Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-04-02
THE DELL RAPIDS ROBBERY.
soAE TESTIMONY PRESENTED FOR
THE DEFENSE.
Numerous Witnesses Swear that the Ac-
cused Men Were at their Homes ON the
Night of Jan. goth.

Janies smith, Mhen court ADJOURNED
to Friday morning. In the timony
of the defense, what was aimed to be
established was to prove an alibi-that
the accused man or men were at their
homes or some where else and not at
Erickson's at the time the robbery was
going on.
In the testimony given for the state
there was no evidence drawn out
identifying Gus Kroening with the af-
fair other than that given by Clyde
Kephart, the boy who had been put
through the .'sweat box ordeal.
Perhaps some of our readers do not
know what '.sweat box ordeal
means. A prisoner at the Jail is put
into a tight box, excepting his head;
then steam heat is turned into the box
up to nearly cooking degree. At
this point it is kept for hours or until
the prisoner becomes so tortured as
to confess his guilt and plead for
mercy. At the trial on Thursday
when Clyde Kephart was testifying
for the state against his confederates,
James Smiths attorneys tried TO draw
out what had occurred ON the night
of the arrest when he was put in the
'ssweat box and made his first con-
fession. He stated that there were
present Attorneys Adams and James,
Doctors Spafiord and Pettigrew, De-
tective Olson and VIII Tattersfield,
the latter reporter to take down the
confession. The state objected to the
details being given; but they were,
however, permitted to draw out what
inducements, if any, might have been
offered to young Kephart to confess.
Nothing was shown though, except
ing thatlt would be better for the
witness when he came to be tried him
self.
James Smith, the defendant, was
first sworn and gave testimony to
break down particularly that given
by CLYDE Kephart and Mrs. Huseboe.
He denied that he had anything to do
with the robbery and was at home the
night of the 20th of January; that he
had not met previously to plan the
robbery as testified by Kephart. He
said he had been with Gus Kroening
in Wisconsin, came home by the way
of Austin, Mimi, Jan. i, had known
CLYDE Kephart for wears and was with
him after the robbery and admitted
the shooting of Nels Larson's dog;
stated that he had talked with New
Mcfarland in the Jail and told him he
knew all about the robbery, but init
mated that it was done under pres
sure.
Mrs. d. Smith, mother of James
and Joe, testified that James Smith
and Gus Kroening were at home on
the night of Jan 20, all evening and
night. In the evening she read to
them from Buffalo Bill. . Roy and
Ora Bratton were there up to O'Clock.
Geo. Struble, teacher, testified that
Clyde Kephart was not at school on
Jan goth, but that James Smith was,
that he thought that both were on the
DIST. the day after the robbery. He
was at Cochrane's in the evening of
the goth of January, up to nearly $
O'Clock and saw Joe Smith up TO that
time On cross-examination he said
he was not positive as to time, Tor he
had no reason to impress his memory
then.
Mrs. Hawley of Dell Rapids, sister
of Mrs. Joe Smith, testified That she
was at Jasper on the goth Of Jan,
with Joe Smith but that he did not re-
turn with her.
Mrs. Joe Smith testified that her
husband was home all evening and all
night of Jan goth.
Mrs. Cochrane. mother of Mrs. Joe
Smith, testified that Joe Smith was at
home during the entire evening of the
goth.
Joe Smith testified that he was not
at the robbery as stated by ely
Kephart; that he never met with Clyde
and Jas Smith and Gus Kroening to
plan the robbery. Said that he was
at Jasper on me ZOtn OF Jan. nau
known Clyde as friend for several
years.
Roy BrattoD, lged Is. said that he
was at J. d. Smiths on the night OF
the goth of Jan. and saw James
Smith and Gus Kroening up TO 9
o. clock of the evening of that day.
Ora Bratton, aged IA. testified prac-
tically Roy Bratton did. The
Bratton )oys lived with Mrs. Coch-
rane, their grandmother, Joe Smith
being their uncle.
Roy Smith, brother Of James Smith,
testified that he was home the night
Of the robbery and that James Smith
and Gus Kroening we're present dur
ing that time.
Ed StruDle gave testimony that be