The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-19
TAKE NO CHANCES
Accused SIayers of Arthur Banta
Hurried From Great Bend.
Physician and Service Station
Man in Different Jails.

Great Bend. Kan, Aug. 19.-Barton
county officials continued today to
maintain silence regarding the arrest
yesterday of DIR. w. A. Nixon and Roy
Hayes in connection with the killing
of Arthur c. Banta, lawyer. Banta
was shot and killed on a country road
near here several weeks ago.
William ]. Weber, county attorney,
said today that evidence in posses
sion of his office justified the arrests
made yesterday. He declined to make
any further statement, saying that
when the time comes the facts will
be given to the public" Doctor Nixon
is held in Jail at Lyons, Kan, and
Hayes at Hutchinson. Doctor Nixon
has praeticed medicine about twelve
years
Doctor Nixon and Roy Hayes have
been secretly taken out Of the city by
County Attorney Weber and Sheriff
Sam Hill.
The action was declared to be pre-
caution against mob violence which
the authorities feared might develop
as a result of high feeling here over
the murder of the prominent attor-
ney, son of Judge D. A. Bantai of
this city.
DIR. Nixon. who has enjoyed a large
practice while q resident here, burst
into tears when the handouts were
placed on him and declared there was
no excuse for such action. Both men
denied the charges placed against
them.
Have Been Under Suspicion.
Nixon and Hayes have been sus-
pected since the discovery of Banta's
body, which was found lying beside
his automobile on a lonely road four
miles west of here. The night follow
ing the finding of the body Nixon and
Hayes were summoned to the county
since that time they have been sub
ject to constant questioning by the
county attorney and others. A. L.
C"Curly") Wallace, restaurant owner
of this city. who also was suspected
of knowing something of the murder
and who is now confined in the county
Jail on a charge of perjury, was clear
ed of all connection in the case by the
county attorney today.
Keep Evidence Secret.
E. E. Fitzpatrick. deputy state fire
marshal of Wichita, who was instru-
mental in the murder charges being
filed, refused to disclose any of the
evidence which led up to the arrest.
The murder of Banta occurred some
time the night of July 6 and his body
was found the next morning by two
farmers as they were taking their
harvest crew to the field. Banta'S
body had four bullet wounds in the
left arm and two in the body, each of
the wounds in the body being capable
of causing death.
Complete mystery surrounded the
case from the first and the officers
worked on process of elimination. 1t
has been no secret, whatever, that
among other clues the officers con-
nected the two men arrested with the
case from the start. Up to three weeks
ago several clues were worked on and
several Barton county and Rush
county persons were arrested on vari-
Gus charges and questioned thoroly.
The fact that Banta when he re-
ceived a telephone call at the Elks'
home about o'clock the night he was
murdered. left the club and got in his
car and drove directly to a place in
front of Doctor Nixon's office where
he turned off the motor and lights and
sat in the car as tho waiting for some
one, led many to believe that that was
the call which lured him to his death.
The motive of the crime is not known.
1t has been intimated. however, that
the cause of the murder was a money
greed.