South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-06
MUCH INTEREST
IN MISSOURI
MURDER TRIAL
We'll Known Editor Charged
With Stabbing Judge in
Richmond Courthouse.

RICHMOND. Mo. oct. s. - OF
Se-spread interest throughout not
only Missouri. but the middle west
is the trial OF Robert S. LYON, editor
OF the Richmond Conservator. on a
charge OF first degree murder in the
stabbins 10 death OF Judge Frank
J.. Divelbiss OF the seventh judicial
district in the court house here,
April Z. The trial is set for the Oc-
tOber term OF the Ray county cir
cult court beginning Wednesday
Lyon was arraigned in circuit
court hers May IA. a corners jury
returning the verdict that Judge
Divelbiss came TO his death from
knife wounds inflicted by Robert s.
Lyon" Following this announce
ment Lyon was charged with muir
der in the first degree and his bond
was placed at $4,000. Lyon is now
out on bond. a. prominent business
men and farmers from all sections
or the county signing his bond.
Stabbed I'm Corridor.
The stabbing OF Judge Divelbiss
occurred in a corridor Of the Ray
county court house. There were no
eye witnesses. Judge Divelbiss was
standing in the office Of G. +. Meyer.
circuit clerk, the morning Of the
tragedy. when Lyon entered. The
judge left the room and proceeded
toward the Office OF Sheriff G. W.
HiKdon. intending to remain there,
according 20 a statement made by
Judge Divelbiss, until Lyon had
transacted HIS business. In a dimly
lighted hail. Lyon later met Judge
Divelbiss. According 70 a state
ment by Judge Divelbiss. Lyon threw
his arm around the judges neck and
began welding a knife.
The Judge was stabbed nine times,
= eight cuts being In the abdomen and
~ in the lower chest near the
heart. He was taken 10 his home,
where he died OF his wounds the
evening OF April Is. Lyon sur
rendered 10 the sheriff following the
stsbbing
Little Evidence.
che trial promises to revolve
about four bits OF evidence said 10
have been preserved by the prose-
cution and the defense. These are
the pocket knife with which Judge
Divelbiss was stabbed, the judges
dying statement a broken umbrella
belonging 10 Lyon and the editors
coat. said TO have three knife cuts
in IT, The knife and the dying state
ment are in the possession Of the
prosecutor. d. A. Thompson. Owner
ship OF the knife has not been es-
tablished. Lyon. in a statement he
is said TO have made, asserted the
knife fell from the judges pocket
~uring the scuffle in the hall and
that he picked it up and used it in
self defense.
4 small town newspaper night and
heated political campaign resulting
in the breaking OF former friend
ships are said 10 be back OF the in
cident In the two campaigns for
the circuit tudgeship Lyon supported
Judge Divelbiss. but in the Demo-
cratic congressional primary Of 1918
Lyon took the side OF Representa-
tive j. w Alexander. who was OPP
posed by Judge Divelbiss. During
tSe campaign. Lyon said the Judge
made a speech attacking him per-
sonally. and that lit might have
been considered sufficient provoCa-
ton 10 shoot "a man" The News.
a staunch supporter Of the circuit
Judge. printed smarting editorial
attacks on Lyon. for which the edi-
tor OF the Conservator is said to have
held Judge Divelbiss responsible.
Career Caused Terror.
Judge Divelbiss attracted wide
attention during his career of Is
years as a lawyer, probate Judge,
circuit judge and candidate for con-
gress His career on the bench
caused terror TO tax dodgers and
liquor law violators.
when railroad dining cars were
ALLEGED 10 be selling liquor in dry
counties in the Seventh district.
Judge Divelbiss took the matter be-
fore a grand jury and declared the
companies were bOOtleggers He
held that the railroads have no
more right 10 sell liquor i'm their
dining cars than a bootlegger in the
brush at a county picnic" He
stopped il.
In 1914 judge Divelbiss took up
the campaign against tax dodgers.
when the first grand jury went into
session over this matter. his friends
told him he wouldn't have a sup
porter left II ne persisted.
IndiCts Citizens.
Il didn't know perjury was as
common as that" he replied That
grand Jury, after deliberation with
out action. was discharged and an
l accountant set 10 work. Later a
rand jury indicted hfteen promi-
Hent citizens including two OF the
= hrst jury. Afterward nifty citizens
OF Ray. Carroll and Clay counties
were indicted for tax dodging. and
in cases OF conviction were fined $500
each and made tC correct their tax
returns AS a result OF the cam
paigu. more than five million dollars
was added 20 the assessment lists
az Carroll Clay and Ray counties
Judge Divelbiss was born in Ray
county in 1870 He was a graduate
OF the University OF Missouri. After
practicing law thirteen years. he
soined the Methodist church at a
revival. Two years later ne resigned
as probate judge and entered the