Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1892-12-30
The Kerber Case.

4 tjce .Jimeson, Tuesday afternoon,
charged with the murder of John 70
sbak. On account of the absence of
gwitnesses. case was continued until 10
!. M, Wednesday morning.
Court opened at 10 a. m. Theodore
F. Kerr was duly sworn and being ex.
q AHMED by States Attorney Carleton
stated that he, as Coroner, held inquest
on the body Of John Zobak. That
& death Was caused by some sharp instru-
;ment.
Question by w. Carleton. Could you
b state by what Instruments
Answer. By someSsharp instrument.
a. Could yon state that the instrt'-
ment produced would cause the
wounds?
"A. Yes.
a. Has the defendant made state
nlent how the man was killed?
a. Yes. Tie defendant stated the
.na,l was killed by hatchet.
q. By liver jacobson. You have
visited the place where crime was COM
# mitted?
"A. Yes.
IS q. State how often you have seen the,
place since.
a. / was at the place rs coroner and
once since.
q. Did you make an examination
how this may have happened:
A. Yes.
Could YOU state as coroner and
physician how this had happened?
a. I can only state as physician how
this has happened
@. State as physician how you think
this might have happened.
IA. believe the defendant was struck
q very severe blow by Il sharp instrl'-
meat, presumably the hatchet produced
that when the blow was struck, the
s head lay upon some hard substance,
otherwise I do not believe that degree
Of injury could be produced. There were
signs of a severe struggle following the
first injury, evidently the man who is
3 dead fell in small and contracted
space in corner behind stove and in
that position was struck several times
by sharp instrument causing his
death.
@. You have been attending Physi-
clan for Kerber and attending to his
- onndss
"A. Yes.
q. How would you think the wounds
were inflicted!
A. 1 should think the man was lying
down when he received his wounds:
q. You haye seen the marks of blood
on the pillow and bedding?
"A. Yes have.
ssss @. State if you can how those marks
would occur.
"A. From what have observed
should think those marks were causct
by flowing Of blood from wounds mace
on the head or face by lying on the pill
low.
q Would the wounds upon KeAber'
right cheek suggest itself to you as be
ing made from the blood in differcn
direction as shown upon the bedding
"a. / think the blood flowed from hi
4 wound after lie was hit.
RE.ExAMlNED BY w. CARLETON.
@. From the blood you saw OH til
pillow would you think it flowed or ha
baen smeared on the same:
"A. j Ishould think it flowed from til
NJ appearance of the pillow.
@. From the appearance of the pi
low would yeu think the mans hea
laid upon the pillow when the bloc
Aoweds
"A. Not more than few drops unt
the head was raised.
II his head was laying OH the pi
low when the blow was struck, whe
he raised would the blood flow upo
the pillow or upon his person?
"a. It would depend upon his position
naturally the blood would flow up,.
himself.
@. In regard to Kerbers wound
could he have received such a woun
standing without his head bein
against something's
IA. believe not.
@. Then Upon that theory the ma
that was killed must have been lynn
,lowmor have his head against som.
thing
A. Not necessarily.
@: There were several wounds .
the man that was killed, cut con
pletely through the skull and on
Through the lower jawe
y. Yes. Not SO much through til
cheek as Kerbers.
The wound through the cheek i
lzerber's face that deeper throug
the cheek than lower jaw.
ssss & IL Is much deaner in Kerher