The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-25
THEACCUSED'S STORY
Friedrich's Account of the
Night of the Killing.
HIS pEMEANoR ON THE STAND.
He Tells straightforward Story with
out Contrsdiction-suit Against
Street Railway.


The fourth day of the friedrich murder trial
saw the evidence in the case brought to close,
the defense occupying nearly all of the time in
the introduction OF Its witnesses The first wit
ness called was ex-Chief of Police William Muir
ply. who testified:
was chief Of police of Seattle in July, 1887,
when scherbring was shot questioned him
about the matter and he said he did not know
who shot him. l told him that he going to
cie and If he had anything to say that was the
time for It, He said he had nothing to tell; that
he was with Friedrich, the shoemaker, who was
his best friend
ssexamiuation. did not hear scherbring
n his sleep say, "Friedrich, don't" He did not
pi me directly who shot him, and seemed
iosth TO say anything about It
The defendants counsel announced his de-
sire to impeach the testimony of r. NJ. Long
staff and 7. Z. Truman, witnesses for the state,
snd introduced into evidence the transcript Of
their evidence in the first trial.
The next witness to be called was Albert
Friedrich, the accused, and as he took the stand
there was slight hutter of expectation in the
courtroom. He was perfectly composed, and a
better witness for his side would have been
hard 20 find. Although there was no trouble In
understanding him he spoke with a decided
German accent He told his story without hes-
taiion and did not contradict himself in the
slightest The first question put him by Mr..
Tyler was: "Where did you first make the ac-
ouaintance OF Scherbring?" and the witness re-
Piled: about two years before he was shot, in
San Francisco" Continuing the witness testi-
fed:
went to Victoria, leaving him in San Fran
CISCO was in Victoria for two months; then L
went 10 Portland and stayed four months. While
on the way back TO Victoria met Scherbrng at
Tacoma. He was working on the steamer Eliza
Anderson. ! came with him on the boat to Sc
i Alternatives ShOpmAE-
ers shop and stayed here Every other night,
when schcrbrng came in on the boat, he visited
on Marion street below Front.
scherbring came in one morning, and when I
asked him what he was doing there at that time
Of day he said he had lost his job on the Eliza
Anderson. He stayed here several days and one
day be said he was broke. He wanted me to
lend him $40 TO go to Port Townsend. let him
have the money. That night Scherbring stayed
with me, and the next night. On the morning
sser the second night seherbring asked me 20
70 bost-rdtng. We took five bottles of beer,
hired boat, and went over across the bay
sroundthe point on the other side OF the point.
We stayed over there until about 4:30 in the
afternoon. We went to dinner at Mr.. kringle's
together. told Schcrbrng couldn't stay with
hin any longer, as l had to go to Turner hall.
he said It was early; TO come and take another
glass OF beer together and then could go. We
walked out on the Grant street bridge to Conrad
Brehrn's place, where 1 often went. We had
two or three glasses of beer. After we sa: out
l.
must go, and he said. "All right" 1t was just
about shutdown when we started.
As the witness story approached the point OF
the shooting the interest OF the auditors began
to grow. Friedrich, however, gave not the
slightest sign of emotion, continuing his testi-
mony in the same even, exact style, with on1y:an
occasional directing question from his attorney.
He continued:
We were walking fast as was in hurry. Al
ter we had gone about 100 yards Sherbring said,
you can go on ahead, don't want to rum"
30 that was the last ever saw of him until /
saw him at the hospital. l went on until /
came to the railroad which turns of to the left.
went along the trestlo until l came upon Mr..
Jandos, who had his nets spread out 10 catch
crabs. knew him. He said, "wait minute
until pull up my nets. and | Will go with
you" We went in on the track until we came
to Commercial street Jandos turned of at
Washington street and I went up TO Turner
hall. heard my friends singing on the inside
and saw that was late, so turned and went to
my shop. After being there short
while went out to meet Scherbring. At the
corner of Second and Washington streets met
me to go home with her, and staid there all
night The next morning between and
O'clock went TO q little French restaurant and
had breakfast. Then, not feeling like staying
indoors, thought / would go up the railroad
and take some orders for boots at a loggers'
camp. The ioggers wear peculiar kind of
boot and have il made to order started out on
the Grant street bridge, out toward the race
track. AT the race track / stopped and had
glass of beer Then went up the railroad track
toward Tacoma. On the way took eight or ten
orders. which I wrote down in my wallet
Sheriff Cochrane took this book away from me-
j went on, and night overlook me before
could find q place to stop. l went on, but
could find no place to stop. came
upon fire near the track, and stopped
for an hour or two. About O'Clock the next
morning came to place called Kent / went
In the hotel and had my break fast. After break
last went on. When l came TO the place
silerward learned was Slaughter i met two
Ven hpn nf4 hnw fr1n nd alYf az NJ
Quilter. He asked me where / was from and
told him from Seattle. He asked IL / was ac-
eusinted in Seattle and l told him that was,
being member of the Turner's l sat down and
talked with him. He asked me II | had heard
oiashooting in Seattle. l told him had only
read the headlines in paper at the hotel. He
SAID aman named Scherbring had been shot. /
Replied that knew him well and II my friend
was shotl would go back TO Seattle as soon as
possible Quilter told me TO wait there and
could get train back TO Seattle. After we
tAIkeo awhile Quilter arrested me, saving was
wanted Tor the shooting Quilter and the other
man aud had been together all the time. They
stepped on to one side aud whispered and then
came back AMI arrested me. Quilter searched
me Tor pistol, but found none
MT Tyler here interposed the quetion:
Did you ever own a pistol in your life?
once bought one at Los Angeles and wore IL
TO Victoria, where l sold il.
Then you didn't steal pistolf
don't steal.
The tone in which the accused made this
statement one of indignant earnestness.
Upon request of the attorney he continued his
story:
Sheriff Cochrane came to Slaughter on loco
motive and took me back 10 seattle. All of
the men questioned me- When they told
me that was arrested Tor the shooting OF Scher-
bring l told them that had left him on the
bridge. am not sure that told them where
HAD slept. When We arrived in seattle the sher-
III, the prosecuting attorney and myself went
before Mr.. Jones, justice OF the peace. asked
to he taken at once to the hospital, but they
L a
taken to the county Jail. sheriff Cochrane
stripped me 10 the skin and took everything
had on me except some small change.
About half an hour afterwar1 a
reporter came and talked to me. l
cannot remember of going to the hospital the
nFst thing. / remember only OF going there
enee. When we went there Mr.. Cochrane said:
u don't want you 10 talk TO Scherbring; he is
weak" When / went To the ted seherbring
nes asked Scherbring, "ls that the man who
otyou? lie said Yes" Then l said, 'sJul-
JUS how can you say sol never was there and
you know it," The prosecuting attorney told
me 10 keep quiet, and | was not allowed 10
peak any more. Then | ask q Scherbring,
aifl shot you. where was IF' but he said moth
ing DR.. kriesN told scherbring he was going
ode, but he refused to bel eve him.
When you met Jandos fishing what time was
II was just getting dark. l walked very fast
Twas about a mile aud half from the saloon
% the crossing.
At the conclusion of Friedrch's direct testi.
Hony, which had lasted nearly an hour A recess
Of f.teen minutes was taken by the court Then
began fierce cross questioning by Prosecuting
NJ