The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-10
pRATT'S DEFENSE.
a;s Son Testifies That Dobson
Began the Fight.
20 RONALD LOSES SOME HAIR.
:, che Testimony In and q Verdict
y,ebable Today-UnexpeE = Tes-
timony for Pratt

/ - "a the Jury this forenoon. The taking of
su-,r.auy was concluded yesterday, and Z. NJ.
81. rsse the opening argument for the state.
- .rrurcnt OF the defense and the closing
I ..-snsut o. The state viii be made this morn
ng ~.oa -,..
-, f,obxon began the fatal quarrel, by the tes-
...sarv OF yorte, the 13-year-old son OF the de-
s-s.,t EN- Carr said incidentally that the
- ,r1,ness who saw any part OF the quarrel
=. Caring on, aud he did not see the
.w,ning of IT, The testimony OF this
4 :. vas not of.red at the eorooer's inquest
!. At me preliminary examination tesore
....,ee MILLER The toy Was getting ready to
n a d from his position iii the eow-pen ne
| .x,sI. This evidence had been carefully re-
] srved tor the final hearing.
m, 1,s witness called was Coroner Smart
/ q. AL mony was unimuortaut. relating the
sprm,tanees II the inques. and .opsy IN q
- ne and unc rtain manner.
ir r. Dawson. wno was present sad assist
| 4 tn the autopsy on the body of Dobson the
| Nan ar following the homicide, was called by
| :. .,sre He testified that when he arrived
A. skull hac been removed and also three or
hnr vertebra OF the neck There was
| ~ fracture OF thee yertebr1. He de-
srihsd infinitely the exterior contu-
sens and bruises OF the head. There
rs a ciscolorstion below the left eve. Above
h. right eye there was confusion about one
Iseh long, which appeared To have been made
II some unit Instrument 1t might have been
made by blow of the fist Behind th sright
~ Was another confusion, about three-fourths
a an men long. This also appeared TO have
hen inflicted with a biunt instrument, but
hight have been made with fist. Above the
eoatusion over the eye there was a small m ark
which he was a. a loss to account for. 1t might
have been mad by the seal of ring. There
vas an il 81 ration of blood through the tissues
.bout lhe congusl rs over he eye and back of
he ear, when Indicated blows dur
ng life The was thin clot
Of blood ex ending over the right
hemisphere OF the brain. III the right lateral
pbs 0. the bran there was q rupture OF one of
he ninate vessels Ia his belief death was
he result of heuorrhege Of the brain from rup-
fure Of vessels caused by concussica from blows
90 the head.
The state rested after the close OF the exami-
usiou OF DR. Dawson. The defense mace mo-
lion for a uonsait. which was overruled by the
court
sH Piles then made the opening statement
Of the defence TO the jury. On June 2, he said,
Dohsen end Darlington were at work as part
nrs on Pratts new hous-, which they were just
faishing II was Saturday evening. Dobson
had been in the Ia BIZ OF leaving his tools about
he house and locking the door so that boys
yesld not 60 in and use his tools and dull them.
pnu asked Dobson TO gather up his tools
sad lock them in tbs chest snd let
hin have the key 10 the house. saying that he
and MIRA Pratt wanted to nail the cloth on the
sas and ceilings that evening and Sunday.
Dobson would not let him have It Pratt left
hin anu started 10 his house. near by, and Dob
son started home. AS he passed he called out
% Pratt to come TO him. Pratt went When
within few feet. Dobson said:
what in hell do you want OF til at key?"
Il told yoa." fratt replied.
III you get IL, you are a better man than i
sm, said Dobson.
he then struck at Pratt with his dinner pail,
and mace lun. for him. Pratt warded OFF
he blow, and he fell to the ground. striking his
head on a stump. He grabbed Pratt's leg aud
hgsn pinchlng and bi ing. He said: 'lf /
euld get my knife out / would cut your
damned heart out" Pratt struck him q few
tines in self-defense.
The defense frat called a number OF witnesses
loesiaosh the general reputa ion of the de-
isndgnt as Q good and peaceable man, and 10
ssiablish the fac / that he had never before been
arrested for violation of law. These witnesses
we're L. Barner, of Kirkland. who had known
hin in Kansas and Seattle for eleven years: Mil
ton Williams, who had known him eleven years;
George Lowe, OF Edgewater. who bad known
him twenty-five years IN Iowa, Kansas and
Seattle; Joseph wymer. who knew him in Iowa:
George Humes, who had known him six years;
Wallace Bush, of Coupeyille, who had known
him twelve years; ]. Pennington. VINO had
known him three years: Fred Smell, who had
known him SIX or seven years; I. B. Rhodes,
who hsd known him eleven years.
Archie King. q teamster in the employ of
Pratt then testified that he was in the barn at
the time of the alteration between Pratt and
D0bson. He heard Pratt's voice when he came
to the house after the homicide, and came
down TO see what was the matter He went TO
where Dobson lay with Darlington and Pratt,
sad held Dobson's head while they washed it.
Two small siumps, alleged TO have been grub
fed from the spot where Dobson's head lay,
we're produced. They stood. he said. about K
teen inches apart on north and south line.
Dobsos's hesd lay just east of the stumps and
hearty between them. Mr.. Pratt had him build
tienee around the spot. enclosing about eight
ieet square. In the enclosure he counted twen-
E'nye stumpS There was hardly room for q
mai to fall without striking : stump.
l. J. Book drew diagram of the stumps and
NE position of Pratt. about as test q d 10 by
King. He saw Dobson soon after the homicide.
Pratt and Darlington were kaeeling each side
o. thin, King brought some alcohol. CARING
sor said: he is dead"
he cannot be; ! have done nothing TO kill
hin, > Pratt replied. lie was crying.
Mrs Pratt next was called TO the stand, and
10 a quiet manner rela,ed that on the fatal
evening her husband went out 10 ste II Dobson
hsd left the key. He soon returned crying.
sne asked him what WAS the matter, ard he
iold her of The trouble. He told her 10 have
sae men do everything possible for Pratt. Her
nhsesnd went to town to give himself ap. He
aed .oug scar on his cheek, which was sore
or week. He also had wound on his leg,
which locked ike a bite. She told of the trou-
De between her husband and Dobson about
aree weeks preceding. Dobson WAS working
% the roof Of the house. The specifications
eel ed for a twelye-foot ceiling. The siuddipg
Rad been cut ten feet Pratt told DoDson of the
n's'ske. He called him liar and started
aosn the ladder, saying: III we have got 10
nave nght we may MS we'll have il now" She
hepped between them aud said: You cannot
tghl here"
Nortie Pratt, iS-vesr-old son of the defend
81 took the stand ard. much 10 the surprise of
ae prosecution, testified that he was an eye
HitassS 10 the iaial quarrel between his father
sha Dobson. he was in the cow-pen getting
sA1y to milk. He saw Dobson pass him after
&c sii the new house His father stood in the
90 OF the barn in which they were living
oVeson called 10 Pratt 10 come 10 him. Pratt
saked down toward him and as he approached
Seo>on struck at him with his pail.
sfsi Jumped aside. and D1ason fell past him 10
1s sroand He raised mp and grabbed his
s.ners kuee, and held onto him. de saw his
,ssaef strike DUbson two or three Tunes. while
t'uANn held Elm. He heard Dobson say. Iii /
Soaaa get my knife out. but did not under
sand the rest On cross-exsmInation toe child
vas Questioned very closely.
Maom did You first tell that you saw the
toub ef"
told my mother the next morning"
ul1 yon ever tell any nody else about it?''
toia Mr. Ronald and Mr. Piles the day after
TIE inquest"
-. DID you ever talk with your father about
$40, sirr,