Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-12-13

in his cross examination, claimed that
there was no ill-feeling on his part
toward the defendant: that Mr.. Wads-
worth was not a man of his word, and
had not treated him right; that four
years ago, in a saloon in Medora, he said
that he could lick anybody that worked
for Wadsworth, whereupon a mar armed
with a six-shooter assaulted him, and
the witness says he will carry marks of
the wounds to the grave.
Alden Eaton was the next witness. He
testified that in December last he was
acting coroner for the county of Billings.
He received word that Ed Severson was
dead, and he proceeded to the Wads-
worth ranch to make an investigation.
At the ranch he found Messrs. Deitz,
Read and Mikkleson, and he swore them
in al jurors to hold the inquest. Mrs.
Wadsworth said to him that it was a
very sad business that brought him
there, the death of Severson. She also
spoke aboutS everson having been kicked
by a horse. She said that it wal queer
he should be killed by being kicked by
an old horse like that-one would never
thind he would have been killed by such
an old, crippled horse. She also spoke
about there being some blood on his
forehead. Mr.. Wadsworth was there,
but he did not say anything. The wit
ness and jurors went out and examined
the body, and came to the conclusion,
from the slight examination they made,
and after hearing the testimony Of Mr..
Wadsworth and the boy Roehm, that
Severson came to his death from the kick
of the horse. A verdict Of that kind
was drawn and signed by all the jurors
and the coroner Then the coroner and
jurors proceeded to prepare the body for
interment, and as they proceededt to take
away the clothing from the upper part
of the body they noticed Il bullet hole in
the left arm, and another at the right
side. Then they all went into the house
again, and told the Wadsworths that
Severson had been shot. Mrs. Wads-
worth said: "Why, Mr.. Eatonw Mr..
i Wadsworth did not say a word. Mrs
Wadsworth said that they would like to
have a thorough investigation, but Mr..
Wadsworth sat in his chair and never
said a word. For the half hour that the
witness and the jurors stayed in the
house Mr.. Wadsworth did not say /;
word.
The witness was still being examined
on direct when court adjourned for the
night.
This morning the direct examination
OF Mr.. Eaton was resumed and com
pleted, and MI. Simpson began to cross
examine him. The witness, in cross ex.
animation, stated that at the time Of
the inquiry at the Wadsworth house.
when the Wadsworths knew that Sever.
son had been shot, Mrs. Wadsworth sale
that they wanted a full investigation
and MI. Wadsworth made a similar re
mark. Mr.. Simpson took the witness
over the testimony that he gave concern
ing the witnesses and what they said a
the various %inquests that were held. Mr.
Eaton was still being examined whe1
court took a recess for dinner.
This afternoon the examination of Mr.
Eaton vas resumed and completed.
Mr.. Mikkelson was the next witness
SATURDAY.
Today, the second week of the Wads
worth murder trial closed, and the prose
cution has not rested it's case. Eigh'
witnesses have been examined since tn,
opening of the trial, and there are still
several more, it is said, before the prose
cution will finish. This will take par
Of next week, and it may the middle 0
next week before the defense begins it
case. 1t looks now as though mex
week would not see the end of the trial
and it may be two weeks yet before it i
completed. The record so far is harGl,
one witness a day, and the questioning
of witnesses have been SO close and ex
haustive that the case has progressed
slowly.
Yesterday afternoon E. Mikkleson wa
put on the stand by the prosecution
He was n of the %coroner's jurors tina
investigated the matter of the death o
Severson, and a fellow countryman ant
friend of the murdered man. Mikkle
son stated in detail the circumstance
surrounding the finding Of the bulle
holes in the body of Severson, and il
this and other particulars attending tn
occurrences at the Wadsworth ranch OF
the day Of and the day following th'
homicide, his testimony was similar t
that given by the other witnesses. HI
corroborated the other witnesses in man.
respects as to the manner in which Mr.
Wadsworth received the intelligence tina
Severson had been shot instead of hav
ing been kicked by ahorse. Insome re
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