The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-21
OSNES PUTON THE STAND
A Hotel Keeper at Livingston Is
Murdorously Assaulted by
Two Men.
Death Follows al. Attempt 20 Turn on 80
Isoandssesat Light at . oreas
Falls stAb'e.

Special 10 The Independent
FoRT BKsToS, Mar W.-IndiHsrsnt 70
everything. Jshn Osnes sat In court for
nearly three days aad listened ,o The ,ssti-
mony In thC case ia which be was ohatRsd
with murder. Around him was wound q
chain Of evidence which nothing could
break, yet Oanes never moved muscle or
gave ths sliRhtss. align OF emotion. sstur-
day aftsrnoon Osnes vas placed on the
stand In his own defense. He detailed
minutsly all tho occurrences from the tims
ho nrst met Lilledsll and Carlson In Amor
icB. and testified that they there renewed
their acquaintance and reoounted their
boyhood pleasures in Norway. For an hour
Osnes dwelt upon the occurrences Of March
70 and 30. up 10 the time OF his leaving
Fort Benton in company with Ole LilledaiL
on Saturday, March 81, for the ranch Of
Oss cousin, Peter Iesils. According ts
Osnes. they rods pleasantly topether
across the prairie until going down
the bill at Lacy. Hot words
arose over a case in which Osnes had sued
Testle few days before. osnss says Lii
ledall applied a vile epitbet TO him. bus all
ives settled With a drink. Crossing the
creek the two entered the ooulee aud
started mp the road. Near the top OF the
hill witness stated that Lilledsll again re-
feued TO Testle. snd again applied the
spithsi. Osnes stopped his horse. and Lii
lsdsli shot once. arnxisR Osnss wliss As
they clinohsd. Together thor fell from the
horses, Osnes on TOP. Lillsdall continued
firing. Witness said he wrsnehed the gun
from him aud threw u down the coulse.
Lillsdsii struck him with stone. and they
clinohsd. Together they rolled down the
hillside from the road into the coulss
struggling till they reaehsd tho rsvins.
where Osnss held Lillsdsll for a moment.
then rose. kesinR a knife In Lillsdalrs
hand. 0snss picked up rock and struck
him In the face. Lillsdall fell backward.
Hero for the frst time Osnss showed signs
OF weakening. II took the knife" then
his voice sank 10 Q whisper. and cut his
| throat"
WHATS thstf" loudly demanded Judes
Tattau, Of the prosecution, IN . sharp voice.
Then the accused assumed his familiar
air once more and carelsssly said; II eus
his throat" Witness oontiaasd that he a
once started In search Of the horses. mo-
tieed the watch, picked 10 up. continued
down the eoulss recovered the horses and
rode TO Hoilsnd's ranch. six miles from the
scene of ths murder
Az the night session Judge TattaA sub
ieoted Osnss TO a severe ecross-sxanination.
but the witness was uanovsd. OF the 90
currsncss In the coulse. whom the lawyer
gave Q question that would seem 10 trap
Osnss. the prisoner would dismiss the same
With. 'Couldn't toll" His statement failed
to account for the whip with heavy dent
In the butA Lillsdslrs glove. tramplsd in
the aud. and q rock With ,hs murdered
mans hair ssd blood upon ID found far
above the point where Osnes says blood
was frst shed. His svIdsnoe failed 10 sI-
plain tho large pool of blood between the
bloody teoks and the place far below where
Osnss says he fret drew blood from Lilies
dali. The wound on the back Of the head.
ths bloody trail. and the face. pounded be-
yond recognition. we're all shown by Tat
tan 70 be contradictory Of witness state
msnt. Witness disclaimsd all knovlsdss
OF Lilledall having been robbed and hidden
in the brush.
Az y. IN. court adjourned until Mon
day. when the oross-ersmination will bs
resumed.