The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-08-10
Son Against Father.

HdiSO, N. u. July OO.- IIdA1 AACAs
has been OH the stand all the morn
ing, testifying for the state against
his father. When the little fellow was
brought into the court the scene was
painful in the extreme. The father,
who is being tried on the awful charge
Of killing his mother, burst out crying
and sobs were audible all over the
court room and tears stole down the
cheeks of Attorney Hildreth.
During the direct examination Earl
testified TO his mother waking him up
on the night of the homicide and tell.
ing him there we're burglars around
the house and of getting up, and Of
Tom finally killing his mother. Wit
ness said: MY father and mother used
to quarrel about the farm and she used
to cry about it and he would say
things that were not right. Father
went on the morning before my moth
er was killed, and before he went Tom
and he were in the barn together for
awhile.".
Cross-examined Earl said: II told
my uncle l thought l saw men out of
the windows that night, but he didn't
tell me there wasn't, or that my faith
er put up q plan to kill mother. MI.
.Nyc and Mr.. Voss talked to me about
the atlas last night and asked me If I
couldn't remember about that. They
said it was very important to get the
atlas in the case. They talked to me
about my evidence and read some Of
the questions and answers at the first
trial Over to ME last night. l was in
their room about an hour. I thought
there was men at the window until I
read In the newspapers and heard peo-
pie talk about my father hiring moth
er killed, and then he q away and
didn't come back and l thought If he
didn't want mamm killed and didn't
do 1t, he would come back and prove
it wasn't so, and when he didn't I be-
gan to think he must be guilty and
there wasn't any n at the windows.
At the afternoon session the cross
examination of Earl was continued.
The boy said: II haven't seen my papa
except in court since he went away.
l haven't wanted to see him and don't
want to see him now. l used to like
to see him. I did not think there was
anything wrong with my papa till
after l got down to the Lairds. I
heard them say they wanted to con-
vict him aud hang him and they would
spend lots of money to do it. When
my father was brought back from
Colorado / asked Uncle Bruce to take
me to see him, but he said I better
not.
S. B. Seavey, of West Superior, was
called and testified: 81 saw Kent at
West Superior, on March 10, 1894. He
told me he was on his way to England
for some money and wanted SIS
which 1 gave him. He appeared des-
pondent and discouraged. I got a let
ter from Kent April IL, asking for
some money and that it be sent to
L. NJ. Frank, at Trenton, Neb. I wir-
ed him asking him If he knew his wife
dead and wrote next day giving
got a letter from him for
money that he might come back. I
afterwards got a long letter from Kent
in which he spoke In endcaring terms
of Earl and explained all about the in
surance trouble which was keeping
him away from home"
On cross-examination. Mr.. Seavey Ger
titled his expenses to Fargo were paid
by Frank Laird and that he wa to be
paid for his time.
The state has just about completed
its case and will probably rest before
tomorrow. The defence will not
consume more than a day In present.
ing Its side Of the case.