The Helena independent., 1889-03-16

leaving Helena for Butte were explained,
and the statement about her being In Butte
MIR. Ballet called white lie. One Of the
main points In the defense, II not the main
point. taat of the witness Schneider seeing
aSnan and woman pass his house the even
ing Annie Lundsirom disappeared, and
having read about Il In the papers two days
afterwards, Mr.. Ballet made the most OF.
Having reviewed the testimony for the
prosecution, Mr.. Ballet endenvored 10
establish the theory OF defense-thAt Annie
Lundstrom was killed by some one other
than George Duncan Brys0n.
The certificate of deposit belonging 10
George Hagen was shown and the query
propOunded as 10 how II came into the
murdered w0man's possession, query
that will probably remain always unan-
zwered. The letters from Axel Bergstrom
and others were read 10 show that the wo-
man was of loose character and on inti-
mate terms with others than Brys0n, The
marriage Incense produced In evidence
was commented upon TO show that Joe
Akers expected 10 marry the fckle Annie
and had made threat that neither Bryaon
nor she shonld cross the line alive, and that
Il was probable that he followed them TO
Montana for revenge. The man seen
sleeping on the hills was associated with
Joe Akers and the query raised whether II
was not reasonable that II was he. IL was
threat.
There Is nothing inconsistent with the
theory, said the speaker, that the body OF
Annie LundstrOm was conveyed 10 the
prospect hole In cab, and he was morally
sure that II was. lie believed that the cab
man who mysteriously disappeared from
| Helena had something 10 do with that dis
appearance. and he was in the employ of
| Joe Akers, the man who, rs slighted
lover, was the only man In existence so
exasperated against the deceased as 20 muir
| der her. A man answering the descrip-
| ton of Joe Akers was seen by Mr.. Chand-
Ter and also by Mr. Mcleod. But II II was
not Joe Akers who was seen with Mrs.
LundstrOm the afternoon OF Aug. 81, II
was the man who was last seen with her,
whoever he may be, who committed the
crime with which the defendant is
charged.
lie said there could be no gaInsayiug the
facts which had been proved by Mr.. Blu
rock, Mr. Decker, and Others that cab
was seen returning from the direction OF
the prospect hole and that man also was
@en coming from that direction. The
driver Of the cab and that man made away
with Annie Lundstrom and they were the
guilty parties.
Here recess was taken for forty min
utes.
Upon resuming, Mr.. Ballet continued
merable letters OF Axel Bergstrom, written
by connlvlng man 10 silly woman. Mr..
Ballet considered these letters OF vital i'm
pOrtance. though some OF them were writ
ten before deceased became acquainted
With Bryson. Mr.. Ballet, alluding 10 the
man who was seen In Annie Lund-
strom's company Aug. q. said he may
have been some man on whom Annie made
a mash. They may have been drunk and
caroused during the afternoon, the outcome
Of which was q quarrel resulting In the
death of the unfortunate woman.
While Mr.. Ballet was speaking about
the character Of Annie LuDdstrom all the
ladies in the court room, qnte number,
got up and left.
Mr.. Ballet said that the manner In which
the inquest on the body OF Annie Lund
stom was held was unsatisfactory. No
autopsy was held and the evidence of DIR.
Morris relative TO the wounds found upon
the body shows that they were not sum.
cient 10 produce death. She may have
committed suicide for aught the Inquest
shows.
Be sure, said Mr.. Ballet, that you have
the right person and then hang him higher
than dilr0y's kite, but don't hang an in
nOcent man. No verdict will suit the de-
fendant but an acquittal, and nothing
ksor' Of that will suit his attorney. lie
uott not care 10 ufhg out nib life IN prison.
We want no verdict In the second degree
OF manslaughter. Mr. Dixon when he
found the body said he was sure he had his
Indian. That Is IL. BE sure you have
your Indian (the right personl then 20
ahead.
Mr.. Ballet again alluded 10 the posi-
bility OF Annie Lundstrom having com
mitted suicide and innocent parties re-
moving the body 10 the prospect hole
rather than have II known that woman
had died mysteriously In their house In
fact, he claimed that dozen different
theories as reasonable as the theory of the
prosecution, could be established which
would prove the defendant innocent
Returning to the inquest MIR. Ballet said
| IL was so Imperfect that DR. Steele who
was called 10 examine the body, had testi-
| fed that he could not swear that the body
he viewed was that OF man OF woman.
He roundly denounced the manner In
which the inquest was held, saying II was
| n disgrace 10 put man upon trial for his
| life as the result OF such an ncomp petent
investigation had placed his client Several
eases where men were executed for crimes
| they never committed. 10 show the unre-
liability of ciTcumstantial evidence were
| quoted and the testimony reviewed, taking
advantage of everything possible 10 make a
point He explained the Mary O'Dell let
ters ss BrysOn explained them, and closed
al 4:3O, after having spoken about five
| hOurs