
fired at Ard. his wife and herself the
Sunday night prior to the murder
The three were in the barnyard of the
Ard home. she said, at the time