Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-05-31
IN 7HB DISTRICT court
The Trial of John A. Ross Occupies
the Greater Part of the
Day.
Other Notes of Cases Which Came
Up in Court for Dis
posal.
The Benz Case Is Concluded in the
District Court This After
noon.
District Court,

Yesterday afternoon the trial of John
A.. Ross for shooting Frank Bowers was
proceeded with.
VIM. Morris was the first witness. He
testified that on the 18th of last month
he went to Ross house to get a wagon,
and Ross opened fire on Bowers, who
was with the witness. Ross had a re-
volver and fred five shots. Bowers fred,
but after Ross had fired.
Rev. A. Durrie, who was an eye wit
ness of the affair, testified that Ross shot
first.
Nick Dockendorf witnessed a part of
the fracas. He said that five shots cam
from Ross's revolver before Bowers dis
charged his shot gun.
In the district court this morning the
trial of John A. Ross was resumed.
DR.. Harcourt testified that he was
called on to treat Frank Bowers, who on
the day of the shooting scrape, was suf.
fering from a wound in the forearm,
probably caused by a shot.
Frank Bowers was the next witness.
He said that on the date mentioned he
went down to Ross house with a shot
gun for the purpose OF handing the gun
to Morris, whom, he heard, Ross was
after. He took the gun for Morris to
protect himself with. Ross fred five
shots, nom of which took effect. He
then fired again and the bullet went
through the arm of witness. Witness
then fred at the defendant. The testi-
mony of the witness tended to show that
the witness acted solely in self defense.
Samuel Hagy testified to hearing sew
eral shots fred. His testimony went to
show that the Ross shots we're fired first.
Frank Scott testified that he heard
several shots, the loudest of which cane
last.
This was the case for the State: f. G..
Graves, a young man who was working
for the defendant on the date of the fra
cas-, testified to eight shots, the first two
Of which we're loud.
The defendant then took the stand.
He testified that he sold his house.
moving plant to Morris, who had them
all winter. Later on they were all sold
back to the defendant. The trouble
they had arose ove a wagon. Norris
came to get it. Bowers had a shotgun,
which he fred at defendant and defend
ant used his revolver solely in self de-
Tense.
The witness was still on the stand
when court adjourned.
This afternoon on opening Of court
the cross-examination of the defendant,
Ross, was resumed.
Mrs. Ross was next called for the de-
Tense. She corroborated her husband in
many particulars.
From Fridays daily.l
In the district court yesterday after
Dor Charles White, VIM. Brunsman,
Fanny Davis, G. M. Barnes we're called
for the defense in the Ross c:.se.
This morning the jury went and view
ed the premises and after their return a
few additional questions we're put to
various witnesses, the attorneys addressed
the jury, the court delivered it's charge
and the jury retired at 1890 o'clock.
This afternoon the case of the State
VS.. Frank Bowers was called and the
work Of securing a jury was proceeded
with.
The jury was completed this afternoon
and court adjourned to tomorrow morn.
ing at s O'Clock.
The jury in the Ross case is still out.
From Saturdays Daily.]
In the district court this morning the
jury in the case Of the state against Ross
came in at 9:45 and asked for further in.
structions al to the law. They were
concerned as to the punishment that
would follow a verdict of guilty. They
retired in due course for further deliber-
alton.
The case Of the state against Frank
Bowers wa resumed this morning. The
first witness was John A. Ross who was
on the stand from 8 a. M. to IL q. M,
most Of the time being taken up by
cross-examination by MI. O'Connor.
DR.. Harcourt testified to the wound
received by Ross.
Geo. Graves and Chas. White testified
as to the shooting.
S. M. Barnes and George Jennings
told what they knew about the case and
court then adjourned until 2 O'Clock.
This afternoon the Jury came in in the
Ross case with a verdict Of not guilty.
In the case against Bowers, the first
witness this afternoon was VIM. Bruns-
man, who testified that on the day in
question he saw some Of the shooting.
Dr.. Rawlings and Mrs. John "A. Ross
also testified for the state.
From Mondays Daily.
In the district court on Saturday after