Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-04-26
APRIL 20.

e- onAS ASAkAA3 A1X1A 6Os 49, .
After press time yesterday afternoon,
Sergeant Shropshire was on the stand.
He testified that he had collected from
the soldiers at the post, and paid
Schaefer the tailor $50, for work done,
shortly before his death. He also testified
that Schaeffer had aside from this about
$50. making $50 in all.
Cross examination brought out that
Shropshire had been once court mar
tailed. He entered the service 81 years
ago and has been in continuous service
for that time. Not much else of import
ance was revealed.
Coroner Sherlock of Williston then
took the stand, and testified as to
the receiving and disposition of the
body of Schaeffer. 1t had been taken to
Williston for inquest, and he had buried
it there. He produced the articles he
had received from DR.. Carter, including
the gloves, knife and necktie which had
been found along the track. He also
produced a piece of cloth, which he said
was part of the coat of the dead man,
but testimony as to this was ruled out
as not proper CROSS examination. It is
claimed however, that this piece of cloth
was torn from Schaeffer's body. when the
engine passed over it, and was found 9
miles away, in the engine. No testimony
on this point was brought out however.
The prosecution closed this morning
with the evidence of the train dispatcher
who testified as to the construction of
the freight train which ran wei Schaef-
fer's body, and that of DR.. Carter, who
testified as to Schaeffer's height and
build, describing him as short and heavy
set. with a rather large head.
Attorney Stevens opened the case for
the defense at about 1890 O'Clock. He
said in opening that the defense would
not attempt to prove how Schaefer
came to his death, but would attempt to
show that McElroy could not have COM
mitted the crime charged against him.
They would present testimony to show
that McElroy ard Schaefer had some
words in the canteen about a debt, but
that it occurred considerably earlier in
the evening than stated by the prosecu-
ton. That after this trouble, McElroy
in company with some other soldiers
went to the depot, arriving there about
5 or 10 minutes before train time. That
there they secured a box, containing II
quart bottles of whiskey, which three OF
them took to the "shack" a gambling
and amusement room, some distance
from the post. That of the soldiers
went to his quarters before the shack
was reached and McElroy and the othe,
went in. That they remained there
drinking until nearly eleven, when they
returned to their quarters, to attend taps
and "check." That McElroy and others
went to bed with their shoes on, and
after taps, got up and went back to the
shack, where they drank and caroused
until McElroy fell into a drunken stupor
from which he was aroused at about {
o'clock, and went to his quarters to at
tend reveilIe.
He said the defense would also at
tempt to prove that Shaetfer visited the
hopital at about half past seven, and
stated there that he intended to steal 4
ride on a train that night, and go away
That subsequently he was seen going
from the hospital toward the depot and
that was the last seen Of him.
George Washington, an ebony colored
soldier was called, and he testified tina,
at about half past seven, Schaeffer had
came to the hospital and told him and 6
patient that he intended to steal a ride
on a freight that night, and go away
Some other evidence as to his intoxica
ton and his having been advised not tt
make the attempt as he was too drunk
was attempted to be introduced, but wal
ruled out. Washington also testified
that Schaeffer left after 5 or 10 minutes
0nI h1 ia 49, 80 ~ ..-L.1 -.