The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-25
Attorneys Say Bones May Be
From Medical School.
Revive Old Grave RObbing Sem
satiOn To Cover King.
SKELETONS WERE PLANTED?
c. E. Carroll Believes the De-
veIopment Aids His Case.
Everything Ready for the Two
PreIiminaries.

Rufe Kings alleged murder farm
at Maple Hill was sown with human
bones from the Washburn college
medical school in an effort to cover
the college grave robbery scandal of
twenty-five years ago. according to
theory on which Kings lawyers are
working. At the state house today
Senator c. L. Carroll. attorney for
King, stated that the sensational To-
Deka case of nearly quarter of
century ago may be revived in the trial
Of King cases.
Senator CarrolTs statement that he
vas investigating the famous Topeka
grave robbery case was the first di-
rect intimation as to a probable King
defense. The lawyer refused to state
positively that the grave robbery
scandal would be the basis on which
King would attempt to explain the
finding of human skeletons. Yet he
admitted that the disappearance OF
number of bodies alleged to have been
taken from Topeka cemeteries to the
college might form a solution or the
Maple Hill murder farm mystery.
Since his arrest King has main
tanned his innocence and declared he
had no knowledge as to the manner in
which bones of three men were found
on premises formerly occupied by him.
To counsel for the state he has stated
that in his Judgment the bones were
In the little Wabaunsee county town.
He refused, tho. to give names OF per-
sons whom he suspected.
Revive a Sensation.
Now Senator Carroll has promised
to revive a sensation which stirred
Topeka and Kansas in the late SOS;
A number of prosecutions followed
the finding of human bondes at WASH
burn, college twenty-five years ago. A
man named Lowe was convicted on a
grave robbery charge, according TO
statements today by persons who were
familiar with the case. Several ac-
tions were filed against Topeka medi-
cal men 1t was the contention OF
Washburn college officials and doctors
that they were not a party to crime
and knew nothing as to the manner
in which the bodies were secured ana
brought before the college medical
elasses. Lowe carried the entire bur-
len. was convicted and sent to prison,
ccording to statements in Topeka.
When the cases were called for
rial in the district court. a change of
renue was grated and the trials were
1eld in the Wabaunsee county district
court At the time the cases were in
curt It was frequently contended that
bodies otheE than, those found IN
charge Of the medical school had been
nysterinuely disposed of. Now the old
ease may be brought before the jury
which tries King in an effort to create
n reasonable doubt as to the guilt
e the man charged with triple muir
Ter.
One bit OF evidence thought by
Kings lawyers to be strongly favor
able TO the defendant was the testi-
rnony OF the two doctors who testified
in the preliminary hearing at Esk-
rldee last Thursday. They testified
that II was impossible to state the
oil NF. huW
Reuben Gutshall had been dead. The
bodies were in bad state of deteriora-
ton Failure of the state to establish
Identity of the skeleton In any den-
mite degree other than by a rather
general guess by brother of Gutshall
was also viewed with favor by Kings
lawyers.
Senator Carroll. who was an attor-
ney in the grave robbery cases, Is also
chief counsel for King. He stated to-
day that he was investigating the an
cient court records in an effort to
throw some light on the finding of
the human bones in Maple Hill.
IT have not gone into the records
sufficiently to state at this time that
we shall base our defense largely on
the old Topeka gravery robbery
cases" said Senator King. Yet I am
quite sure we shall offer some records
and evidence showing that bodies al
leced to have been stolen by Lowe
were missing and that there was rea-
SON to believe they had been reburied
or destroyed. The probable DISPOSE
ton of those bodies might shed light
ON the finding of the bones at Maple
Hin. am sure King knew nothing
of the existence Of the skeletons. Yet
they were placed there by some one
and a reopening OF the Lowe and
VVashburn medical school cases may
help clear the mystery"
Ready for Preliminary.
Senator Carroll said the defense
would be ready for the two additional
King preliminaries at Eskridge Thurs
dav King will be arraigned in the
Wabaunsee county town for the al
legged murder OF John Woody and a
peddIer whose name is not definitely
i,nown by attorneys for the state.
Property belonging to each of the miss
ing men was found in Kings posses
sion II was also shown at the pre-
Uuinary last week that King was in
nossessfon of Reuben GutshalPs prop
ertv. The state will seek to prove
that a sack Of human bones found in
a shed at the rear Of Kings former
home was the skeleton Of Gutshall.
who disappeared in December, 1918.