The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1891-07-17

Did not divulge the letter matter in Hope un-
til the news came out in the newspapers.
Mathews came to Hope with mo on Saturday.
After reading the letter, was at a loss to know
what to do with it. Think havo only done
my duty, Do not mind of ever saying to
Wasem sit was my intention to remail it,"
Many have asked mo my opinion about the
genuiness of the letter, and I have said I
thought it was true. 1thas been said to me
that might have tapped Waseln for Thous-
and Dollars; think Kingsley first said so to me.
Cannot say, but by means Of some other kind
of a key, the letter may read in a different way.
Cannot say how long it took me to read
the letter. Do rot co.sider it my duty 10 read
letters in cipher, ard do not think 1 would
ever read another one I am trying to tell
the truth.
Arthur McLaughlip sworn said, I am dray-
mar, and remember Wasem rode over to the
station with me on Tuesday, 2ud of Juno. It
was raining.
Charlie Merriell sworn said, am Hardware
merchant: Have seen Wasem write and have
seen Lis writing. Ques.-In your opinion
do YOU say, is that Wasem's handwriting?
Ans. tits. Under crossexamination describes,
certain letters and other characteristics. Isee
my name written which looks very familiar"
We have been good friends for eight or nine
years. There is no difficulty between us.
have said that believed Wasem wrote the let
ter. but not that he was guilty.
Frank N. Gilmore sworn said, know Wascm,
Nayn him writQ and fhiOC :
Have seen many orders and bills from him.
That is his writing in my opinion. Qucs. DO
you swear it positively? Ans.-I positively
think so. Cross cxamined-The letters and fig
ures in this letter bears general appearance
to his letters and figures. Am no professinal,
to make other kinds, but think mans gen.
eral hand writing is the same.
= II :. Badger sworn, says, ''havo clerked
with Wascm five years and two months. l do
not know thatI have ever. compared any hand
writing. Have seen Wascm write many times
Examines tho letter and says 81 would say
from the way the letters and figures are made
| it is his; swear, in my opinion, it is his
The witness then describes how certain letters
| and figures are made by Wasem, and how
| Wasem used to make fun Of him, because
| they used to commence at different ends of the
| figure when they made it.-"Saw this letter
bsfore, and said it was Wasems. 1 think /
nave lOiIutliy ehpitsSeu my OPINION tllat
| thought Wasem was guilty." lam utterly ny
biased in my opinion. Am now clerking in
! Wamherg Il Jacobsons. Was not discharged
| from Wasem's: unless it be discharge to re-
ceive notice that when my time had expired !
would not be needed any longer.
The cipher letter was then rendered as evi-
dencc, and after considerable legal qubDle
| was received.
FL. Thurston, station agent at Hope, ap
| Nnn nrOI II out IL,
| self to the court.
The States Attorney was allowed by tho
Court TO read the cipher letter. The State.
Attorney, being sworn, read the letter accord
ing to his own key or theory. Letter read
Horrible and infernaIin general.l
Mrs. WinsloW, being recalled, says, in refer.
enco to Guy" mentioned in letter: Hay,
heard Wasem called Guy. The origin Of th
name Guy came from play in which N'asen
was Guy Vincent and was Dora, his sister
We have afterwards been called Guy and Dora
May has called us by that name.
John Wamberg sworn says, "am druggist
Wascm came TO my store on Sunday, May s1s
ibid not put any arsenic or strychnne in To
pOwders.o
T. L. Thursteu sworn said, was at the depo
on June 2nd. It has been the custom of til
business men of Hope to come up with letters
Sometimes they are banded to me, so etime
to others. I have box for my letters in tn
Office but do not know of anybody but railwa
officials using it.
This ends States evidenca.
The defence moved for discharge Of case be
cause Of insufficient evidence. Motion denied
For the defence, Oliver Molsterteigen swor
says, am acquainted with JJ'asem for thre
years. was in his employ for nearly two and
half years. Have seen his writing frequently
Examines letter and says] II does not loo
! like WaSem's handwriting to me-
Fl. H. Wascm sworn sai1 Live in Hope
Have not closely examined the letter produce
in court. Examines and says] I did nc
write that letter ncr cause it to be written, an
never saw it before to. day. Am married
years. Never administered or caused 10 be al
ministcred any ARSENIC or strychnine to IN
wife. got a prescription from the doctor
weut to the drug store on Sunday and had
filled by Mr.. 1Camherg (Ques) Doyou kno,
the S: 0. Merrill mentioned in the cipher letter
(Ans) Do not.
Amelia Wasem testified as fcows:-
on the s1st of May 1891, she was sick and too
two powders out OF number of powders til
doctor had prescribed for her That on Non
day, June 1st, after breakfast, she took anotll
or OF the same powders That these powder
were lying on a stand in her room, and ths
the defendant prepared the same in her pres
encr, by mixing it in a little water. That sl
| w
! der she took on Monday morning, and that
( was just like the two taken the day before
That an hour or so after taking the powder q
Monday, she was taken with sp aslns. beginnin
III the lilnbs and extending over the bod.
That she had four such spasms that day.
a That she had had just such spasms befor
and that her sister and mother had been sim
lar]y afflicted. That sha was not at all ALARM
ed, as SHE knew what they were when 81
, felt them coming on.
Court adjourned until nine o'clock Thursda
morning.
On opening of court Thursday morning, Jo
I Jimeson sworn said, am acquainted wit
Q JIasem and with his writing. Examine
y letter and says. swear it is not his. Tho ''y
but can show it. Have clerked with Vase,
8 since April, and think ought to know h
8 writing.
William Mlligan, sworn said, have see
his writing and figures and to tho best of III
recollection they do not compare. Examine
: other papers and said, to the best of my judg'
. | ment they were written blythe same hand.
John Laramore sworn said, received letter
from him, examines letter and judges 1t do.
r not look alike, Am not familiar enough wit
: letter or orcomparing letters. Can't tell peculiar
ity about bis writing. Some of his lette
= wrote vely poor. This letter is written in
better hand.
d c. ". Dawdy sworn, said, am familiar wit
; Uasem's writing. Seen him write bills
This letter don't look like it to me.
~ A. L. Breckenridge sworn said. am acquain
t ed with 1'aseni's writing. Examines lette
il Say he writes in boder hand, what ha,
# seen begins large ends small. Compares 10
= ters. Very much alike In general make VI
y but letter is written better.
g A. R. Baker sworn. Examines letter, say
q does not look like what have seen, it is n
the same general appearance of Ills letter
: Chauncy Russ sworn said, am acquaint'
= five years with Wasem, I saw some of l.
d writing. Traded on time with him al
!, carried pass book. Examines letters s'do
!. not compare or look like what I have seen