The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-28

E,skridge, Kan, Aug. 2s.-The body
of John Woody was identified
today as the body of the man whose
bones were found in a shallow trench
near the livery earn of Rufe King.
The ident'ficaticn was made by Daw-
son Woody. father Of the young man.
Woody was the second witness
called by the state in the preliminary
hearing of Rufe King, charged with
the murder of John Woody. The pre-
liminary began shortly after 2 o'clock
this afternoon.
The Identification was based upon
the black hair. the teeth and the skull
of the skeleton which, the father
claimed. fitted exactly with the hair,
teeth and skull of his missing son.
Doctors Menard and Richardson. OF
Paxico, called to the witness stand,
were asked IL q break in the skull OF
the man found near Rufe Kings liv-
cry barn came in life or after death.
Both physicians were unable to state
positively as to when the blow had
been administered.
The bones of the man believed to be
John Woody were placed one by one
in their position in life by the two
the opera house. There were one or
two hysterical outcries by women
who were in the audience at the time
the physicians were working on the
skeleton.
However. aside from mutterings
and the hysterical cries of the women
there were no demonstrations King,
surrounded by attorneys and officers
maintained the calm which has mark
ed his every movement since the be-
| ginning. His wife, Mrs. Grace Mckee
and his sister, Mrs. Matte Cooper.
who express their belief in his inno-
cence, were in the opera house.
Pcddlcr Case Next.
The preliminary was expected 20
end about o'clock this afternoon
and there was little doubt expressed
that King would be bound over for
trial on bond as large as that de-
manded in the Reuben Gutshall case.
| Following the Woody trial King will
/ be arraigned in the peddler case.
/ There will be a new warrant issued
charging King with the murder of
| william f. Ringer. whose brothers
were located a few days ago by states
| attorneys. The two brothers, Emil
/ Ringer and o. r. Ringer, of wisner.
Neb.. were present at the Woody pre-
liminary.
The two brothers told states at
torneys that they last heard from
their brother in 1906 Just as he was
/ leaving Nebraska. to go into Kansas.
King several weeks ago when maxi
| ing a statement to states attorneys
declared that the peddler whom he
said was named Brady had appeared
F, in Maple Hill shortly before his mar
riage. King was married in the wIn-
i ter of 1906-07.
The brothers identified jewelry
found near what is believed to be the
body of the peddler as jewelry SINH
lar to that made and sold by their
brother. They described their brother
as man 40 years of age at the time
of his disappearance. weighing about
155 rounds 5 feet inches tall. and
this description states attorneys say
fits the description OF the skeleton
found on the King place.
King Remained Calm.
King sat with his back half turned
10 the crowd which packed the hall
for the hearing. As the state called
it's witnesses, King turned his chair
slightly that he might look full into
the eyes of persons who testified
against him. During the examination
Kings eyes seldom left those Of the
men on the witness stand. Seldom
did King confer with his lawyers in N
effort to prompt them in cross-ex-
: aminations. None of the character
istic actions Of men in court rooms
were displayed by the defendant. A
cigar which King smoked as he was
taken to the hearing room. died in his
mouth. Occasionally King reiighted
the stogie.
Detailed cross examination of al
state witnesses by Sen. c. K. Carroll
was anticipated by lawyers for this
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