The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-11
MAN IN TALK CASE.
Mckeever Describes Him as a
"HarmIess Grandfather
Wealthy Farmer Admits Bush
ness Calls on Mrs. McKibben.
SAYS He "BAITED LISTENER
Mrs. Wingert Says She Talked
as some Woman to Another
Pastor: "Oh My, No! L Didn't
BawI Out Mrs. McKibben.-
SAYS He "BAITED LISTENERv

sldilu tolu Oh MS aunltIed friendship
with Mrs. Bina McKibben. daughter of
the late Congressman J. T.. OTIS. Far
quer's testimony opened the second
day of the trial in the 5000 SANDER
suit brought by Mrss McKibben
against Mrs Alice Wingert. 1914 Twiss
avenue, over the alleged circulation of
a slanderous story by Mrs. Wingert,
based on conversation which she
claimed sne heard Mrs. McKibben
carry on over a party telephone line
with a man.
Says His Wife Knew of Visits.
Farquer, a wealthy retired farmer
living at 164 Emmett street, admitted
he had driven his car in front of the
McKibben home at 123 Ohio street
several times, alighted and visited Mrs.
McKibben. He admitted that his wife
had heard talk" about it and that she
trusted him and believed him when he
told her that he had business dealings
with the McKibben family; in fact,
had loaned money to the husband.
L learned about the talk said Far
quer, land learned that Mrs. Wingert
was listening in on the party line. Il
called Mrs. McKibben six times one
day so Mrs. Wingert would have
something to listen to-"
Continuing, Farquer testified that
self and Mrs. w. L. Jury and Mrs.
Sam Cremer, called at the Wingert
home for the purpose of hearing Mrs.
Wingert's story of the telephone con-
Winger accused him of calling her a
guardian anger while she was listen
ing to the telephone conversation.
Carried Affair to Church.
At the same meeting, he testified,
Mrs. Wingert told of hearing the al
legged conversation between Mrs. Nc
Kibben and another man concerning a
date" Following the visit of his
wife, two other women and himself at
the Wingert home, Farquer testified
that the affair was carried before the
deacons and the minister. the Rev
Milo Moore, of the Seward Avenue
Baptist church.
FarQuer stated that he was eXoner-
ated when an explanation was made to
the deacons and the minister He
stated that when he learned his bust
ness had become 1.-The Women's bust
ness he. called oftener than ever at
the McKibben home and footed his
auto horn as he passed the homes OF
Mrs. Jury and Mrs. Cremer.
The Rev. Mr.. Moore was called to the
stand. -McKeeVer called him Brother
Moore apd called the women sis
ters." The minister described his part
in the affair and testified to the meet
ing of deacons and himself to sit in
Judgment on the gray haired and
wealthy. retired farmer and the young
Mrs. McKibben.
Didn't you say" asked McKeever,
that this harmless grandfather was
clared and Mrs. McKibben wasnt?"
The minister admitted he had SAID
Farquer was cleared, but denied that
he had mentioned the fact that Mrs
McKibben was not.
Didn't you bawl Mrs. McKihben
out in the meeting by speaking OF
seeing her sitting at piano IN her
house playing while man in shirt
sleeves was standing by her size
McKeever demanded.
s.Oh My, MOI" Said Minister.
"Oh my, MOI" replied the Rev. Mr..
Moore, Il didn't bawl her out, but
when she asked me if 1 knew any
thing against her character. referred
to an afternoon when l was making
pastoral CALL stepped up to the front
door and saw man in the mouse
standing beside her, saw him turn
and noted it wasn't her husband, ex-
cused myself and walked on
Didn't you have a perfect right TO
go in and learn the true facts, that
he was a piano tuner, or didn't you
might be evil?" demanded McKeever.
mo, just went on and didn't think
anything in particular about it. the
minister replied.
ct suppose if you had seen a
plumber in the house in his shirt
sleeves you would nave acted the
same?" said McKeever.
Mrs. Cora Moore, the ministers
wife, also took the stand. She TOLD OF |
hearing the scandal talk about the
Farquer visits to the Mcklbben nome
Story Went the Rounds.
"There wasn't so much talk about |
the telephone conversation" she said |
"but that story about his visits GER
tainly did go the rounds"
Mrs w L. Jury took the stand she |
testified that. while Mrs Wingert was |
NOT a member of the Baptist church. /
she was a close friend. She told of
meeting Mrs Wingert following a
missionary meeting and during the |
conversation. mention was made OF i
who attended. Among them was Mrs.
McKibben.
as a member of the church and the
same missionary society. should know
what she had heard over the tele-
phone"
Mrs. wingert took the witness stand
just before noon She testified that
while she didn't know Mrs. McKfb-
ben. she had heard that conversation
and others over the party line and
swore positively that there was no
doubt in her mind that Mrs. Mckib-
ben was the woman in the converse
ton
Hadn't Listened "PurposcIy."
Mrs wingert denied she had
listened "purposely' to the conversa
ton on the ten-party line. but said that
she couldn't help but hear converse
tons when she took down the re-
ceiver to call number and found the {
line was busy.
Asked how she recognized the voice
of Mrs McKibhen. stranger. she
stated that she heard during some of
the conversations the names of Faye
and Hazel used and knew Mrs. Nc
kibben had children by that name and /
recognized the same voice in all the
conversations because of a peculiar
laugh Mrs McKibben possessed.
The time 1 listened to the CONVEX
sation about the date" said Mrs Win |
CERT, Il didn't take down the re-
eai.er for threa rs