Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-03-30
STORY OF The DEFENSE.
Effort 10 Shift tho Charge From Ms.
Van Pdttsn 10 Ms. Nelson.
The Arguments nefore tho Iary In
the uurdsr rriAi Bsing
Made To-day.


son was recalled for further ctoss'ex.
animation 10 the Van Patton oase. The
examination related to making the
mush which Mr.. Nelson ate the night
before he was taken sick, with n view
to show tnat tho poison might have
been pa, In the mush by witness.
She was asked II she hal offered
Rasmus Clawson 5000 TO kill hot hus-
band, and replied with considerable
feeling that she had not. She also
denied threatening him with a hatchel.
w. II. King made the opening state.
ment tor the defense Ia tho Emma
Van Patten casu. lie claimed that the
testimony Tor the prosecution failoi
utterly 10 prove the crime charged.
Mrs. Van Patten was living Ia Salt
Lake City, In order 10 lot her children
attend school; her husband was at that
time at Bingham working la the
mines. La October one OF her daugh'
tors was about 10 be- married. Mfs.
Van Patten had some mining property
which had been loft her by = deceased
friend. sho was IA need ofsome money
and took the deeds 10 tue mining
property TO Ephfaim for the purpose Of
borrowing money from nor uncle
on this property. Tho uncle
had always been very alice
tionate towards hife. van Iatlen'
MFR. Nielsen had nj first said that no
could not Mt that time lot her have the
money. Mira Nielsen had asked ner
husband to got tho rough on rats be.
cause Of being troubled with mice, aud
had asked Mrs. Van Patton 10 remind
him Of 10 when he went down town.
On tho way up town, after buying
groceries anu rough on rats, ho wentintl
store where n Mr.. Nielsen clcfke1.
This MIR. Nielsen read letter Tor
horen Nielsen, written by his daughter
Serena, and one from Ammon Dahlc,
OF spanish Fork, both asking 10 borrow
money. When he returned nome Mrs.
Nielsen became acquainted with the
contents Of those lctterf, aud objected
TO Serena having any money. A yio-
lieut. quarrel took place on tbis subject
After supper on Tuesday Mrs. Van
patten went after tho whisky nrst
bought, at this request OF Mrs. Nielsen.
Mrs. Van PatieD had told that she
wanted the liquor Tor her daughter,
because Mrs. Nielsen bad instructed
her 10 do this, for the reason that " she
said she wanted II for Mrs. Nielsen she
would not be able to get II. Mrs. Van
Patten had intended TO return 10
Salt Lake earlier than she did,
bat was delayed on account OF
her uucle's sickness. SOren Nielsen
had told defendant, after he had be-.
GENE sick, that she could get Maus
Nielsen 10 write 10 AmmOn DAZZLE, Of
Spanish Fork. asking DAhlo 10 let hor
a.
her NOT TO lot Mfs. Nielsen know be-.
cause she would object. Mrs, Nielsen
had also sent defendant for a bottle Of
brandy for Mrs. Nielsen aud a bottle Of
whisky for herself (Mts. Nlclsen), aud
bottle Of laudanum, which Mrs.
Nielsen said uhe wanted for pain la
her stomach. Mrs. Nielsen had been
alone with the deceased the
night before his death. Mrs. Van
Patten had frequently urged That "A
doctor DO sent Tor, but this had been
objected 10 by Mis-. Nielsen. On the
day OF Mr.. Nielsun'a death shB had,
however, sent for Doctor Olstou. Mr..
King thought there was insufficient
evidence 10 show that Mr.. Nielsen had
come 10 his death from poison; but II
that was proven, the great PROBABILITY
was that tho poison was Administered
by his wife. They had lived very uu.
happily together, and the evidence
would show Mrs. Nielsen had ire
quently offered money 10 persons ~
they would kill her husband.
q. w. Petersen WAS called for the
defense. He was at tho residence Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Nielsen on the 9TH Of
June last. At that time Mrs. Nielsen
had taken Ratchet, ruuhed toward
Mr.. Nielsen and threatened 10 give
him "a taste OF this" Sac appeared
to be- angry.
Ole Larsen testified that about three
years ago he had gone 10 Mr.. Nlolsen's
nome to pay Mr. Nielsen some money.
MIR. Nielsen went down the cellar 10
get some beer. Mrs. Nielsen had then
offered witness 81 900 II no would XIII
her husband. Witness replied that she
must be Joking. She said no, che was
In earnest.
On REORGANIZATION he said that he
had not Informed Mr.. Nielsen OF this
conversation, anu tnat he (witne-s)was
not drunk at the time. Witness diu NOT
really think Mrs. Nielsen meant what
sue said.
Niels Thompson testified that lac
borrowed 81 $50 from SOTen Nielsen
AAA'h AAsAf w AAAA NhAA W tNNIAAAhNNAf AHHNf
the money was In currency.
WIN. johnson, the sexton Of Iph.
rain, resIifled tnRt Mrs. Nielsen told
him, after the death Of Mr.. Mel.
een, that Ehs had no money 20
pay Tor burial lot. Afterwards
rhe went 10 drawer and took out n
roll Of bills, aud paid him q tyB dollar
bill and 81 In silver Nhe package OF
bills was about an inch thick; there
were 80, $40 anu s. bills.
hOrtn johnson testified that Siren
Nielsen came Into the coop store on
Tuesday preceding Mt. Nelson's
death. Nielsen had two letters, which
he asked witness 10 read. MIR. johnson
was mot permitted 10 testify who the
letters were tom. These nre the letters
from Serena Nielsen ami Ammon
Dahle, asking 10 borrow money, Wit
ness was NJ the house Of SlIen Nielsen
on the forenoon OF the day MI, Nielsen
dioi. Mrs. Van Patteu asked the
doctor n her uncle woull recover. Tue
doctor said no. Mrs. Van patten hal
commenced 10 cry; Mrs, Nielsen then
tald, that II was nothing 20 "bell0Wu
rhouS that all men hat 10 die, aud
that better mon than Nielsen hal Diet
Mrs. Van phtten had nli0 said that
the wanted 10 have sent Tor doctor
but her aunt would not lot her. Mrs.
Nielsen heard this anu shuok her
head; she said Mr.. Nielsen had often
al NHHNH D. Al