St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-09
A FIGHT FOR A NECK.
Intense Interest Created by
the Horton Trial, Which
Opened Yesterday.
alleged Crime Stigmatized as
a Most Henious and
Damnable One.
Frank Turner's Graphic De-
scPiption Of the Awful
Death Struggles.
Pen Sketches in Court and
Full Report Of the Pro-
ceedings.

The whole of last week was occupied
by Judge Kelly in securing a jury for
the trial of Walter f. HoI ton, accused
OF the murder of his wife, Nellie Hor-
ton, by drowning in the Mississippi
river the night of August IA last. Yes
terday morning the trial was formally
opened, and, writing at the outset, it
may be said the trial is going to be one
of the most keenly contested that has
ever been reported in this county. lii
tense interest has been aroused by the
crime Horton is accused of. and for
which he is now lighting for his lIfe.
The greatest criminal lawyer in the
state, or, for that matter. of the entire
Northwest, William W. Erwin, defends
the prisoner, assisted by Olin a. Martin.
Assistant County Attorney NJ. d. Mum
has full charge of the case to be pre-
senled by the state. The trial is taking
place in Court Room No. l. The room
was filled Yesterday morning prior to 10
O'clock. when judge Kelly took his seat
upon the bench and the court was
opened. The gallery was crowded to
its utmost capacity, and scores of men
craned their beads over one another to
get peep at the prisoner. He was
seated at the table. Immediately in the
rear of his attorney. a look of ap-
parent indifference was noticeable, but
1t soon disappeared when Mr.. Mum
opened the proceedings which are to
decide the awful question as to whether
or no he is guilty of taking the life of
his wife. He fixed his eye upon the as
siStant county attorney, and there be
sat, taking in everything that was said,
neryy and never moving a muscle dur
Ing the awful recital.
The fearful strain he is undergoing
does not al all tend 10 improve his ap-
IeaTance, but at no time can Walter +.
Horton have been called g0Od-lUOking
man. His features are coarse. and
there is something about those small,
piercing black eyes which creates a
feeling of distrust in the man. The
nose Is also prominent, sharp and thin,
the cheekbOneS are high, the eyebrows
heavy. and the skin has bilious tinge.
The skin is clean-Shaven, but the upper
lip is surmOunted by a why, tawny-
eOl0rei mustache. His hair is black.
Horton looks about thirty years old and
five feet eight inches nigh. He was
dressed in somber-tinted clothes, and
wure a black tie. His figure is somewhat
ungainly, but displays considerable
strength.
The legal fraternity were accommo-
dated with seats within the railing, and
about thirty of them were present,
mostly younger members of the bar,
briefiess and thankful for an interest
ing case I'd ill some of their many leis-
Drt1 hours The vVlru4SCnS uparO alsn
seated within the rails. and among the
auditors there was much query as to
who OF the several young ladies In at
tendance was Miss Van Vie, whose
connection with the prisoner has
brought her into a somewhat painful
nUtOriety. But Miss Van Vie was not
there.
1t is very questionable whether Miss
Van Vie will personally appear at the
tlidl. the affidavit she has sworn to be-
Ing considered sufficient for both the
purposes of the prosecution and de-
tense. There is, however, a represen-
tatiVe of the Van Vie family in attend
ance, in the person of w. Il. Van Vie
fine looking man, hair well-Sprinkled
with gray, black muStache, age ranging
around nifty years. Ar. Van Vie left
his home in Marstown to represent his
sister at The trial. He VIII testify as to
the genuiheness of the signature at
tached To her affidavit. Miss Van VIE
is staying with sister. Mrs. I. E. Mum
son, III Minneapolis. and is proStrated
over the serious ENHANCEMENT she is
confronted with by the connection of
her name with that of Horton. Her en-
forced appearance in court would have
a terrible, if not fatal, effect upon her,
She now passes considerable time in
bed, and her anguish is said to be almost
heaTtTeuding.
Mr.. Erwin was early in attendance.
looking somewhat thoughtful, but greet
Ing all acQuaintanees in hearty, good
natured manner. He took his seat at
the table. bantered Mr.. Mum a little,
who was busy arranging his papers, and
seemed TO feel the responsibility or his
position. The assistant county attOr-
ney was anxious that his orders as to
witnesses, etc, had been properly at
tended TO, and towards this end he
passed in and out OF the court The
boat in which the fateful trip on the
river had been taken was to be seen in
court, having been placed at the side of
the jury box. 1t was scrutinized keenly
by the people, and scores expressed sur
prise that such long. .cumbersome-look-
ing craft should have been selected for
apleaSure trip for three people on the
todecIde. and that they WillGO so honest
ly and feareSslv there ought to be no
doubt. a more intelligent body of men
has rarely been seen in jury box.
Many OF them are prominent merchants,
and all have the appearance of being
fairly well-to-do.
The auditors had gazed at the pris-
Oner, ventured opinions as to the ideu-
tlty OF Miss Van Vie and canvassed
the abilities OF Mr.. Erwin and MIR.
Mum. Their entire attention was tnen
concentrated by Mr.. Mum, VINO rose to
open the case. He did so with an ex-
hauStive resume of the alleged murder,
His opening remarks were addressed to
the jury in an easy and at times con-
versational style-in fact, throughout
the address there was an utter absence
of oratOrical flights. 1t was a plain. un-
vanished tale-a tale of what the
speaker subsequently stigmatized as
''the most heinOus and daInnable crime
that has been committed in this
county"
Opening Shot.
Mr.. Mum occupied the whole morn
ing sitting. He gave the legal bearing
of the case, and at once launched into the
facts of the alleged murder:
The spring of 1879 Nellie Hanson. g do
mesIic, was living at La Crosse. Sne was
then thirty years of age, was born in Norway
ano came 10 this country when thirteen
Horton, attending school at La Crosse, be-
came acquainted with her. and in the sum-
mer the couple were married at Trempealeau
AiteT Hylng IN various parts Of Wisconsin. in
lSS2 they located a claim in Day county.
paH. Horton shortly afterwards LETT his wife