The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-25
DR.. NIXON IN COURT
Great Bend Murder Case Comes
to Trial Today.
Nixon, Hayes and Wallace Ac-
cused of Staying.
VICTIM WAS YOUNG LAWYER
Enmity of Trio Grew Out Of
Cigaret Raid.
Had Planned to Sink Body in
QuiekSands.
VICTIM WAS YOUNG LAWYER


animation of prospective Jurors in the
case of DR.. W. A. Nixon on trial
charged with first degree murder be-
gan here today. The court room was
crowded.
DR.. Nixon sat beside his counsel, ap-
parently taking little interest IN the
proceedings. Roy Hayes and A L.
Wallace, charged with murder in con-.
nection with the death or Arthur c.
Banta, young attorney here, last July.
the same charge on which DR.. Nixon
is being tried, were not in court this
morning.
1t was on the strength of statements
made by Hayes and Wallace that
charges were laid against Doctor
Nixon. The latter has denied any
connection with the death OF Bants.
whose father is judge of the district
court here in which Nixon is being
tried. Judge w. c. Harris OF Emporia,
Kan, is presiding at the Nixon trial.
Five VeniremeTi Excused.
OF the first twelve veniremen ex-
amined today. five were excused upon
stating that they had formed opinions
as to Doctor Nixon's guLs or innocence.
Most members OF the panel are Barton
county farmers. They are being oues-
toned closely regarding the knoWI-
edge or opinions they may possess re-
garding the case. When the court re-
cessed at noon, Judge Harris warned
spectators to refrain from discussing
the case in the presence of jurors or
court officials.
The night of July 6. 1921, Arthur
Banta was shot and killed. His body
was found the next day beside his
motor car on a lonely road four miles
west of Great Bend. He had left the
Elks club here in response TO a tele-
phone call earlier in the evening. had
been seen sitting in his car on a dark
side street a few minutes after he left
the club. and the next morning was
found dead with bullet wound In his
body.
Dame Rumor Busy.
Rumor was busy, theories of dif-
ferent sort were advanced. Six weeks
later, August 20. 1921, three men were
under arrest IN connection with the
killing They were A. L Wallace. a
restaurant Keeper OF Great Bend; Rov
Hayes. empIoye of an oil company.
ana Or. W. A. Nixon, a Great Bend
physician. The arrest OF Doctor Nixon
caused much the greatest sensation OF
the three. He was middle aged. mar
ried' reported well to do. and stories
were numerous of his benevo1ence
toward persons in trouble, his patti
otto work during the war and 50
forth. Hayes and Wallace made
sworn statements, in which they ac-
cused Doctor Nixon of having planned
and carried out the killing OF Arthur
Banta. The statements said that the
Banta killing was preceded py other
crimes including arson and highway
robbery Doctor Nixon burst into
tears and denied the charges He said
unload" on him.
According to stories told by HAYES
and Wallace in their sworn STATE
ments. as made public by the police
they were in the habit of meeting fire.
quentIy with Doctor Nixon. either in
his office or in Wallace's restauranr
AT these meetings, according to the
story, crimes were discussed and ffaf
ned. Hayes asserted that al various
times the desira bilfty of killing sSberIsf
Sam Hill of Barton counrv and Ed
Robinson. Great Bend chier OF police
was discussed.
Cigaret Raid Cause.
Hayes said in his statement that the
hostility of the trio toward Arfbur
Banta grew out Of a case in which
"aliace. the restaurant man. was
prosecuted on n charge of selling
clgarets. an offense under the Kansas
law. Banta was retained to defend.
but, according to the story, "douhIe~
crossed the restaurant man, who was
convicted on the cigaret selling
charge Hayes also said that Banta
owed Doctor Nixon a Considerable
amount of money, and the It was de-
clded that Banta must come across
with the money or he killed.
AIAeT the klillnE was planned, ar-
cording to the statements made by
Hayes and Wallace to the police. wal
lace refused to go on with the plan
and withdrew entirely. Hayes said
that Doctor Nixon accompa MED Banta
to the spot west Of town where the
young lawyers body was found next
day, and that he, Hayes. followed in
the doctors car. When he arrived,
some little time later. at the rendez-
vous. Hayes said Nixon climbed into
the car with him and remarked i've
done the job
Had Planned Mystery.
The original plan. according to The
confession made public by the police.
was to sink Banta's body in the sands
of the Arkansas river near Hutchin-
son, so that his disappearance would
remain a mystery.
Charges Of highway robbery and
arson have been filed against Nixon.
Hayes and Wallace, in addition to the
murder charges.
Doctor Nixon has steadfastly denied
any connection with the Banta killing
or any of the other crimes charged
against him. asserting that he was be-
ing made a victim by Wallace and
Hayes and that time would prove how
baseless were the charges.
Would Quash Charges Against Small
Decatur. H.. Nov. 25.-The motion