The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-18
SEARCH OF TEXAS
Rufe King Defense Hunting for
Mysterious Sam Riggs.
With This Man They Hope To
Prove Woody Is Alive.
MURDER TRIAL IS CONTINUED
All Cases Against King to
March Term of Court.
Maple Hill "Murder Farm"
Man Back in Topeka.
MURDER TRIAL is CONTINUED

Lyndon, Kan, Nov. 1s.1With the
entrance of the mysterious Sam Riggs
and his probable testimony in the RUFF
King case, attorneys for the defense
are starting a search of Texas, par
ticularIy the vicinity of Fort Worth
for the witness. whom they yesterday
| declared to Judge Robert c. Heller
would prove that John Woody is alive
or was alive after the date the states
attorneys declare he. was killed by
King.
1t was the frantic attempt on the
part Of Senator C. E. Carroll at the
eleventh hour to obtain evidence from
Sam Riggs, that caused Judge Heller
to grant the attorneys for the defense
the continuance of the trial to the
March term of court. The declaration
that such evidence as Sam Riggs can
produce in court was available was
assaiIed by the states legal array as
being without good faith" and mere
ly an attempt to draw out the legal
battle they know is ahead.
This charge was made by Ralph
Crane of the states forces after his
contention to Judge Heizer that "all
due diligence" in trying to get the
necessary evidence in the case had not
been shown. The fact as set forth in
the affidavit presented by John
Schenck on the part of Rufe King,
that Senator Carroll had taken the
midnight Rock Island train two hours
after receiving a letter from He'll Bo-
Ian at Sentinel, Kan. telling him of
this Sam Riggs, seemed to have great
weight with Judge Heizer.
Legal RattIe Over Letter.
An attempt was at once made on
the part of the state to show that Sam
Riggs was a mythical character and
that the defense had no evidence to
show that such evidence as they pro-
fessed to have might be brought into
court even if the continuance was
granted. Senator Carroll declared he
had the letter from He'll BoTan in
his possession and another battle was
staged between the attorneys. the state
wanting to see the letter and the de-
fense refusing to let the opposition
have a glimpse of any of the testimony
they intended producing before the
The defense finally consented to pro-
Judge Heizer, who. after it was de-
manded by the state, put Senator Car
roll on the witness stand. swore him
in and presented him to the state for
questioning. During this cross exam
ination, interrupted by frequent OBJ
jections by John Schenck, it was
brought out that the actual residence
of Sam Riggs was unknown to the de-
fense. Senator Carroll declaring that
while al TeXhoma, where he had gone
November IA to see Sam Riggs, he
had been told by several persons the
desired witness had moved from that
town to Texas probably Fort Worth
and that he had also been told by some
of the Texhoma citizens that Riggs
had gone to California. The exact
date of the transferral of residence
was unknown to Senator Carroll. but
he declared that it was Several years
after 1909"
According to Bolan, Sam Riggs was
the foreman of a ranch near Texhoma,
that in May, 1909, he had been ap
preached by a young man who gave
his name as John Anderson That
this man had said he knew He'll Bo-
Ian at Paxico. where he had worked
in a livery barn and that later he had
moved to Maple Hill, where he also
worked in a livery barn. The young
none for him disappeared after few
days. Meeting Bolan some time later,
Riggs had talked to Bolan and spoke
of John Anderson who had said he
knew Bolan. From Riggs's descrip
ton Bolan at once recognized the
John Anderson" as John Anderson
Woody.
There the trail ends for the defense.
Senator Carroll on the stand yesterday
declared he was unable to follow the
scent farther. He had to get back to
Kansas and Lyndon for the opening of
county seat the night before the trial
and the affidavit presented to the
court was at once drawn up by him
and Attorney Schenck.
Other Cases Continued.
By consent of the attorneys. Mon