The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, February 21, 1918, Page 1

» Shockey, Matthew Evans, I, M, Kret- “Wail On being recalled tc the stand, jeweler at Drexel and sold Mr- Vail ‘The case of the State of Missouri against George Vail, charged with the murder of his wife-and the death of his infant daughter, Velma, was called in Circuit Court Monday. The entire day Monday was taken up with the examination of the sixty venire- men from which the jury was select- ed, forty qualifying. The following gentlemen were finally selected for jurymen and the case proceeded to trial Tuesday afternoon: | Glenn Gloyd, Geo.~J. Moore, Ben Coates, Thomas Caflahan, J, W. Dar- by, B, P. Powell, W. P. Miller, N. 1. “ “A, M. McCracken, Charlie ‘Walker. Prosecuting Attorney W. B. Daw- .80n matle the opening statement to the jury, outlining the history of the case and giving to the jury a synopsis of the facts which the state intends to prove in order to secure the. convic- tion of Vail upon the charge of first degree murder. Mr. Dawson was fol- lowed by:T. W. Silvers of council for the defense. The Testimony. Frank Archer, the first witness for the state testified that he was the undertaker who had charge of the remains of Mrs, Vail. He described the condition of the body which was nearly nude and described the wounds in the head which consisted of a circular wound about one inch in diameter at the back of the head and a larger, longer wound above and behind the left ear. He also stated that there was a wound at the edge of the left ear that was semi-circular in shape. The hair was matted with blood. Said’he saw nothing to indi- cate skull was crushed in, although the bone was shattered along channel of wound: He was .present at the coroner’s inquest. and saw a probe passed into one wound_and ott the other. The body was not em- balmed. Lieut, C. J. Allen, who as coroner held the inquest, testified that he ex- amined the wounds, which h»jsdes< cribed; stated the’ wounds were about 4 inches apart; that scalp was not broken between wounds, although skull was shattered between wounds .so that it was possible to follow probe with knife without cutting the bone. He said the probe passed from one wound to the other without obstruction. He said the wound might have been caused by a for- eign body passing through the skull. Said the skull was very hard. Louis Kershner who was a member of the coroner’s jury described the wounds and told of conversation with Vail regarding the verdict of the jury that the wound was that of a gun shot. Said Vail replied that “It does look like it but I am innocent; but if they prove me guilty I'll have to stand for it.” Vail told him of some loaded shells on the kitchen cabinet which might have exploded and caused the wound. Geo. Pahlman, cashier of the Bank of Amsterdam testified that he as agent wrote the insurance on Vail’s household goods. Said Vail told him he had a large quantity of flour and sugar. Saw nd evidence of burned flour after fire except a small quanti- ty of substance that might have been burned dough. He said Vail had always born a good _ reputation. Said something woke him the night of the fire and he heard a‘ loud re- port; heard John Braden cry “Vail’s house is on fire”;-heard another loud report; reports sounded like gun- shots; put on clothes and went to Vail house where he saw Vail in the . fron€ yard. Saw Jesse Thornbrough _and John Braden bring body of Mrs Vail out of house and saw clothing burst-into-flame. Braden and Thorn- *brougl laid the body on the ground 1§ of 20 feet from the house. -Heard Mrs. Vail murmer. Saw Vail with the little girl at one time. Saw Pat- teé put blanket over body of Mrs. Mr. Pahlman testified as to location of house and where witnesses were at the time. C. W. Mills, of Tonkawa, Okla, ‘testified that-in May,-1916 he was a a diamond ring for $30, Vail paying down. Did not remember who ick at the time. like a gunshot, stood in doorway and about 10 seconds later heard another, -hoth-.sounded like’ gunshots: fo seconds later saw fire break out in kitchen of Vail house and spread rapidly; then heard man calling for help. Ran to phone and told Central help was wanted at Geo. Vail’s. hat and bucket and went to Vail’s. Heard calls for help from west side of road. Vail house saw Vail and asked what he wanted done. wife and child are in there.” he was talking to Vail, Jesse Thorn- brough ran into yard past them and ran up to house. He followed Thorn- brotigh, finally to-kitchen, where they went into east door. Mrs, Vail in the kitchen and dragged there might have been a little fire on her clothes at. the time, but when they took her out, her clothes burst into flame. in her throat after laying her down. Went to well and pumped water for Thornbrough who was working over é Mrs. Vail. Said he did/not see Vail after leaving the front part, of the house. _Testified that fire was.-s tered throughout kitchen. f Harry Mills, who was at a house about 4 blocks from the Vail place heard calls for help, and reports sounding like gunshots. He went to Vail place and saw Mrs, Vail’s body. Dr. Amyx, a physician at Amster- dam who assisted the Coroner at the inquest testified that he heard calls for help the night of the fire. ent, to the Vail house and was asked to look at Vail’s daughter whom Vail had taken out of the house.. Found ther uninjured, Vail asked “where is my baby”, ahd asked also of his wife. Said he examined Mrs. Vail’s body that night and she was dead when he felt her pulse. He examined the wounds in head and on ear, also her burns which were on the right side of her face and on her hand and.arm. Said burns would not have caused immediate death, Assisted the Coro- ‘ner in the post mortem and examined the wounds. Saw probe passed About Got .When about 20 feet from “My While Vail replied: They” found er outsand laid her down, Said Heard a gurgling noise BUTLER, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1918. eekly Cimes, NUMBER 19 A. Vantyle testified he lived about 100 feet west of the Vail home. Was present at the fire and with a Mr. Good made examination of oil stove after removal of the body of the child. Said the stove was setting ,up- right in corner of kitchen but seemed to have settled in the ashes of the houes. Said everything about the stove seemed intact and could not see that containers and conductors had suffered any violence., Tank was mélted a little, but could see no hole in it. W. O. Dudley said he examined the stove, but did not move it. Saw a dent. in side of reservoir as though something had fallen’ on it.. Seam was open in side of pipe making hole about size of pencil. One valve was gone from stove. Will Porter stated that Vail had brought a number of pieces of cloth- ing to his house after the fire, there being some ladies’ clothing and Vail's best suit of clothes which he told Porter he grabbed off the wall as he was carrying out his little daughter, through from one wound to the oth- er. Described the shattered condition fthe skull along-the course ofthe wound and stated wound could have been caused by a gunshot. Saw no powder burns. Testified that a nor- mal person might have lived-30 min- utes after being so wounded. He stated that at the larger opening of the wound the brain was exposed. Said with the exception of the wounds and the chahnel of the wounds the skull was intact. Tate Nafus testified: to Vail’s. rela- tions with a Mrs, Anna Harris, Mr. Nafus testified that he had frequently seen Anna Harris in Vail’s automo- bile with a crowd of others. They were very often at dances about Am- sterdam. Said that he never saw Vail dance with Mrs. Harris or with any one else. He also told of Vail talking to him one night at a dance at the Elkhart store,.at which time he showed him a watch, which he said Mrs. Harris had given him and said that he had given her a diamond ring. Levy’s ra Ready-to-wear Department maintains its high- est standard of Quality and ofters a wonder-— ful dispay of Ladies’ Outer Garments at conservative prices —in reach of everybody. Garments of high standard and workmanship. -A ‘cordial invitation is extended you to see our style show, whether you purchase or not. Every gar- ment altered free of charge in our Dressmaking Department Ladies and Misses Ready-to- Wear Dresses A wonderful collection of styles. Taffetas, Georgettes, Crepe de Chines, Foulards and com- binations in all the newest colors. $10 to $35 Ladies and Misses Coats ‘The smartest of spring styles in all new mater- ials. Bolivia, Poplins, Serge, Covert, Tricoture, Velour, and Gabardine in the season’s newest shades. ; $6.50 to $40 Ladies and Misses : ‘Modish Suits A most wonderful selection of the very finest spring showing—styles that bespeak the last word ’ of the world’s fashion—materials that will give the best service. . $15.75 to $50 GOOD CLOTHES FOR is the time to take advantage 100 Ladies sateen Petticoats—all colors $1.69 200 yards 36-inch Black Taffeta—every yard guaranteed, yard................ 2000 yards 25-inch percale, dark and light colors. Yard..... : REMEMBER this is the last week of our Velma. He testified to finding an empty 5 gallon coal oil can lying east of the house, untorked and turned over, F, W. Jared testified that he had driven’ -to Kansas City in company With Vail and two other men, and that among other places’ they had visited an immoral house on Che} street where they remained about an hour and a half. He said Vail seemed to know the women, being in the jitney business and having driven other fellows there. The testimony of Jared concluded that heard up to Wednesday noon. About 175 witnesses have been sub- poenaed and it is probable that the remainder of the week will be taken up with the case. Vail’s Demeanor Calm. Throughout the testimony of the several witnesses heard, Vail’s de- meanor has been calm, verging al- most on the stoical. He sits quietly behind his attorneys, seldom confer- ring with them, and his face at all times expressing no emotion whatev- er, although he is almost continually twirling a pencil between his fingers. He possesses a strong, though youth- ful face, and his general appearance is pleasing. The case has occasioned much in- terest and the courtroom is crowded at all times. DRAFT APPEAL’ FINDINGS. District Board Passes on Stventy- eight Appeals. TheDistrict Board has returned the following classifications of question- Naires on appeal cases: Glenn Gordon Wehr, J-3. Sylvester Joseph Wehr, A-1, Clarence Henry Suaderwirth, K-3, Marion Benetield ‘Thomas, C-4. Charles Spencer, “A-1. idward Lee Greenup, A-1. Join Mrederick tLouseworth, A-1, Willard fienry flolwell, A-1, Jesse August Gepford, A-r. Curis Henry Senmidt, A\-1, Thomas Earl Wiltshire, J-3. Jerome ‘Lruman Brandon, A-1, Clyde Bryan Smith, C-2, Middleton Bowden Herrel, A-1, Otis Norman kggleson, 1-1, John Adam. Getz, A-1, Charles Henry Grubbs, A-1, Andrew Jackson Dunlap, A-1, Forest W. Liggett, A-1 John avid Deiler, A-1. Louis Neil Thompson, A-r1. John Ludwick Stevenson, A-1, Paul Pre t G, bisher, C-2. George Lloyd Garrison, C-4. John Byron Corbin, J-3. Clyde Everett LLoke, A-1 George Jacob Goiladay, C-4, liubert Ita McCall, William Fred John Jim tale Turpin, A-1, Harry Orzo Black, C-2 Charles Edward Wheasai Albert Thompson, A-1. Charles Lloyd Mansficla, A-1. Ikmel Shelton, A-1. Lewis Bennie llough, A-1, Wilbur lear] Lawsou, A-1. Joseph Henry Norton, A-1, Henry William Diehl, ¢ James Arthur Lynn, A- Virgil Mile Morrison, A-1, Henry Ferrell Shubert, A-1. Oran Bernard Ilyde, A-t. Carl K. Hendrickson, C-4, Henry Wilkinson Grimm, I-1. Charles Henry White, C-2. Roy Lee Blackmon, J-3. Harry Cliff Henderson, B-3. Dell Morris, A-t. Earl Rollo Cumpton, A-1. Charlie Ramey Hendrickson, C-2. - Dee Lee Arbogast, A-1. ‘ John Jurgen Dykeman, A-1. Elmer Ernest Hough, A-1, Wm. Harrison Potts, B-1. BIG . RUG SALE NOW of low prices. MEN AND WOMEN lercantile Co. Delbert L. Polson, A-1. Clinton Wesley Silvers, J-3. Walton Weldon Wilcox, A-1, Charley Briggs Thompson, A-1, Boyd Marion Kershner, C-2, Lloyd William Fisher, C-2. George Henry Boehm, A-1, John Stanley Patterson, C-2. Orvil Napoleon Kash, A-L John Lloyd Heckadon, A-1, Bayard Tolliver Curnutte, C-2, Wesley Ray Denning, A-1. Lester R. Pfost, A-1. Ollie Raymond Hawk, A-1. Jodie More Woirhaye, A-1. Roy Tilman Epley, C-2. Charley August Koster, C-2. Bert Leslie Drummond, A-1. * Sylvester Robert Walker, C-2, Henry Robert Durnford, A-1. Thos. Monroe Huffman, A-r. — SS To Camp Funston Monday. « - Six more of Bates County’s best young men will leave here Monday evening on the 10:45 train for Camp Funston, where they will join the National army for training for ser- vice in France. They are: George Dibble, Rich Hill, Harry Murphy, Butler, John Earl Marsh, Foster, John Adams Getz, Urich, Ernest E. Burtis, Adrian, Floyd Rogers, Adrian.