The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-02-16
Romance of
AgedRon1eo
Unfolded
Acquaintance Testifl 70
>'Year.Old Husband of Ash
land Attorney Said Many
Women Made Love.
Courtroom OVERLOOKING

10, against whom an action mas been
brought asking that he be declared
mentally incompetent could talk OF
little but women prior to his mar
riage to Mrs. Irene c. Buell. Ashland
attorney, two witnesses testified In
county court here today.
In a courtroom filled to overflow
ing, the romance of the old man
which eliminated in his marriage to
the 4S-year-old woman attorney slow
ly was unfolded. Before adjourn.
ment tonight, attorneys for his son,
Harry, who has petitioned to have a
guardian appointed for his father, had
called six witnesses who know some
thing about the elder Keiser's ac-
--tions during the last nine months.
"If we would let him talk to us,
the subject of the conversation would
at once drift to women" said c. N.
Walton, cashier of the Ashland State
bank, who declared he handled a con-
siderable portion of Keiser's business
Tells of Visit.
He would tell us the number that
he had courted and 1 remember once
he told us he had had an unusually
good evening when two girls called
at his house and stayed until after
IL O'clock"
did he say how old they were?" J..
c. Bryant. attorney for the younger
Keiser, asked.
II don't believe he did, but they
apparently were young and beautiful
from what the old man said,'' the wit
ness replied.
A ripple of excitement swept the
court room during one portion of Wal
tons testimony when he declined to
answer what Keiser had said ''about
one particular woman" referring to
his bride.
II wouldn't care to say" Walton
insisted at was given to me in con-
fidence."
He finally was prevailed upon to
testify that he had proposed and the
lady had accepted him with glee.".
"Keiser said to me. L told hersyou
don't want an old fellow like me- but
she put heI hand on my shoulder and
said, L didn't look old to her.
"Many Women Made Love-"
Waltons testimony was corroborat-
cd by c. E. happening, Ashland real
estate man.
"Keiser told me that many women
were making love to him." he de-
clared. He even said several young
girls were counting him.
Like Walton. he declined to report
all Keiser had told him.
WAS It a sexual conversation he
was asked. "Well, yes. it was" he
replied.
That Irene Buell. Keiser wanted her
husband not to write to his son,
Harry, telling of their marriage. was
the testimony Of Mr.. and Mrs. Caspar
Tursk.
Keep Mouth Shut"
Mr.. and Mrs. Turks declared that
they had boarded Farnam street car
in front of the Paxton hotel In Omaha
with the Keisers, who were unac
quainted with them The Keisers took
adjoining seats and the Turks over
heard the warning TO Keiser.
Mrs. Keiser said to the old man
You'll need somebody to look after
your interests and I'll do that" said
Mrs. Turks. "She also warned him
not to joke with anybody when he got
back to Ashland. Keep your mouth
- shut she said at one time"
Both agreed that the conversation
had taken place February !, follow
ing the marriage OF the Keisers and
that Mrs. Keiser had instructed hel
husband to purchase two tickets t.
Ashland as she didn't want to bs
seen with him.
Keiser was interested in Mrs. Buell.
as early as June, 1923. according tc
his brother, Eli.
"Acts Like Kid"
"He said to me, How would yot
like to have Mrs Buell. for a sister
in.law?' J told him ] didn't know
who he meant. He said, You know
the lady lawyer
II said, Surely Mrs. Buell. wouldn'
marry you. Your ages are different
she is educated and moves in differ
ent society. I. is my opinion tha
she would marry you only TO
money.
Both he and the son, Harry testi
fled that during the last year tn
old man has "acted like a kid" am
il no longer competent to handle hi
business.
A statement of Kelser's bank &C
count was brought into court 4
show that where he once cashet
checks for modest amounts he latel'
has been coming In with a deman'
for SUNG running into three figures
"One timo he wanted to cash
8, 1000 mortgage and said he was &c
ing to drill for OIL" Cashier Walto
said "Another time he drew a chec
for $iOO and took the money acros
the street to Mrs. Buel's office. Iii
checking account on July Is, 1872;
amounted to s3.451.15. Today 1t tc
tails s259.24."
~ Walton declared that he was r.
miliar with Keiser's financial cond
ton since he had made out his II
come tax statements and that he hat
So far "a he knew. reduced n fol
tune OF between 100000 and $1,000
TO $4,000 in the last IL months.