Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-08-03


that saw. There WAS s little sort of
indentatioh in the ground, and my rec
objection is that the body lay in that.
Saw Mr.. Bell lay down in that depres-
sion. Did not have to block him up to
keep him from rolling down hill. | en-
deayored to place him in position where
| remembered body lying. He called
my attention to two rocks and had me
put one under his right hip and under
his right shoulder but could not see as
it made any great difference. Counsel
here produced evidence taken at inquest
and identified by witness as that taken
there.
Prepared the heading of the verdict
for the jury and left them to ill out the
rest. Witnesses W ere examined, sepa-
rately at inquest and tried to keep them
apart. told the constable to do so Saw
Simon Sisley in the doorway once and
ordered him away.
Witness was here asked to turn to the
testimony of Mrs Bickford and did so,
identifying it as testimony taken at the
inquest Counsel then offered this tes-
timony as evidence.
The court refused TO accept il for the
reason that nearly all of counsers wit
nesses disputed it and for the further
reason that it was not clear to the mind
of the court whether it could be accept
ed under any circumstances.
Gave jury some instructions and
then started for the spring when they
called me back. There was some trou-
bic about the verdict. Think Mr.. Hol-
comb told me that some thought it was
murder and rome thought it was sui
eide. told him If he would say she
came to heI death at the hands of some
party or parties unknown to the jury it
" ould cover the case or be about what
they would want if they did not know.
| would not swear positive that these
were the words used.
Cross Examination. -Think Holcomb
cooked the revolver when he picked it
up but wouldn't swear positive. He
was the first one who examined il ut
body. Don't remember who examined
il after ] laid it on the table. Kept the
parts separate and that is way brought
them up TO Lancaster Showed il to
most of those who examined ii in that
way Should say as many as forty or
fifty people examined it in that way.
Named parties who came into his (wit-
ness 81 office but did not remember
whether cylinder was put in or not at
that time. Don't distinctly remember
of any one having it with the cylinder
in. My impression is that some one
had it, would not swear positive. Did
not notice any rust that would prevent
the cylinder being put in when | first
got it, and | think there was none.
| think it was about two % clock when
Holcomb examined the body 1t was
right afterwards when the jury went in
to the room. Think ground slopes about
three feet in ten to the south and about
half as much the other way. said MIR.
Bells body looked more like hers when
he was laying there with stones under
his body
Odd Lewis Sisley testify before
you in that inquest as follows: II laid
the revolver down under the bed; she
had gone to bed When she had gone
to bed had the revolver in my pocket
She did not ace me put the revolver I'M
der my bed. She did not know where
it WASP
Ale did testify to that in sub
stance.
Witness further said he thought no
asked all the witnesses that came
on the stand whether there was
any disturbance, angry words, or quar-
rel at the house on the night of the cha
riyari. Think | asked Hamilton but |
am not certain.
WILLIAM A. KELLEY
Was one of the coroner's jury at inquest
on the body of Mrs. Sisley June Ii was
present at the uncoyering of the body;
saw the pistol on the body but couldn't
say who lifted it up. | did not take il
in my hands. Saw Holcomb look into
the cylinder and think he raised the
hammer to see how it would work some
two or three times. II appeared to
work oil right. Testimony of other
witnesses in regard TO body is about
the same rs | saw. Don't know of any
thing | observed that has not already
been given.
l went up stairs to examine Sisley's
bed with Holcomb, Mrs. Stout and
Mrs. John Deitzman. We went up at
the same time, believe. Mrs Stout
did not represent to us that the bed was
just rs it was when Low got out OF it in
the morning. When we got up stairs
asked Mrs. Stout the question: "Was
this the bed SiSley slept in with his
wife, She answered that it was II
seemed to me that the bed had been
spread up. Did not see any pillows il
| remember right. did not go around
to examine the bed. Mrs. Deitzman
and Mr.. Holcomb went TO the other end
of the room while Mrs. Stout and |
were standing near the bed. We all
went up together and came down to-
gether. Did not see any rocks under
the body. Don't remember of seeing
any around near by. Might have been
some around.
No cross examination.
HOLCOMB RECALLED.
Went up stairs with Mrs. Stout and
Mrs. Deitzman No one stated that
the bed was just as it was when Sisley
got up in the morning. We halted at
the head of the stairs and Mrs. Stout
made the remark: This is the bed to
the left Witness then gave some
measurements he had taken on the
ground. Stump was northwest from
where thought head lay IL To IA inch
es; ironwood tree feet in southwest
direction All measurements were made
from where head was supposed to have
laid Tree WAS inches through 6 or
8 inches from the ground. Tree had
been cut off but propped itup. Point
of limb extended over face as near rs
could Judge. Thorn-apple in northeast
direction II feet. Three linn trees in a
cluster southeast, about ii feet away.
ThIcket Of hazel brush % feet south Is
PAGES by 10 PAGES in size. Person
might not be seen in thicket when back
in four or five feet. Could not see per
sons standing at body below the stump
from the door of tie house.
Cross-examination.- Made the meas
urcments week ago Sunday in the af-
DIR. BARBER
was then recalled and after some ques-
tons from counsel for the defense as to
private parts the question Of insanity
was brought up and the counsel on both
sides wrestled, valiantly with the longsuf-
fering physician in their crdeavors To
overreaeh each other. The game at the
close stood something in the nature Of
draw, with the state if anything slightly
ahead.
EDWIN M. BRITToS
was the next witness called and testified
as follows: Live in Lima. was acquaint-
ed with Emma Bickford about three
years ago while working near her