Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-30
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.

ON TRIAL FOR MURDER
Testimony OF Witnesses In the Case os
>. Carl joiner Hanson. Charged with
T tho Murder Of His Father.
Yesterday afternoon the testimony Of DR..
q. T. Daniels was continued. All Of his
evidence cannot be given in detail, but it
was substantially rs follows: Referring to
the skull he gave his opinion that the
straight cut WIS occasioned by some sharp
heavy cutting instrument, and that the con-
centric fractures on the top Of his Uranium
extending almost to the back of the head
were occasioned by a blow or blows from
some heavy aud blunt instrument like the
back Of ar axe. That in his opinion, it
was impossible that the fractures had been
occasioned BY any heavy body falling upon
the head Of Olsen. He also testified TO the
fact that he had examined the pillow which
had been under Hans Olsen's head; that it
was composed Of two or three different fab.
RIGS, one of them being . part Of an old vest,
and that it was stuffed with various kinds of
feathers that there was considerable coag.
ulated blood upon it that mixed with the
blood aud adhering thereto, he found small
tufts of fine dark hair, streaked with gray.
that had the appearance Of being cut at both
ends.
DR.. Daniels was subjected to . searching
cross-examina,ion by Mr.. Sphinx. but did
not qualify his testimony in any manner,
or have 1t weakened BY this ordeal.
d.. j. NJ. Miller was next called. His
testimony was to the same effect as that of
DR.. Daniels. He referred to the bones and
fractures Of the skull and expressed the
same opinion as a medical or surgical ex-
pert as did DR.. Daniels.
DR.. DIETRICH was then called. His testi-
mopy was corrborative of that of Drs. MIL.
Ter and Daniels. He was a graduate Of
Berne Medical college in switzerland.
DR.. s. S. Turner being called, gave sui
stantlally and fully the same testimony as
an expert similar to the testimony of the
other medical experts. He was a physi.
clan of sixteen years practice in the army
and in civil life. He also underwent q
searching cross.examinatlon.
DR.. ID. F. Ettcr testified that be was the
coroner Of Yankton county in June 1873;
that as such coroner he held an inquest on
the remains of Hans Olsen ten or twelve
days after their burial; that the body was
dislnserred. He gave a description Of the
appearance Of the body at the time the in.
quest was held, and also gave his views
with regard to the cash on the right side Of
the head Of the deceased, and The ragged
fractures on the other portions of the skull.
lie also corroborated the opinions of all the
other medical experts. and believed that
the cash in the skull might have been ,n-
hicted by just such an instrument as the
axe which was exhibited in court ns the
axe belonging to Hans Olson. He identi-
fed this axe as the one brought to him on
the 2Sth of last August by Ole Sogslad,
Jacob Lunde and Nels Nelson.
The deposition Of defendant, who tcs,i.
fed as a witness at the coroner's inquest,
was referred to as having been voluntarily
given at that time; that it was reduced
: to writing by Phil X. Faux in his presence
t and by his direction, and that it was read
over to defendant, aud subscribed and
sworn 10 at the time by him.
Capt. We'lrr was then placed upou the
stand, aud the prosecution off :rcd to prove
that the defendant had proved w on the
land formerly bell by Hans Oisrn. TO
this the defence objected.
1t being past six O'clock, the count in.
quired VI The jury il they desired a nigh
session. A majority of the jury and the
counsel being avcrse TO this Zone Jury man
claiming that if obliged To act in a nigh,
session he believed he would he sick mex,
day the count Was accordingly adjourned
to meet on the 30th inst, at s o'clock O.. m
the Jury receiving the usual caution re-.
quired /" be given by the court, relative 10
the conduct Of jurors in cspitil cases.
r The testimony given heretofore and in
this report does not embrace il all, but j.
merely an outline of some points of impor
lance.
t To-DAY's PROCEEDINGS.
! This morning at 8 O'Clock the prosecu.
!. ton offered in evidence a deposition OF
Carl Johan Hanson taken under oath before
Coroner Ettcr at the coroner's inquest upon
u the body of Hans Oleson. To this Offer
n the defence made objection that the deposi.
Il ton was BOT admissible.
The court then ordered the Jury to a
y separate room. as the statements and arvu.
!, ments relative 10 the points of lay raised
were exclusively for the consideration Of
the court, and might have a tendency te
DC regarded as matters Of fact by the Jury
: or otherwise bias or influence their minds
Numerous authorities were then cited by
the counsel on both sides, the discussion
lasting until half past eleven O'Clock. wber
re tho 1nrv Sh4 ,o-A r.-- "