Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-22
SKELETONS ARE
BROUGHT BEFORE:
KANSAS Court
Rufus King, Alleged Murder
Farm" Owner, is Bound
Over.
PRELIMINARY HEARING
is IN OPERA HOUSE
Crowd Menacing, But Prisoner is Not
MOlested--Three Deaths Are
Laid to Defendant in

! Eskridge, Kans., Aug 2l.-Rufus
King, bound over for trial on a
charge of numbering Reuben Gutshall
at his preliminary hearing here to-
| day was returned to the Shawnee
county Jail at Topeka, late today. The
trip from Eskridge was without in
cident.
King faced two additional charges
of murder making three in all when
! he appeared today at his preliminary
hearing for the alleged killing of
Reuben Gutshall, a young Maple Hill
farmer in 1913. Just before the hear
ing started. warrants were served on
King by Wabaunsee county officials,
charging him with the murders of
John Woody and of "an unnamed
man." to whom state officials other
wise referred as an itinerant jewelry
salesman who disappeared in 1908.
When King, after a quick and un-
eventful automobile trip from Topeka,
Centered the opera house where the
hearing was conducted, he was fol-
lowed by a silent crowd, many OF
whom were old neighbors and ac-
uuaintances. AS the spectators en-
tered, they were searched by deputy
sheriffs. Soon the crowd had grown
so large that officials were compelled
to clear the stairway.
With somewhat of an air OF brav-
ado, King sat with his back to the
crowd, noting every move OF court
officials during the reading Of the
new warrants.
Just before King arrived at the
onera house. deputy sheriff reached
the hall with two of the skeletons
which were unearthed recently at
Maple Hill. Production of skele-
ton. said to be that of Reuben Gut
fschal, brought the first dramatic in
cident of the proceedings.
Identifies Skull.
The opera house court room was
hushed for the first time during the
hearing. The boys father. Levi Gut
schal. sitting almost within arms
length of the man charged with KILL
ing his son, leaned forward. In this
ltense moment. William Gutshall asked
|if he could identify of the skeleton
pointed to the skull and said:
"That is the skull of my brother
Reuben"
A woman in plain white, Reuber
Gutshall's mother, became hysterlca
And the proceedings were stoppea1e
While she was taken across the hall
For the first time during the morn
3ng. King became slightly nervous
And looked from the gruesome ex
hibit which was attracting the at
tention of the court.
! William Gutshall continued his ties
} timony, telling principally OF incl
} dents surrounding the disappearance
Of his brother whom he saw Tor e I'M y
} last time, Sunday, December Z, 1910
at St. Mary's, Kansas, a town nearby
The witness testified that his brothe,
was living on a farm about two mlle
from the home of his parents but tina
; On this particular Sunday night, Reu
hen took supper at home and late
, left for St. Mary's. William Testified
! that he later went to ST. Mary's am
that about o'clock he passed nj
brother on the street there. =.
The witness told Of going to nj
brothers place two days later an
there met King who was loading M
/ wagon with farm produce, which kln
said he had bought from Reuben, :,
! King. according to the witness, tol
him that Reuben had left town to g
West. c.,.:ao
Rv noon the streets of Eskrldg
! were choked with all manner OF We
;. hicles. neople coming in from all q a
: rections. The crowd showed no dis
$ nosition to indulge in demonstrations
: however. Twenty we'll armed depu
r ties are looking after the safety Q
!. the prisoner.