The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-20

back from Colorado to face the charge
of murder.
The first I knew he was near me
was when 1 heard a commotion back
Of me-" she said today. Il turned
around. Rufe King, my big, strong
brother. was white as a sheet and
was being held up by Sheriff Baker
and another officer. He nearly faint
ed. they told me. when he saw me.
IT walked over to him. 1 smiled.
I wanted to be brave. Tears came to
his eyes. just like the day he looked
down on me as I lay in bed with the
measles.
Those awful, awful handouts were
on him. He held his hands out in
front Of him:
Matte. Matte. no matter what
happens I want you to believe I am
innocent"
Tears welIed in her eyes.
''And 1 do believe him In face of
them ALL"
Mrs. Cooper heard mutterings at
Alma of what might happen to her
brother when the train pulled thru
Maple Hill.
Il don't know what good I would be
in a mob" she said. But hired an
automobile and we beat the train into
Maple HILL 1 was right there on the
station platform when that train
pulled in. He fought for me when !
was a girl and 1 was ready to fight for
him and I'm going to fight for him
until the end"
Letter From wife.
Mrs. Cooper called on King this
morning. Then she went to the sher-
ifs office and asked If a barber
couldn't call and shave his weeks old
growth of beard Like King she re-
sents the stories circulated that King
had, killed his wife or wasn't living
with her. Mrs. Cooper produced
I letter written by Kings wife from
Good Pasture, Colo, August 10 and
directed to her. Mrs. King believing
[ her husband wasn't permitted to re-
4 ceive mail. The letter follows;
Good Pasture,
! Dear Matte:
/ / am so near crazy tonight don't
hardly know what l am doing. / wish
you would write and tell me all about
the trouble they are making for Rufus.
Do all you can for him for a better man
never lived than Rufus. l am way out
here among strangers The folks where
am are good to me but amt like being
with friends and relatives when you are in
trouble.
But can get along If I know you folks
there are doing all you can for him and let
there now IL It wasn't for our horses out
here. wish wasn't so far away from him.
brother in Topeka. wanting to know If
needed any help to let him know at his
expense. am going to write to him. too
but let me know soon you get this
for l am about crazy about Rufus
viii they let me write 10 him and how
will l write to him for l sure want to hear
from him. Well. Matte / can't write any
more tonight but be sure and let me know
everything.
From your heartbroken sister,
GRACE.
Sister-in-I,aw Writes.
AS pathetic and full of heart throbs
is the letter written to Mrs. Cooper by
Mrs. Bessie Sloniker, of Eskridge,, a
sister-in-law of Rufe Kings. Mrs.
Sloniker has been an invalid for
twenty years, and during that time has
not walked a step. Her advice to King
thru the letter to his sister is to pin
his faith in the Master. The letter in
part follows:
Tell him to put his trust in our dear
Savior who knows and does all things
well. Tell him to pray as he never prayed
before for our Savior will hear our prayers
II we pray earnestly. They may condemn
us here on earth but there is a power than
all human hands here. l sometimes almost
give up and think what is the use, then l
go to my Savior, Rufus Kings, too, aud
lie always gives me strength to go on.
u will not be able to attend the trial
I am afraid but VIII pray the whole time.
do not Know what else to say but want
ed you to know my heart is right Oh :
how sorry l am for all and my prayer all
the time is: "Oh God help and make every
thing