The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-20
Barred Her SHAMEL new CABLE
Hutchinson Accused of Direct Wire to Germany
/ Murder Refutes Charges Eight Years.
Past in Her Postal Cooperative
Own Defense. With German Company.
TWAS HAPPY WITH BARNES SUPPLANTS CAPTURED LINES
Attorney Declares British French Hold
Never Had Chance Two Old Lines.
in Quincy Ill, Cable Operating in
Vice. October, 1925
Hutchinson Woman Accused of
Murder Refutes Charges.
Reveals All Her Past in Her
Own Defense.
WAS HAPPY WITH BARNES
Attorney Declares Mrs. Yargus-
Barnes Never Had Chance.
Born and Reared in Quincy, ILL.,,
House of Vice.

Hutchinson, Kan, Jan. 20.-A wo-
mans shame was barred before jury
here today as the murder trial of Mrs.
Maude Yargus- Barnes entered its final
stages.
The defense. to offset the accusa-
tons of the prosecution, which rested
its case late yesterday, that Mrs.
Barnes had deliberately poisoned her
husband by mixing arsenate of lead in
food cooked for him, was prepared to
reveal series of sensations.
Happy With Barnes.
1t would show, counsel stated. that
the accused woman never knew the
meaning of happiness until she began
her improper relations with George ".
Barnes, with whom she lived for six
years. and whom she married only six
hours before he died on September %
last.
Her previous life, Attorney John
Conpaughten said in opening the de-
Tense late yesterday, was one of shame
and degradation.
Reared in a house of vice in Quincy,
Ill, her mother a woman of the
streets, seduced at an early age by an
uncle. and then wed to a man who
cruelty beat her, the attorney stated,
she never knew kindness or. happiness
until she met the man she is accused
of killing.
When she walked the, streets PEN
niless, Attorney Connaughten said, the
only ones to offer to aid her were men
who took her to their rooms for inn
moral purposes.
Gave Her Child Name.
The defense contends that Mrs.
Yargues-Barnes. who last May was di-
vorced from her first husband. Ray
Yargus, of Hannibal, Mo-, who is held
as an accomphce in the murder, dis
covered last August she was to be-
come a mother. The death bed mar
riage was agreed upon, according to
the defense, that the unborn child
would have a name.
Attorneys for the prosecution, sur
prised at this declaration, said today
that should Mrs. YarguS-BarneS testify
that she expects to become a mother,
they will demand an examination.
That arsenate of lead was mixed
with food, will not be denied by the
defense, twas understood, but that it
would contend that it was mistakenly
used for cornsta~ch.
AS Mother Impossible Says Witness.
The fate of Mrs, Yargus-Barnes will
be in the hands of the jury late today.
After dramatic recital of her early
life of shame and asserting that she
had never expressed hate for Barnes.
and did not seek his death. Mrs. Var
gus-Barnes on the wintess stand de-
clared that if arsenate of lead was
administered to him in food, it was
by mistake.
Only one witness was sworn in re-
buttal by the state and the final argu-
ments by counsel were begun. 1t was
believed the jury would have the case
by o'clock
The rebuttal witness, Mrs. j. B.
Barrow, testified to refute testimony
of Mrs. Yargus-Barnes that she was to
become a mother and that because of
this. the death bed marriage was per-
formed. Mrs. Barrow swore that the
woman had told her that It was i'm
possible for her to become a mother.