The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-10
A QUESTION OF IDENTITY.
Witnesses in the Chapman M"r"s'
Cuse Contradict Each other.


s,nac,aI D.snatch to the Post -intoiligencer.
TACOMA. June 9.--The trial Of Charles
w CHAPMAN for the murder OF Louis
Xarieln, took most peculiar turn ioaaS.
and a very dramatic scene resulted lFoiii
the testimony given by Mrs. tdfI bdch'
an eyewitness Of the tragedy. MIS- Bach
was one of the long list of witnesses SUP
poenaed by the state and came on the
stand early this afternoon. In hef direct
examination she told how two men stood
near her window and waited for their
victim, Zar!elIi. who soon came up with
q third very large man wearing white
hat. Then how, after robbing Zarielil. the
big man fired two shots at the ltahan al
ter the latter was hurry.ng away from
the scene She intimated at this time IN
her testimony that Chapman. the defend
ant. Is not the man who fired the fatal
shots but II was for the defense 10 bring
this out plainly. Standing Chapman before
her she was asked whether she believed
him 20 be the man who shot Zarteil. and
she replied with all a woHsans positive
ness that he could not be the murderer,
that the murderer. face was indeEbly
impressed upon her mind and she would
recognize him anywhere at any time. The
fact that Mrs. Bach had a very near view
OF the tragedy. which took pace but
few yards from where she stood looking
from her window. and that she Is certain
Chapman is not large enough TO possibly
I'll the description Of the murderer, her
testimony was a staggerer for the prose-
cution. She made an excellent witness
in every way her general appearance and
quaint German dialect leaving nothing but
Il good impression on all her hearers.
But Mrs. Bach had no sooner retired
than one II Michaels, a new conner here,
who sat In an open wincew across the
street from the scene Of the murder when
- f1,,Te a.
Chapman as the man who ran away after
having fired the two murderosIe shots.
He told clear story. that was not shak-
en- by Examination. saying that after
firing the two shots a ZAreili the muir
derer ran across the street TO the side
walk above which he. the witness. sat IN
the open window of his room Thence the
man ran along the siiewalk IN plain view
turning up the first cross street.
Michaels was absolutely certain when
Chapman arose before him n the court
room that Chapman and the man ne saw
running from the scene OF the murder are
one and the same person. No amount Of
cross-ques,ioaing would shake his testi-
mOny on this point or even lead To him
qualifying mis- statement as 10 Chapman's
identity. Coming "a IL lid IL 9lrec; con-
aict 20 thar Of Mrs Bach. Mlchael's test
mony created TO little excitement ia the
court room. which was packed 10 the door
with spectators.
The widow Of Zariela was put on the
stand and damaged Chapman's case ma
1er.aI!y by telling. IN broken English. how
her husband. after being shot, told her,
Charley. Minutes CGac.cy." VAS tho man
who shot him. Her story vas that her
husband said H. her that after he had
been robbed be turned 70 the tall man and
remarked: I'm see you tomorrow about
thls." = second later ss he turned away.
he was shot down. This tail man he re-
ferrsd % as Charley. M.nnie'z Charley
The case Is gradually developing much
interest, the contradictory evidence Of
witnesses subpoenas1 by the state thus far
affecting tse identity % the murderer. BE-
ing one OF the features 20 attract much at
tsot.or. The defense Wi put witnesses on
The st1Ed who moved Zarleiil % the hos
g.ral aGd officers who saw and talked with
hln there. who will testify that Za-.elu
told them repeatedly he id rot know ~yao
shot him cIt that he could probably iden-
ufy TWO - the men VINO h,I1 aim 1ln
We're they brought before him. TIE clash
~ evidence so far introduced Is no more
startling than that between attorneys In
ne case. and much ~ the time Of the
court g devoted to hearing blckerinss BE-
.weea them.