The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-15
The Attorneys Heavy Fire
Unable to Alter the Lat
ter'S Testimony.
STICKS TO HIS FIRST STORY.
Witness Becomes iii in the
Afternoon and His Wife
Takes the Stand.

Pitted against the most skillful analyst
of evidence to be found from one end of
the country to the other, subjected to
a cross examination so scathing that con-
tradictions might be expected to occur,
even were the witness gifted with a
more subtle understanding than that of
Blixt, the man has stuck to his story
without alteration of single detail that
can be regarded as important or in any
way essential. Blixt's long seige on the
stand has told on him and during the
afternoon he complained of a severe
headache and was excused. His wife
when court adjourned.
Very Few Deviations.
While the defense has succeeded in
getting some denials, and showing some
discrepancies between the second con-
fession and his testimony, it is generally
conceded that Blixt has not deviated to
any great extent from the statements he
made in the second confession. At the
close of the morning session ex-Mayor
Eustis gave expression to his surprise
in the statement that he had never seen
the like of it in the history of jurispru-
dence. Everything fits in" said the
ex-mayor. "He has not seen his second
confession, and consider it a remark
able case. He is in the hands of his
God, and is telling the truth
There have been some intensely sem
sational scenes in connection with this
cross-examination.
Mr.. Erwin openly charged Blixt with
doctoring his confession to suit public
clamor and the charge was emphatically
denied.
A Different Line of Attack.
It became very evident to everyone
as the cross-examination proceeded that
Erwin had determined on different
line of attack from that attempted Tues
day, which had so signally failed. He
threatened and browbeat the witness.
Il want to explain something" said
Rixt.
mo you DON'T" retorted the criminal
lawyer, ''you've babbled long enough;
you've got to get down to business now.
Did you not change your statement as
to what time it was when Harry brought
you the whisky because you had been
informed that at that very time he was
with man named Waterman
'As I sit here before God, what I have
said was of myself. No one had told me
anything at all"
"Did you not make your second state
ment at the point of revolver, and
under threat
''No, did not"
SIN your first statement you said
Harry gave you the cartridges about 6;
now you say it was at 7?'
81 did not changed I didn't change!
1t was between and T."
Was Confused at the Time.
And then the witness was led over
the story again, back and forth and
through, in the effort to secure contra
dictions.
Mr. Erwin took up each discrepancy
between Blixt's testimony and the first
confession he made, wherein he asserted
that Hayward had done the actual
shooting and asked the witness the rea-
son for it. Blixt's invariable reply was
that he was confused at the time, and
his recollection was not clear. He had
thought it over every day since then,
and all the details had come back to
him. Oftentimes the efforts of the law
yer to entrap him were foiled by the
stolidity and simplicity Of the witness.
His Remember Improved.
"Did you not change your story and
invent this one to fit the green goods
theory of the state % asked Erwin.
"No," said Blixt. my remember
wasn't as good then as it is now.
''Ah," said his questioner sarcasti-
cally. Mr.. Erwin wanted Blixt to de-
scribe again all about how he got the
body out of the buggy, but the objection
of the state was sustained by the court,
who told Erwin he might ask any spe-
cific question he wanted, but the whole
recital need not be gone over again.
II thought maybe he had changed his
memory since yesterday" said Erwin
In half aside to the jury, "and we have
q right to the latest edition"
Erwins Work Fruitless.
For another hour in the afternoon the
merciless Erwin kept Blixt on the rack,
going over the various parts OF his story
again and again. Not once did he get
the witness into any contradiction;
neither did he bring out any new fact
that would be of service to the defense.
Blixt's steady explanation OF all dis
crepancies or changes from his original
statement was that his recollection was
better now. When asked what had
aided him in this memory refreshing
process, Blixt replied that it was God
who had aided him. Mr.. Erwin sug-
gested that he had derived his power
to recall certain details from lesser
trinity, in fact, to Messrs. Hall and Nye
and Blixt's attorney.
Mrs. Blixt on the Stand.
The ordeal was trying one for Blixt,
and soon he was perspiring profusely.
He complained of a headache and was
finally excused until morning.
His wife was next called to the stand.
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