The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-19
4 LINE OF DEFENSE.
Grounds Upon Which Taylor
Starks Asks Acquittal.
r WAS KILL OR BE KILLED.


c.s-s. Murder case yesterday after exam
;n;nr several more witnesses as to the
arsds IN aicted by starks on Nels Bloom
- m r. w. Harrell testified as to
a. r.t,,,e 81 the wound in Bloomstran 9
shaar,sn which produced death. He said
:. ~ss THAT Is known as gunshot wound,
.aa vss necessarily fatal. The bullet
-s,ch vas taken from the dead man was
sx ,.a, by DIR. Harrell and pronounced
No. IS pistol ball, and the empty shells
tsken from starks' pistol were pronounced
No. So shells.
James Hamilton Lewis, for the defense,
;ntsrroeated DR.. Harrell very closely on
the subject of wounds and asked the wit
ness If he had ever any experience with
arrow wounds. Eyes, once" was the re-
NV. II had TO treat an arrow wound IN the
calf Of a young mans leg, caused by an ac-
cidental shot from lady's bow during
archery practice"
Frank Rolfs testified to the fact that
Nels Bloomstran told him the day he was
shot that he could not recover but knew
be was going to die.
The statement of the defense was then
made by ]. T. Ronald, giving the story IN
7sssil as to what he proposes to prove. lie
said: "Nels Bloomstran and Taylor Starks
we're great friends, and whsn Bioomstran
came to this state three years ago, before
bringing his family here, he told Starks
that he had a 14-year-old girl and he should
have her for wife. When his family came
Bloomstran himself introduced this
daughter Chestie 70 Taylor Starks, and
practically betrothed her to him. He
caused them to have their pictures taken
together, and was well pleased with the
prospects Of having Taylor for son-in-
law.
.Atth time Starks Brothers were doing
4 big credit business, but some time after
ward they quit crediting and would only
sell for cash. They abolished the credit
system entirely. and made no exceptions
10 this rule. Nels Bloomstsan being
unable to get credit, became very angry
and he never forgave Taylor Starks. That
was the cause Of his i'll and opposition TO
the young mans marrying his daughter.
Nels Bloomstran was quick tempered,
rash, impetuous man, and was very dan
gcrous when angry, and once upon meet
ing Taylor and Chestie on the bridge walk
ing together, Bloomstran cursed them both
and sent the girl home and kicked Tay-
lor, who bore the insult without resenting
1t. Bloomstran had pig under his arm at
the time, and when telling some Of the
neighbors about il afterward, said he
would have killed Taylor Starks then if
be had not had the pig in his way.
"After this we will show by the testi-
mony that Taylor did not 60 to Bloom
stran's house for more than two months,
and be quit going with Chestie Bloom
stYsn. About two months after Nels
J, enrsed and kicked Taylor they were in a
tnaS1 gHme together in saloon, and both
Xcre drinking some. In course of the
Gonxersaiion Nels Bloomstran told Taylor
.fkarks HAT be no longer felt any ill-will
zfCtkkzd hin, Taylor then reached his
1ond aoroas tbs table and said to Nels:
Stake, oidf4y, shake
i 1heG1 7nsf shook hands and made
cudns at least Taylor Starks thought so,
1nd ohos1 tifae after that Nels gave a
dance Gnf Invited Taylor and he went.
"Then Ee1s gave another dance and in
s MID Taylor to that, but he could not al
Nd, hut Nels seemed very much disap-
pcinted end went out to the gate watching
tn him and be afterward told some of the
n11Shbors that If Taylor Starks had come
~ hm house that night he would have
Killed him; that he pretended to make
friends with Taylor over a game Of cards
but he did that just to get chance to kill
him and he would be hung for that man
(Stsrks) yet, for he intended to kill him if
he ever came TO his house again. He told
these things to different people and we
will put them on the witness stand to
prove it. And we will also prove that Nels
Bloomstran said he would kill his own
daughter Chestie before she should marry
Taylor Starks.
During all this time Taylor thought
that Nels was his friend and he and
Chestie Bloomstran had fixed the day for
their wedding, and Eph Starks, Taylor's
brother, was to be married at the same
time, and on the day OF the killing, when
he went to ask Nels Bloomstran for his
daughter, Taylor expected no trouble. He
carried pistol because it is customary TO
carry pistol in the country; there are so
many wild animals in the woods.
"The statements that Taylor motioned
to Chestie Bloomstran to follow him when
Nels refused TO consent to his marriage are
false. It was Chestie who spoke up and
told Taylor to come on that she would so
with him. She will swear that she saw
her father getting his pistol and told
Taylor about it, and that when she saw
her father raise his pistol to shoot she told
Taylor that he was going to shoot. Nels
Bloomstran did shoot, but the bullet struck
the ground at their feet. Taylor then
SAID: Stop, Nelsl Don't be fool. What
are you doing?'
"Nels then fred his second shot and
said he would kill them both. At this
]uncture Taylor drew his pistol, and he
and Nels each fred two shots after that.
Neis nred four shots and only stopped
when his pistol was empty.
Neither Taylor nor Chestie knew that
Neis was shot, but when he started back
howard the house they thought he was
gong home after his gun. Taylor did not
Know until next morning that he had hit
Nes Then he went down the river to
coaect some bills, for he needed some
money. Before starting he left word that
= me sheriff came after him TO tell him he
you'd return Thursday night and give
himself up. That was on Tuesday. He
Aept his word and returned Thursday
night and gave himself up.
In shooting Nels Bloomstran he did
only what he was compelled TO do, and if
ne nad not shot Nels he would be sleepinc
IN the cold ground today"
AFTER Mr.. Ronald finished the statement
% 'ne case Tor the defense Judge Humes
asked the Jurors If any of them had any
requests TO make. whereupon one asked
.nat some cushions be put on the chairs in
me testimony for the defense will be
takNn fn1ar and h....-. N, " = -