The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-22
Prisoner Bound Over for Trial
and Held in Jail.
CRUEL DAY FOR A MOTHER
Mrs. GutshaH Screamed When
Skeleton Is Produced.
She Rushed at Alleged Murder
er, Creating a Scene.

Eskridge, Kan, Aug. 22.-Wabaun-
see county isn't the wild. furious, man
eating community which was indi-
Gated when Maple Hill citizens stood
on the main street of the town II
few days ago and demanded Rufe
| Kings life for that of Gutshall,
| Woody and the mysterious peddler.
King was held for trial in the district
court for the alleged murder of Reuben
6utshall before a crowd that threat
ened to break the floor of the Esk
| ridge opera house. But the only DEM
onstration of the. day came from Gut
! shall's aged and tired mother and
woman companion.
King sat stoicaIly thru the preliml-
nary. In the moments when the.
states most damaging testimony was
offered or the gunny sack filled with
dry human bones ratified as they were
piled on the floor. Kings expression
seldom changed and he usually looked
squarely in the eyes of the witness or
full at the states gruesome exhibits.
Once Mrs. Levi Gutshall, mother OF
Reuben Gutshall, was taken scream
ing and sobbing from Justice Skeen's
court room. That was when the first
skeleton was dumped rather ruthlessly
on the floor and the big crowd craned
| its necks and stood on tip toes to view
the battered human skull.
Mother Rushed at King.
Again Mrs. Gutshall was overcome
when the preliminary ended and
| guards started to lead King from the
room. Then the mother rushed at
King. supported by middle aged
woman who acted as escort Otis
| Hungate of states counsel and Sheriff
/ Baker held the screaming, sobbing
/ woman and she was taken from the
room. King merely shifted his dead
| cigar stub, gave the woman a cold,
/ inexpensive look and turned away.
William Gutshall, a brother of the
young man alleged to have been a
| King victim, told OF the sudden dis
| appearance of Reuben. The young
man was last seen Sunday night, Dc
/ cember 7, 1913. he testified. Then the
witness told of farm his brother had
rented, of his stock and personal be-
/ longings.
1t was the day after Reuben was
last seen that William went to his
brothers place to secure a saddle
horse was in Gutshall's barn. And
\ out in a field King was loading Gut
! shalrs feed into a wagon. Daconically
| King told the witness his brother had
gone away and he had bought his be-
longings.
Demand An Explanation.
| Later the brother went to Maple
] Hill to demand of King an explana-
/ ton of Reuben's disappearance. But
| he didn't go to Kings home or barn,
he stated, but saw King when he en-
| tered a restaurant King, the witness
said. told him Reuben was in Colorado
| earning 81 day driving a team The
| day following this interview. Levi Gut
shall, the father. visited Maple Hill.
| King rushed from his livery barn and
called him. He said he had given
I william the wrong address. Reuben,
! he said, was in California. But a
registered letter to that address came
back.
Witness said he identified the skele-
ton found in Kings barn as his
brother. He based his examination on
the teeth and shape of the head. But
on cross examination Gutshall had the
| common trouble of the layman. He
| had never examined his brothers
teeth. and except for the statement
of the coroner was not certain
whether the bones found were those
of man or woman.
Where did Reuben live before his
] death? Hungate asked.
I The question brought a howl from
defendants counsel 1t was an as
| sumption of death not established by
| evidence. But Justice Skeen wasn't
| stickler for too rigid Interpretation of
! evidence. Witness said his brother
lived on a rented farm.
Mother SObs in Court.
1t was when the witness was asked
| to identify the sack of bones found
in Kings shed that Mrs. Gutshan
/ screamed and several persons rushed
! to her assistance. Historically sob
| bling. my boy! oh, my poor boy"
the woman was led from the room.
| Clasps came from women in the crowd
| as the dry human bones ratified and
were systematically put together by
| DR.. c. f. Menard of Paxico.
At noon a heavy guard took no
! chances with King A deputy sheriff
brought him light lunch and the
I =.
AS the morning crowd filed out in
| search of bit of food, new crowd
rushed into the hall. taking every
/ chair and blocking the aisles. 1t
waited more than an hour for resump-
ton OF the case, but made no protest.
] Mauu neraO0S hroT