The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-15
Arthur Burch and Mrs. Oben-
chain Formally Arraigned.
Refuse to Recognize One
Another While in Court.
HUSBAND TO ADVISE DEFENSE
Spectacular Fight to Save Two
Z. Already Started.
Mrs. Obenchain Refuses to
Change Her Story.

Los Angeles, Aug 15-Ignoring
each other when they met face to face
for the first time since their arrest,
Arthur c. Burch, and Mrs. Madalynne
Obenchain,' indicted for the murder of
]. Bolton Kennedy, appeared together
before Superior Judge Reeve today for
arraignment.
At the request of defense counsel,
Judge Reeve continued the case until
August %. when Burch and Mrs.
Obenchain will appear in court to
plead to the Indictment.
Made Dramatic Scene.
The scene in the court room was
dramatic one as Burch and Mrs. Oben-
chain met. Burch entered over the
bridge of sighs' and Mrs. Obenchain
was escorted in from the county Jail
along the sidewalk in front of the hall
Of justice. Mrs. Obenchain had been
in the court room several minutes be-
fore Burch was brought in.
Standing before the judges bench
while Deputy District Attorney Asa
Keyes read the indictment, Burch and
Mrs. Obenchain deliberately avoided
looking at each other. During the few
minutes they were in court, neither
gave the slightest indication of having
seen the other.
the arrival here of Ralph Obenchain
of Chicago, former husband of the
accused woman, and Rev. William A.
Burch of Evanston, father of the in
dicted man, also were awaited with
keen anticipation. Their presence
here is regarded as the beginning Of a
specta cular fight to acquit Burch and
Mrs. Obenchain.
Obenchain to Advise Attorneys.
Obenchain, it was stated, will be
seated at the counsel table with War
rem Williams, tentatively engaged by
Mrs. Obenchain as counsel. Not be-
ing privileged to enter actively into
the practice of law in this state,
Obencha1n Will act only in an advis-
Dry capacity.
The meeting of father and son and
former husband and wife was dra-
matte. Rev. Mr.. Burch. who is finan-
cial secretary of Northwestern uni
versity, and Obenchain hurried to the
Jail immediately upon their arrival
AS the motor car bearing the
anxious father whirled up to the door
Of the jail, young Burch stood i'm
patiently in the visitors room peering
thru the bars for a first glimpse of his
sire. A kindly jaiIer, mumbling to
himself that he did not have the heart
to keep a father from his son. read
lily admitted Rev. Burch to the room
Father and son embraced each other.
Neither spoke for several moments.
Then the two walked together to an
other room where they talked
earnestly for half anbour.
Had Trouble Seeing Ex-Wife.
The meeting between Obenchain
and his divorced wife was less spec
tacular, yet the simplicity of their re-
union enhanced the dramatic element
of the situation. The kindly jailer
who could not refuse Rev. Burch per-
mission to see his son. was more OBJ
durate with Obenchain. After. an
hour and a half, however, Obenchain
was admitted to the JAIL
The Chicago attorney ana his for
mer wife clasped hands and greeted
each other with look of understand
ing. There was no noticeable show
of emotion. For two hours Obenchain
sat alone with his ex-wife- Oben-
chain freely discussed the conference.
81 didn't spend two hours or more
discussing the case altogether" he
said. I'VE met merely as old friends
and pals, which we have always been.
I tried to make our conference a
friendly talk between old friends and
that was what it was.
MRS. Obenchain didn't change her
story in the least. What she told me
of this case is exactly what she told
the district attorney"
Both Obenchain and Rev. Burch,
after the interview stated their sun-
daunted belief in the innocence of
chain.
Hes my boy. and I know him bet
ter than anyone else knows him."
Rev. Burch said. Hes been my
chum, my pal for all the years that
have passed since he was big enough
the circumstances are 1t would
make no difference IL the whole world
declared my boy guilty. I know him
and I know he Is mot guilty.