The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-23
TOO MUCH SPEED?
Inquest Into Death of John
Chandler Is Under Way.
ROSSyille Youths Give Damag-
ing Testimony Today.
CLAIM BOYS WERE DRINKING
Assert Girls Shimmied and
Smoked Cigarets at Dance.
One Girl Protested Against
Speed Threat, Says Youth.
CLAIM BOYS WERE DRINKING


death of gohn Chandler. S21 Klein
street, who was fatally injured when
the Essex touring car overturned just
| west of Silver Lake the morning of
December 10, took a new turn this
morning when three Rossville youths
who attended the dance at the Ross
vile dance hall were placed on the
witness stand.
| Following an afternoon in which all
members of the fatal party denied that
they were drinking or speeding, the
three Rossville boys today testified
/ that they saw some members of the
party drinking in front of the dance
/ hall; that they saw three bottles in
possession of the touring car occu-
pants, and that both the girls and boys
smoked cigarets and talked in loud
/ tones on the dance floor.
Made Speed Threat.
The new witnesses were Clinton
| Stalker, John Lewis and SherIpan
! GrisWo1d. The latter declared he over
heard one member of the party say
! he would drive to Topeka in thirty
minutes on the return trip.
Il am not sure but 1 think it was
that fellow there" said GriswoId, in
ferson street, alleged driver of the
car. He said he would drive to To-
peka in thirty minutes"
John Lewis was recalled to the stand
and testified that he heard one of the
girls protest when the young man
made the statement.
His Girl Protested.
at was the girl he was dancing
with" said Lewis He said he was
going to make the trip back to town
in thirty minutes. She said he would
MT. Then he said she couldn't help
herself because she wouldn't have her
foot on the throttle" :"
"What did she say them" queried
Paul Edgar, assistant county attorney.
''She said she would shut off the
engine" replied Lewis. And he said
she wouldn't
Altho Lewis said he would not be
able to identify the girl, authorities
said they believed it might have been
Miss Viola Weever, 916 Wear avenue
who is said to have been Offender
fer's company that night.
Boys Took a Drink.
The three youths said they were
standing in front of the dance hall
about 10 O'Clock that night when the
Essex drove up and the young folks
got out. They said three quart bot
ties were in evidence among the party
and that one of them was passed
around, some of the boys taking
drink from it. When empty. they
said, the bottle was placed in the gut
ter, after which the party ascended TO
the dance hall. Stalker said he IN
spected the bottle and that it snelled
like it had contained whisky. None of
the trio saw any of the girls take a
drink, they said.
on the dance floor, according to
the testimony, the manager gave the
party calling down" for smoking
the girls and some of the boys were
shimmy.ng. it was asserted
The evidence showed that a Buick
car driven by Clifford Murphy and
occupied by Harold Deering' 122o
North Van Buren, street; Miss Alta At
kins, 209 East Seventh street. and
one or two others followed the Essex
to Rossville. The two parties had ar
ranged to meet at the dance hall, 1t
was intimated.
Essex Distanced Buick.
There was also some testimony TO
the effect that an Overland car from
Topeka carried two couples who at
tended the dance, but this party was
distinct from the other two. 1t was
averred.
Harold Deering, one of the Buick
passengers, said one of the Essex party
offered him a bottle upon the arrival
in front of the dance hall, and that
he took a drink. There was no testi-
mony to the effect that any OF the
party were drunk. Deering said upon
the return trip the Essex left the
Buick behind and that he saw no more
of it until the party came upon the
wrecked car at the west edge of Silver
Lake. The Buick party picked UP the
injured and took them to c. F. Mat
miller's restaurant, where they called
an ambulance, Deering said. None of
the witnesses would testify to a GER
tainty that Diffenderfer was drunk or
that they Rad seen him take drink.
Heard Motor Mile Distant.
Mattmiller testified that while sit
ting in his restaurant about midnight
that he distinctly heard the hum of a
motor west of Silver Lake and re-
marked to someone else who was pres
ent that that motor is certainly run
ming beautifully" It was about ten
minutes later he said. when he first
learned that an accident had oc
CURED.
The inquest began at s o'clock
Thursday afternoon and was resumed
at 10 o'clock this morning. At noon
today it was continued until 1890
o'clock SATURDAY. morning. Several
more witnesses will be called, it was
said.
All surviving members Of the acci- !
dent are rapidly recovering. Miss At !
kins is still confined to the hospital
and probably viii be for two months, !