The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-13


he could not tell who they were Tht
here rested its case.
The defense first placed Mrs Martin
Rettig on the stand. She testified that
Baker and Berry came into her husband
saloon about p. m, on the night of tn,
murder. They stayed till after : O'CLOCK
and left. They came back at s md stayeC
till Gas.
Charles Money next testified that hi
was in Charles Griffin's billiard room. L
was about 7:90 p. m. Berry and Griffin
played pool and Baker kept count OF the
game. The two went back to Rettig's al
the close of the game.
The object of the defense was now clear
II was to prove an alibi. To account for
the whereabouts of the prisoners for two
hours before and one hour and half after
the murder. To do this and impeach the
witnesses for1he defense, forty>nine wit
nesses were summoned, who testified.
They were: John Holland, 5. c. Richer,
Dave Evans, John Zeigler, John Rettig,
George Watson, Miss Anna Cavanaugh,
Simon Money. Tim Carpenter, Miss Lena
Rettlg, John Sanders, John Peterson, 7.
D. Temple, Jerry Paddock, Voluey Nor.
gan, John Martin, John Carter, John Da-
Jour, John Kennella, Harry Potts 0. p.
St. Clair, John Vogel, Mrs. Martin Ret
ig, Martin Rettig, Vim, Williams, VIM.
Reuben Sanders, Dr. Parker,
John Jenkins, Walter Bowie, Mrs. Small,
Ralph Atkinson. Andrew Moore, Jacob
ianok, Mrs Jacob Hanok. Lee Schafer,
4. S. Shurtlif, A. B. F. Adams, Mrs
Nonti, Mrs. Charles Berglund. Richard
Trevor, VIM. Sargenson, NJ. Garland,
samuel Garland, Margaret Rennison,
Oliver Garland, Mrs. Defour, l.. G.
Benson and Mrs. Benson. On the
10Th Drs. Cowden and PIummer
estified as experts as to the nature of the
wound which caused Evans death.
States Attorney Parmenter opened the
close of the case for the people, and was
followed by J. T. Kcnworthy and r, J
Bell for the defense. VIM. Jackson who
lad been associated with the states at.
.orney in the trial, closed for the people,
and Major Beardsley for the defense.
Judge Glenn instructed the jury and il
re tired in the evening. The next morning
he jury returned after being out twelve
hours, with verdict of not guilty.
The jury, when it retired, stood five foI
conviction and seven for acquittal. Baker
and Berry were discharged aid returned
to Rapids City.
WEIGH ARRESTED.
Not long ago Sheriff Reticker dropped
onto a new clew to the Evans murder,
which seemed to fasten at least part of
The guilt upon Vim. Welch, of Port BY.
ron. The Sheriff left for Port Byron al
l1:15 last Thursday night, and early next
morning arrested Welch and brough him
to the city and placed him behind the bars
in the county jail
AN INTERVIEW.
Mr. A. D. Keely, of Port Byron. who
keeps dairy in the northeastern part of
the town, is the father>in law of WEIGH,
and was in the city yesterday to see the
prisoner While waiting for G.. N. &
ST. P. train TO take him home in the af>
ternoon, he was seen By an
ARGUS reporter, to whom he
related the following in regard to Welch
and the murder case:
YES, saw WEIGH today and he feel:
in good spirits, and seems to think hi:
arrest is all mistake. For my part,
don't understand how he could have any
thing to do with it.
Where did WEIGH live at the time in
question:
"He resided with me in Port Byron and
worked in the mines at Rapids City"
"Was he a witness or in airy way con-
nected with the former trial?'
NO, he was not subpenaed, and did
not appear to take any more than an or
binary interest in it. He remained in thu
county during the whole time, and since
then. He is about 40 years old and ha
always been industrious. He used to in
dulge too freely in stimulants, but he ha'
abstained from drink for the past two
years"
did he ever show any signs of guilt?
Never that / could discover. He some
times grows Respondent, and worries owe
an affair that occurred IN the army. Hi
company was ordered to make
charge at one of the battle
of the Potomac and as the line
of soldsers came together, fine you rs
man directly in front of him sank dead tt
the ground. He thinks that it was BIZ
bayonet that pierced his heart, and hi
feels sorry every time he thinks of it. o.
course the man was a rebel, but Welcl
feels that his blood is on his hands, ant
that be will never be forgiven for killing
him. If he ha / committed the murder a
Rapids City, the agony of mind which hi
would experience would drive him into
a confession.
Has WEIGH any relatives in this yicin
ityf"
None at all. A sister of his at Bridge
port, Conn.,, lost her husband at sea sew