Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-11-18

The indictment contains two counts. one
charging that death was caused by some
person and the other that death was caused
by wound on the head, inflicted with a
weapon to the jury unknown. The evil
dence, said Mr.. Tobin, will be circumstan-
tial.
Attorney Ney briefly outlined the de-
Tense, the substance of which will be that
the circumstances shown are not sufficient
to justify a conviction. The defense will
dwell strongly on the fact that no motive
can be shown for killing Murray.
Three witnesses were examined before
adjournment. They were Martin Loder q
saloon-keeper in Walford, who testified to
the burning of Novak's store at one o clock
on the morning of February last and the
finding in the ruins of the corpse claimed
by the state to be that of Murray and
Michael Nurses and Charles Zaboketsky,
the latter the brother-in-law and partner
OF Novak, both of whom testified to seeing
Murray in Novak's store at 1880 o'clock on
the night of February2.
The Third Day.
Vinton, Ia, Nov IA ]. Murray cousin
of the dead man, testified yesterday to
Novak's having told William Murray, the
father of the dead man, on visit they
made to the Jail, that the body found was
probably that of his son, Edward Murray.
This statement has since been denied by
Novak and the father to whom it was told
IS too i'll to appear in court. The defense
questioned witness as to why he and his
uncle went to the Jail.
Among other witnesses were Mrs. Shea,
the sister of the dead man, who identified
his shirt and scapular; Jacob Haggy, who
saw Murray sitting outside the bank on the
night of the fire; Hugh Humphrey, a po-
lice justice of Florence, who testified as to
Novak's straitened finances, and j. G..
Novak, cousin of the defendant, who, I'M
der the belief that Frank Novak was dead
had proceeded to administer his estate. He
was still on the stand when court ad-
journed.
One of the exciting scenes of the day was
the appearance of Red Perrin, the detective,
row noted for having tracked Novak to the
Klondike, following him to Dawson City
where he captured him and brought his
man back to trial.
The Fourth Day.
Vinton, ILL.,, Nov. 13.-The Novak murder
trial was given an unexpected turn yester-
day afternoon by the illness of Juror Saun-
ders. A recess was taken for Is minutes
and at 4:10 o'clock 1t became necessary to
adjourn court until nine o'clock this morn
ing. The defense consented to the juror be-
Ing taken to his home. 1t is declared Mr..
Saunders Illness is due to the poor ventila-
ton of the little courtroom.
The witnesses introduced yesterday were
~. Novak, who testified as to the insurance
policies of Frank A. Novak; Hugh Hum
phrey, who testified to the signature of
NoVak;, Alice Murray, sister or the man
who is said to have persisted in the Wal
ford fire; Frank Guinan, nephew of Muir
ray; William Murray, the father; DR.. Ruml
who testified to making the post-mortem
examination at the coroner's inquest r.
Dunn, the storekeeper at Holbrook, where
Novak had $50 in silver changed for paper
money on the day following the fire, and
Thomas Jennings and c. II. Merrifield, hack
drivers at Iowa City.
The Fifth Day.
Vinton, Ia, Nov. 1.-Two sensational
features marked the Novak trial on Sat-
urday One was the testimony that the
skull of Edward Murray was broken be-
fore his body was burned in the fire at Wal
ford, and the other was the story of the
detective who brought Novak from Alaska
and to whom an alleged confession was
made
c. B. Chenoweth, the coroner, who iden-
titled the skull as the one taken from the
ruins, said that when examined, 1t was
found that a portion of the skull was
broken out, section probably one inch by
one and half inches, showing that Murray
was killed before the store was set on fire.
c. c. Perrin, Denver detective, testified
regarding his trip to Alaska after Novak
He found the defendant at Dawson, and on
the return trip the prisoner admitted his
identity, and said that he kept q bottle of