The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-27
SECOND CASE is ON


An advertisement put in a local
paper by the Topeka BARRIERS in the
interest of the liberty loan drives, was
shown to the witness and then read to
the jury by Joseph Waters.
The Decker family sat in the court
room behind the attorneys table all
during the time Decker was on the
stand. Every member of the plain
tiffs family was well-dressed and well
appearing.
Decker said that in addition to his
salary as a barber, he received COM
mission of about $f42 for selling a
piece of land in Texas and that he re-
ceived a commission of S25 for selling
a piece of Topeka property.
Declzer's Household Bills.
Decker was asked many questions about
his household bills, telling the jury he
paid about one dollar week for milk.
about fifty cents a week for laundry. He
also estimated his grocery and gas bills.
The witness was asked to. state the or.
paid dues. He said he belonged to the
Modern Woodmen, the Knights of Pyth-
uni Union He also tesfffied that t"e he carries
insurance on the lives of his four children.
The witness was asked as to the eondi,
ton of his health after the publication of
the article and said he was sick for seven
weeks.
Attorneys for the plaintiff tried to have
him say that worry over the article caused
his illness. but McKeever objected on the
grounds that the witness was not COM
tiCn was sustained.
McKeever took the. witness on cross
examination Mt 30 O'Clock.
Decker stated that when the Antiseptic
barber shop was organized, Il years ago.
he was given five shares of stock, but
said he kept them only n short time.
Decker stated that Addfngton, one of his
attorneys. was out at his house on the
night of the lay the article was published
to talk about the case.
"Addington went out to your house on
Friday night?" McKeeyer asked;
sNra fn1n nod atrnf nl-D~ iad
Did he telephone you first?'' McKeever
NO, sir" the witness replied.
AddingtOn Turns Up Nose.
When this question was answered, Adj
dfngtcn turned up his nose at Mr.. Nc
keever.
that the article just referring to a barber
might not have referred to about % bar
berS.
| The witness said he did not think So
McKeever asked if it was not a fact
that BARRIERS CARRYING union cards Offer
week so and then leave.
Decker admitted that this sometime:
happened. -,
| nit that the statement in the article about
| the barber who had bought fifty dollar
| cause the article said the barber mentioned
| had bought fifty dollar bond and HI
| DECKER had bought hundred dollar
| bond.
McKeever also forced the witness t.
| admit that the statement about the barber
| who owned 5000 in building and LOAF
| stock could not refer to him because HI
never owned 5000 worth of any kind o
| stock of this kind.
| witness Said He Knew.
"Then the only thing that made yol
/ think this article referred to you was tn,
| coincidence that the barber mentioned ha,
| Il daughter in a state institution" Nc
| Keever asked.
| Il know the article referred to myself
! the witness answered.
| The witness then admitted in answer t.
| questions by McKeever that be called hi
| lawyer on the night of the day the articl
| was printed but that he did not go nea
Mr.. MacLennan or the State Journal H.
said that he had always considered Mr.
| MacLennan n fair man-that their reia
| lions had always been friendly and tina
| they exchanged greetings wien they me
in the court room this morning.
! Decker admitted he never. asked MI
| MacLennan anything about the article an
| never went around TO him to ask that an
| correction be made any explanation
! published. He admitted he knew no rea
son why Mr.. MacLennan should publis
| an article to iniure him.
| Witness asked in regard to n Ral
| hers page advertisement printed in tn
Capital. if the Journal had solicited i
| He said. NO. but if they had solicited il
it would certainly have been given to tn
| State Journal"
The witness was still on the stand lat