The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-27

to st. Marys to face Moss with the
charge made by the girl that he was
responsible. Mrs. Swift testified to-
day concerning interviews and implor-
atoms on her part to Moss in an en-
deavor to get him to square matters
for the alleged wrong.
Il pleaded with him in the name
of his mother to do what was right
with Isabel" she testified.
Here she testified to the alleged re-
mark from Moss which drew the audi
BILE Explanations of horror in the
court room this morning.
He Denied Everything.
"He deniad everything, asserted he
wasn't guilty and wouldn't aid in any
way unless we would prosecute some
other man. In that event, he stated,
that he would see that Isabel were
well taken care of.
II told him that my husband was
i'll and that 1 had spent 5000 in the
girls behalf in bringing her TO Kansas
and couldn't afford to pay her any
more He refused to pay cent but
finally said that if Aunt Mollie kes-
sler wanted to give Isabel 500 he
would loan her the money.
He sat down and wrote out note
for 500 and he made Aunt Molle
sign the note. Then he wrote out a
check for 500 which Aunt Mollie
cashed and turned the money over to
us. He even made her pay per cent
interest on the note. Aunt Mollie said;
"'Oh John, yoS won't make me
pay per cent interest.
Yes, I WILL he said. This is
business
He cursed US all; said that Isabel,
then i'll, would become nameless
thing and said if old Kessler needed
money, there was that farm on which
he could get it,
nod
humble home of Kessler the black
smith, when the anxious mother, ap-
prehensive of the girls welfare while
she was at the Moss home keeping
books for Moss on week ends, asked
Moss if it wouldn't be better if Isabel,
then a girl Is, could rest those days
as she went to school the other six
days.
| Change in Girl.
Her mother told Moss that there
was a strange change in the girl she
couldn't explain. The fine clothes and
| tr.nkets, or something, had trans
| formed the girl she had known. But
| Moss said Isabel was a smart girl, was
| learning fast; he absolutely nee led
some one, and that Isabel had to be
| we'll dressed when she was in his COM
| pany.
| John Schenck and Robert Stone
attorneys for Moss, cross examined
| Mrs. Swift. They read statements
made by her in dispositions taken by
| Stone in Texas and at the conclusion
of their cross examination Stone
| stated that Mrs Swift contradicted
herself on five different points in hel
\ testimony this morning and that giver
| in Texas.
Sister of Girl Died.
Always a hush seems to fall in the
| court room when the name of Lillian
| the older sister of Isabel Kessler. i:
mentioned on the witness stand. Lii
| liam, according to testimony intro
| duced, died at about the time Isabel:
trouble became known.
She was in i'll health and highly
nervous" Mrs. Swift testified today
When Oliver kessler the father
was on the witness stand his face
turned white when he told the jur!
that a man had told his departed
daughter of IsabeFs trouble.
| Objections were raised today whel
| w. y. S. Bird, an attorney for KessleT
questioned Mrs. Swift about Lilliai
Kessler.
The court room remains crowded
Aunt Mollie Kessler is the only mem
Der of the family seated on the Mos
side of the table Moss frequentl,
reaches over and touches the old lad
on the arm when testimony is intro
duced. Isabel kessler is SURROUNDED
by uncles and aunts, her father ant
mother, her sister and a brother-in
law
1t is expected the Kessler testimon.
will be concluded today. Moss AM
many other witnesses will then b.
given an opportunity to tell their sid