The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-03
TRIAL Of SLAYER
Of MISSOURI JUDGE
SET THIS WEEK
Robert S. Lyon, Of Richmond
Conservation, Stabbed JuriSt
to Death in Courthouse
Last April.

RICHMOND, No, Oct. S-of wide
spread interest throughout not only
Missouri but the Middle West il the
trial Of Robert s. Lyon, editor OF the
Richmond Conservator, on a charge Of
first degree murder Ia the stabbing 70
death OF Judge Frank p. Divelbiss OF
the Seventh judicial district In the
courthouse here, April 4 The trial lie
set for the October term Of the Ray
county circuit court, beginning Wsines-
day,
Lyon was arraiEned IN circuit court
here MAY 10, a coroner's jury returning
the verdict that Judge Divelbiss came
20 his death from knife wounds inflicted
by Robert S. Lyon Following this an
nouncement, Lyon was charged with
murder 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 OF the
county signing his bond
The stabbinR OF Judge DiVelbiss oc-
Cured In a corridor OF the Ray county
courthouse. There were no eyewlt-
nesses Judge DivelbisB was standing
in the office OF c. j.. Meyer circuit
rlerk, the morning Of the tragedy when
Lyon entered. The Judge left the room
and proceeded toward the effice of Sher-
IN {, W. Higdon, intending to remain
there, according to a statement made
by Judge Divelhiss until Lyon had
transacted his business. In dimly
lighted hall Lyon later met Judge Di-
velbiss, According TO a statement by
Judge Dlvelbiss, 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
one In the lower chest near the heart.
He was taken to his home, where he
died Of his wounds the evening of April
49, Lyon surrendered to the sheriff
Following the stabbing,
The trial promises to revolve about
four bits Of evidence said TO have been
preserved by the prosecution and the
defense These are the pocket knife
with which Judge DiVelbiss was
stabbed, the judges dying statement, a
broken umbrella belonging to Lyon and
the editors coat, said TO have three
knife cuts In 1t. The knife and the
of the prosecutor, D. A, Thompson,
ownership Of the knife has not been
established Lyon, In statement he
Is said TO have made, asserted the knife
fell from the judges pocket during the
scuffle in the hall and that he picked
Il up and used II In self defense.
A sfnah town newspaper fight and a
heated political campaign resulting In
the breaking Of former friendships are
said TO be back OF the incident In the
two campaigns for the circuit judge
ship, Lyon supported Judge Divelbiss,
but in the Democratic congressional
primary Of 1elS Lyon took the side Of
was opposed by Judge Divelbiss. Dur
ing the campaign, Lyon said the Judge
made speech attacking him personally
and that ut might have been consid-
cred sufficient provocation to shoot u
man" The News, stanch supporter OF
the circuit Judge, printed smarting edi-
torial attacks on Lyon, for which the
editor OF the Conservator Ia said to have
held Judge Divelblss responsible.
Judge Divolbiss attracted wide atten-
ton during his career OF il years as
q lawyer, probate Judge, circuit Judge
and candidate for congress His ca
reer on the bench caused terror 10 tax
dodgers and liquor law violators.
When railroad dining cars we're al
ties In the Seventh district, Judge dwell
blss took the matter before grand
Jury and declared tho companies were
bootleggers, He held that the rail-
roads have no more right to sell liquor
in their dining cars than bootleggeI
In the brush at a county picnic" He
stopped It.
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 supporter left II he
persisted
II didn't know perjury was M com
mon as that" he replied That grand
Jury. after elaboration without action
was discharged and an accountant sci
TO work, Later a grand jury indicted
rs prominent citizens, including two OF
the first jury. Afterward so citizens
4 OF Ray, Carroll and Clay counties were
indicted for tax lodging, and In cases
OF conviction were fined $500 each and
made to correct their tax returns As
a result OF the campaign more thar
$4,000 900 was added to the assessment
lists OF Carroll. Clay and Ray counties
Judge Divelbiss was born In Ra,
county in 1870, He was graduate OF
the University OF Missouri After prae.
tlcing law 10 years he Joined the Meth.
odist church vt revival. Two years
later he resigned as probate Judge ant
entered the Methodist ministry, but re.
turned TO the practice Of law after only
SIX months In the ministry. In 1886
he was elected prosecuting attorney Of
Ray county and served two terms. liz
was elected circuit judge ~ 1912 ant
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