The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-30
Two Lines of Reasoning i
King Case Conflict.
State To Prove Him Both eau
tiOus and CareIess2
CAREFUL TO DISPOSE OF WATCH
He Is Said To Have FOOlishIy
Kept Worthless Deeds.
PeddIer and Gutshall Testi-
mOny at Variance.

An anomalous situation is confront
ing the state in the gathering OF evil
dence in the Rufe King murder cases
Testimony which will be used by the
STATE in the trial OF the King cases be-
fore a jury shows that King didn't
operate true TO any particular form.
II the state Is able to convince a jury
that King is a murderer it must prove
in one case that he was a very eau
tious, thoughtful and discreet man. In
another case IL must prove that King
deliberately scattered discriminating
evidence all around the town of Maple
Hill
Three times King has been ar
raigned before Justice Skeen on muir
der charges. In each case he has been
held to trial in the district court
case as presented in the Eskridge
opera house developed some rather
damaging testimony against King
when considered only as an independ-
ent case. When the three cases are
considered in an effort to form an
opinion as to the manner in which
King may have committed crime and
sought TO conceal his guilt. a consid-
cradle amount of first class testimony
may yet be needed.
Testify About Watch.
One witness who will be called when
King is arraigned in the district court
will testify that a watch was found
along q roadway where King was seen
TO have driven a wagon. This wagon
was loaded with feed belonging to
Reuben Gutshall. alleged to have been
murdered by King the night before the
feed was hauled from the farm. The
watch Is said to be that of Gutshalls
former sweetheart in the Maple Hill
community.
Under the states theory in the Gut
4
the greatest care in destroying evil
dence which might point to his guilt.
He simply relied on the fiat statement
that Gutshan had sold his property and
left the community. But a gold watch
which Gutshalrs sweetheart had given
the missing farmer boy to take to a
repair shop. might point to guilt. so
King is alleged to have dropped the
watch in the roadway to leave the
presumption that Gutshau had lost
the girls timepiece.
Testimony Won't "Trnck."
In the mysterious peddler" case,
King will be shown to have buried
himself in discriminating evidence
Under the assumption that the ped
dler was William F. Ringer-and
there is a mountain OF testimony 10
show that the peddler's name really
was Ringer-kiBg seemingly gave no !
more thought of discriminating evil
world. Ringers name and cheap jew
elry and personal effects were scat
tered all over the premises. They
were still right there thirteen Yeas !
after the murder Is alleged to have
been committed. The entire COLLECTION
OF near Junk couldn't possibly net
King a thin dime. Now they glare at
him as exhibits in a murder case. And
n watch of some real value Is sup
posed to have been thrown away by
King almost before the body OF his
alleged victim was cold.
When Sheriff Baker went to Maple
Hill a few days ago to search King
former properties he found flour
sack half filled with cheap ornaments
and jewelry that sold for a dime or
quarter when the peddler visited the
county fairs. There were a half dozen
collars-all bearing the laundry mark
of the peddler. There were miniature
photographs and a gun belt and an
army cartridge which brothers Of the
missing man declared Ringer carried
on his trips. In the same bundle with
the near junk were deeds to property
owned by Ringer in Nebraska Ring
er's identity and right OF possession
was written all over this property.
And yet the entire collection wouldn't
net King the price Of a meal at a
cheap restaurant
King Makes Statement.
One Of the skeletons found just out
side Kings former livery barn is al
legged to be that Of the peddler. The
peddler disappeared, seven years be.
fore Gutshall left home. So there Is
little to indicate that King became
careless and Intentionally left evidence
of his victims in every portion of his
home. Yet the seemingly reckless
manner in which he retained worth
less property of the peddler is one of
the many strange things in a series
OF very strange murder cases. King
has told state attorneys he was keep
ing the property for the peddler who
entrusted It to him when he started
south"
1t Is quite certain the entire col
lection OF property belonging TO the
peddleri and found in Kings former
home, will be introduced in evidence.
Because of the possession Of this pro-
perry. a strong link in the chain of
yidence Lay be formed. And be-
cause King is alleged to have thrown
away a perfectly good watch belong
ing to Gutshalrs sweetheart almost
Immediately following Gutshall's dis
appearance. another link may be
formed which will just as strongly
show that King was covering every
detail OF his alleged crime.