Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-29
on TRIAL FOR MURDER.


yesterday In the afternoon the Cross-eA
animation of Peter Larson was continued
tor an hour and q half by MI. SPHINX.
j. K. Borseth was next called by thu
prosecution, District Attorney L. B. French
conducting the direct examination. Mr.
Borseth testified that on the 18Th of Jun,
be was informed that Hans Olson's house
had burned down in the night, and that j
wss believed that Olson had been burnt t
death in the conf agration; that in compan,
with Peter Larson, Andrew Erickson
Tore Gunderson and the defendant. Car
Johan Hanson, he went to the ruins Ia the
afternoon, and found the walls of the south
room all fallen down except part of the
wall on the east side; that inside the walls
the wheat sacks and pile Of corn, aud the
rubbish was still smoking and smouldering
that there was not much cath on the head
or face of the dead body Of Hans Olsen
that withspieces OF shingles and one spade
they exhumed or uncovered the body that
the front part of the skull was crushed in,
and some Of the brain exposed and lying
outside the skull; that the right leg was
burnt entirely off above the knee; that part
of the left foot was gone, and right arm AT
elbow, and left hand burnt of at wrist;
that the trunk was scorched but intact,
with portions of the clothing still adhering
to II; that the body lay on its back on the
rude bunk which had been used as a bed,
the foot of the same being somewhat char.
red and burnt; that he picked up q piece Of
oblong bone which was lying outside the
skull; that the pillow upon which the
head was lying was soaked through with
blood, which dripped from the same when
the body was raised. He also testified to
the disposition of the body after it was
taken out that he was present when the
body was exhumed aud the %coroner's in
quest held by Drs. Etter, Miller and Dan
iels.
Mr.. Borseth was subjected to a scrutin-
izing cross-examination. which eliminated
in a question from Mr.. Sphinx in substance
as follows: did you not try to get this
claim of Olsen's."
To this question the district attorney 10
terposed An Objection that the same was
immaterial and irrelevant, stating that there
was no evidence that Mr. Borseth had evel
filed on this claim, and that the defendan
himself had proved up on the same, as hi
had learned from Capt. Wct,er.
The court then asked why the offer was
made by the defence 10 introduce the ties.
timony responsive to the question lut by
the defence-what was the purpose OF the
question:
To this Mr.. Sphinx replied, for the pur
pose of showing the interest OF the witness
The prosecution replied that the witness
could not be interested in an event already
Determined by the defendants perfection
OF title to The laud, formerly occupied by
the deceased,
The court ordered defence 10 put lhel
offer in writing. which was done. l
was substantial y as follows:
The defence offers the testimony for III,
purpose OF showing the interest Of the wit
ness in the case, that he was DESTROYS OF Oh
tanning Olsen's land, and tina; he antici
psted that defendant would contest th,
title, and the witness Borsetn Vas anxiou
to prevent the detcndent from testing"
"By having him hanged" chlmed in on
of his counsel for the prosecution.
After some argument. in which consider
able WAS said about side issues aud the It'll
to Ol.en's land, the counsel for the defeLc
withdrew ,he:r otter, when Mr. Borses
left the stand.
The remainder OF the day was taken u
With the testimony Of Andrew Erickson
which was substantially the same in near
every paIticular as the testimony IF j.
Borseth.
!, At six O'Clock court adjourned to meet
nine o'clock On the morning of the 80
inst. and the jury were conducted to the
rooms in the Merchants hotel.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
This morning at nine O'Clock Tore Gu
derson was called by the prosecution. II
Testimony was substantially the same as Ii
: Of Peter Larson's and J. K, Borseth'a, e
cept that with reference to some points
was clearer. He testified to observing
Icut on the face below the nose of the de
q body of Hans Oleson when it was tax
te from the ruins. That some one asked wi
caused this cut when Carl Johan Hans.
said Jacob Lunde did it with the spad
(Lunde had previously testified that he
y. not use the spade.) Witness also found
piece of bone near the side of the bed n
right leg. He saw one bed post, VIII
was about a foot high, standing upright
the northwest corner of Oleson's head 9
q board, supposed to be a part Of the
% nailed to it. His testimony with refere
~ to other points was corroborative of OF
'e testimony.
The witness on cross-examination inst
AZ Of disclosing new points, only strengthe
aer his evidences adduced IN the d;roct ev