The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-01
Accused of Banta Murder, Great
Bend Doctor Talks.
Answers All Questions Asked
Him Calmly.
IMPEACHING TACTICS USED
Defense Tries to Break Down
States Case.
Woman Says She Saw Banta
With Another Man.


Great Bend. Dec. DIR. ". 4.
Nixon. on trial for the murder of Ar
thur c. Banta, Great Bend attorney,
took the witness stand in his own de-
tense shortly before noon today.
Turning his face toward the jury.
the accus~I physician calmly and
quietly answered questions from Sen
ator Carr w. Taylor, his attorney
Senator Taylor declared the life OF r.
doctor is an open book" SUM
mar.zed. Nike related his life history
prior to July 6, 1921, as follows:
Was Born in Canada.
Born near Toronto, Can. lived on
farm with parents who were poor
Graduated from Ontario veterinary
college. Came to Cameron. No. where
practiced veterinary surgery four or
five years. Moved to Kansas City.
Mo. to complete study in human med
icine. Graduated University Medical
college in 1907. After serving as in
terne in Kansas City hospital entered
practice in Kansas City, following year
went to Labrador as a medical mis-
sionary.
He assisted the Newfoundland gov
ernment in eradication of virulent dis
easeS among Eskimos. Returned 10
Kansas City. Moved to Great Bend
about 1910 Or 1911, where he lived
almost continuously except for army
service as captain medical corps Camp
Cody, n. M. from June to October,
1918. when honorably discharged be-
cause of high blood pressure and en-
aged heart. Married three times.
Divorced from first two wives
Used Impcaching Tactics.
Impeaching tactics were used BY
the defense today to break down the
testimony of A L. "Curley" Wallace
and Roy Hayes. the principal accusers
of DR.. w. A. Nixon, on trial for the
murder of Arthur c. Banta, Great
Bend attorney, on a lonel.- country
road near here July 6, last
Doctor Nixon. his attorneys an
nounced. when court convened. viii
take the stand in his own defense late
today. A long cross-examination
seemed probable. making It uncertain
whether or not the defense would rest
its case before night.
A. NJ. Slim" Parkinson. a waiter in
Wallace's restaurant at the time OF
the Banta killing. took the stand He
testified Wallace exhibited extreme
nervousness on the DAYS following the
murder. He said he noticed nothing
I unusual about the demeanor of Wal
,ace the night of July s. but when
ne saw him the next afternoon ne
paced the floor like a mad man and
Sald to me six or seven times. You
know where I was last night"
We'll Art and I were good friends
and people won't suspect me-" Park
time
Tcrs Wallace's Words.
A few days later after Wallace had
been questioned by the county attor-
ney, Parkinson said Wallace re:
marked:
Il would spend Thousands OF dol
iors rather than to be tried for this
murder On cross examination Park
inson reiterated his statement made
as prosecution witness that Wallace
was in his restaurant between s.20 and
$3.50 the night of July s. thus seem
ingly establishing an alibi
The defense took particular pains
attempting to impeach the testimony
of Arlie Woods. a 13-year-old boy,
who testified that on the night of the
murder he saw Arthur Bsnta in his
car in front of the Doctors office with
"a heavy set man" and that later he
saw the two driving westward on
what proved to be the death journey.
Saw Bantn and Another
Two witnesses. Charles Williams. a.
banker, and Frank McCracken, a
tailor testified that in their presence
the morning of July Arlie Woods
said the man with Banta looked like
Bill Dillon a tall slim man
Mrs. +. p. Cook. in a deposition.
said that while driving the evening OF
July she met Banta motoring west
ward with another man. She was un-
able to say who the other man was,