Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-06-18
Court at Williamsrort.

WILLIAMSBURG, June 4th.-There has
been some pathetic incidents connected
with the trial of VIM. Carmichael for muir
der. This trial Eopened on Tuesday, and
this is Thursday, and the end is not quite
yet. But the evidence was all in this
evening. The first pathetic incident
was the placing on the stand of Mrs.
Bockhouse, the widow of the murdered
man. She is 30 years of age-has two
children-her husband was two years her
senior. He was powerful man, six feet
high, and it is common rumor that he
was prone to fits of anger, but if this is a
fact it did not get to the jury.
The jury was a good representative
body of twelve men. These sturdy coun-
farms, are, perhaps, much more likely to
do justice in case of this kind. than men
would be who would be picked up from
the byways and alleys OF large city.
These men all bore the marks of industry
on their persons; their hands were cal
loused; they all on the first day of the
trial had messages to send to their families
relating to and accounting for their alb
sence. 1t is safe to say that before such
jury the facts as developed by the testi-
mony would be carefully considered, and
the minimum of prejudice and bias would
be int luced.
States Attorney Armstrong made an ex-
cellent impression in his manner Of exam
ming witnesses. He also opened the case
to the jury and addressed the jury at the
close of the testimony with marked ability.
His language was ready, concise and, emf
nently to the point. Acknowledgement
Spencer demonstrated very conclusively
that he has had a very wide experience in
conducting criminal cases, and everybody
is looking forward to his final address to
the jury, which will come to morrow. Mr..
Hrrrick, the defendants resident attorney,
has done great deal OF excellent work for
his client, and was able to give much in
formation Of local nature to Judge Fran
els, who was the leading counsel for Car
michael. Judge Francis left no stone I'M
turned in his crOss-eXaminatiOn of wit.
nesses and his general conduct of the case,
to clear his client.
The evidence proved the following facts:
On October 18th last, Carmichael, an Is
year-old boy, went to Bockhouse for colt
that Bockhouse had pastured Tor him.
There was dispute on monetary matters
between them. and Bockhouse declined to
give up the colt. Shortly after-in all hour
or tw0-Carmichael returned for the colt
and took it away. Bockhouse came up,
slapped Carmichael's face and took the
colt back. Carmichael then went to the
house of a neighbor, borrowed rifle and
took il out of the house with the statement
that mo could slap his
face" and that he "would put hole
through Bockhonse." The woman who
from him. Mrs. Flick told him that he
would be hung, but he replied that he did
not care -. He returned to Bock-
houses field, took the colt, struck the trail
half a mile from BOckhouse's house, tied
the colt to the wagon OF one of two
Hollarders who were going along the road,
and as he was riding along on the right
the left side. Carmichael. sitting on his
pony, shot across the wagon, hitting the
unfortunate man in the neck. Bockhouse
fell from his pony and died at once. Car
michael then ran Off and was about ten
days afterward arrested in Mclean county.
The defense claimed that the shooting
was done in sell-defense The shooting
was admitted. The defense put the de-
PENDANT on the stand, who denied that he
was sitting on his pony when he fred the
Shot; denied that he told Mrs. Flick that
he would put hole through Bockhouse:
denied that he told Mr.. Dwyer of Coal Har-
Dor, when arrested, that he "would do it
again" if the circumstances were similar.
When on the stand, Carmichael said he
was afraid of D0ckhOuse, as he rode up to
the wagon, and was afraid that he was 90
ing to be slapped again.
The second pathetic incident in this trial
came when Mrs Carmichael, the mother OF
the boy, was put on the stand. She is adj
yanced in years. perhaps past fifty. and she
bears evidences of having been dealt with
unkinply by fortune. She was dressed in
sombre colors. Tears believed her cheek
tears such as any mother would shed on
seeing her boy being tried on a charge of
the highest crime known to the law. She
has four children-one older son, from
whom she has not heard for two years, the
son on trial and two daughters. She
tells of the care that has been taken of her
and her smaller children by the prisoner;
how he has worked out for farmers and
given all his money to her: that her hus-
band. from whom she is divorced, lives in
Illinois. The youthful murderer has been
the. guardian and support of his mother
and sisters.
InexorabIe is the law: but nobody can
tell what Jury will do.
Tournament Program.