San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-28
GAYETY HALTED.

aNS,hNu.
GAYETY HALTED.
But at the height of all the fes-
tiviticS something happened that made
TIE bridegroom suddenly turn ashen
and his bride trenblc and cling close
10 his arm.
a messenger boy lad placed Il
telegram in his hand from I. .he
county attorney at Beaver City,.
Nob.
Today the bridegroom - Bert NJ.
Davis, one OF the most prominent mer-
chants and stockmen of Eastern Kau-
sas--is in q Jail awaiting trial on
charge of murder.
In a nearby cell is his bride. The
former Mrs. Kate Resler, who is &C.
cuscd OF aiding him in the alleged
Staying OF his former wife.
And nrraigncd against the pair are
two Of Davis own children, who are
ready to take the stand and tell what
they knew OF the circumstances sur
rounding their mothers Death.
Davis bcgah life as n ranchman and
farmer on the Kansas prairies and
succeeded in Wrestling fortune
from the country where many have
failed.
GOSSIPS CHATTER.
Several years ago he moved 10
Beaver City with his wife and seven
ehildren and almost Immediately be-
came one OF the towns leading citi-
zcns. His store prospTcd as his ranch
had done before. He became active
IN fratcrpal and church affairs. 1t
was 4 matter Of few months before
he was leader in the civic life of
the village and candidate for state
political honors.
In keeping with his position. Da-
Wis bought rambling old homestead
in the most exclusive district Of the
-town. Everybody locked upon the
Davises as an ideally happy family.
And so they were uIpA-- -
Ncxt door to the Davis home was
new bungalow pretty place
built OF white stuccO aud with green
window frames, surpmndcd by a
broad, smooth lawn and Towering
shrubs.
Several families succ sssivcly lived
In the house, but one day Il new neigh
Dor moved in. She was Mrs. KATE
Rcsler-a friendly sort a person, who
tearfully told the sad srory of her
husbands death some yeEs before.
Naturally enough, she was repeat
e,lly invited to the Davis home. Sine
and Mrs. Davis exchanged cooking
recipes and attended the meetings of
the church sewing circles together or
Wednesday afternoons, aud when
Davis went TO. lodge meetings the
widow would frequently spend the
evening with his wife.
GOSSIP ACTIVE
But despite the apparently limo.
cent friendship, there were many who
shook their heads Mt the q owing in
tiMacy. The tongues of the town
gossips began to clatter q little-a
young and rather pretty widow is al
ways subject Of discuss on in n
small town.
Mrs. Davis occasionally heard these
bits of gossip. but wouldnf allow
herself 10 be influenced.
"Mrs. Rcslcr is my FRIEND" she
would answer when fi:c renia rks be-
came rather pointed. People just
will talk"
And so matters went for month
after month. The friendship be.
1NffU lHf llHNthfs anu NhN "phiNAs
, widow progressed.
Then. ono morning last August,
Mrs. Davis suddenly became very
sie,;. Mrs Reslcr was one OF the
frs; 10 come 10 her assistance. but
her condition steadily became worse.
Three days later she died.
Gall trouble-She had been sttfeT-
ing from it for years Davis ex'
plaiyncd 20 his children and friends.
he sold his store and sent his three
A few weeks after his wife's death
younger children TO live with some
relatives in iowa.
WIDOW DISAPPEARS.
The funeral was held 1t the church
where she had been one Of the most
active workers. Mrs. lteslcr shcl
some tears over the casket aud 'did
he's best to console the mourning has
band and children.
shortly after the death Of Mrs.
Davis she Young widow closed ter
home and disappeared from BcTSer
City.
As usual there was q lot or Goss ~
about Mrs. Davis death and the rad n
e. strange coincidence Of her hzs-
bands departure from the town at
about the same time that Mrs. ResiT
had closed her home.
County Attorney Wade Stevens mt
first refused to give credeDcc to thc,e
rurnors. But they persisted. So one
dav abont four months after death bel
ordered the body cxhumed and pos,
mortcm examination held.
Meanwhile reports began to drirc
back 10 Beaver City OF the engage
ment If Davis to Mrs. Resler, and
later Of their marriage at Manhattans
Kan.
son AGAINST FATHER.
On the very day that Davis andi
his bride No. were celebrating their
wedding at the home Of one Of the
htter's relatives in Clay Center thei
eouriy attorney received report from
the state chemist.
An analysis Of the stomach proycdI