The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-23

Connena Was the Aggrcssess
sneciaI Dispatch to the Post-IntealiSencef.
SIDNEY. Dec. sa.-ConGdent in tile es-
tablishment of strong prina facsa case
against James ". Coanela, who shot ano
killed ole Nelson in Everett October ~
,ba state has rested its case and the Wit
nesses for the defense are now being ex-
aminsa Connes.s has himself expressed
his entire satisfaction with the fairness o1
the prosecution. The prisoner himself and
T. |. Grant, who WAS holding Nelson when
he was shot were the two iirst witnesses
called for tho defense. Attorney Ronald
enseayored 10 put inpcaching questions
10 the latter witness. but was landscapes
by having no transcript of the evidence
given a. the coroners inquest A tran
script of this character is in the hands OF
the defense out they refuse to allow the
other side 10 use it,
ConneIIa Tells HIS story.
The story as told by connella is I'm sub
stance as follows: On the night or ocbo0es.
10 he received his pistol from friend 10
whom II had been loaned and put II IN ms
pocket intending 70 take ii home. In tas
Bank saloon he met T. l.. Grant early IN
the evening and they left there 10 go 10 tho
opera house. where a political meeting was
TO be held. with James Hamilton Lewis Al
speaker. On the way they passed Nelson
and Thomas Fleming talking together nsar
| a telegraph pole In the center OF the bsocx
en- Hewitt avenue. conncla had heard
| that Nelson had been talking against him
because of a reference in his paper TO tho
fact that Nelson had been accused OF nav
ing torn down picture of James Hamil-
ton Lewis In the opera house and he ac-
costed Nelson with the words:
What have you been lying about mo
for around town."
Nelson had swung around and cane
carried in his right hand had been raised in
| a threatening manner. Conneiia had
reached cut for the cane. Knocking OFF Nell
sons hat In so doing. Fleming had then
| intefposed. backing him off down the street
| 10 a point Jus. outside the cigar store. Con-
| neila had stepped inside the store 10 AVOID
| trouble and Nelson had come TO him there
| with his cane raised as though 10 strike.
/ Fleming was at this time standing between
! the two ConneIia had said. Don't strike
| me with that cane and sInoving toward
| Nelson. grabbed at the cane over F1eming's
| shoulder.
| Nelson had then grappled him by tho
| throat and shoulder and thrown him down
/ and holding him there with his left hand.
| had tried TO heat him over the head with
/ his cane. held In his right. conneiia had
been lying fiat on his back. He warded
/ off the blows with his arm. He heard
/ voices from the crowd calling. Kick him
In the face" and he had drawn his pistol
and fred.
He did not sec Grant pulling Nelson
| away, Connclla said and shot 10 prevent
| further injury 10 himself. He testified that
/ he fell partially within the cigar store. He
| said tha; up To the time OF being thrown
| down he hsd forgotten having the pistol.
| but when he landed nc felt it.
The Defense Outlined.
As outlined IN statements made In be-
! half OF the defense by Attorney Jack
! Coleman. they expect 20 prove justi-
| fable homicide. or seif-defense: that
/ the life Of the prisoner was threatens
cd; that al the time Of the shot and inme-
diately prior thereto Connella was lying nat
on his back. instead Of on his left side:
.
that Grant IN trying 30 pull Nelson back
merely Strengthened Nelson and did not
take him away Yrom ConneIia: that Con-
neila 5id no. know Nelson was being taken
away and ex pected al every minute to 10
kicked In the face or killed.
Cause of the Trouble.
Constant reference is made during the
trial 10 the Lewis episode" ~ the primo
cause OF trouble between Nelson and Con-
nslla The Everett Independent Rad, IL
seems. published an aecount of how Ole
Nelson had torn down Congressman Lew
Is picture during q Republican meeting al
the opera house. and had ,ranpIed on it.
The first account was followed by BIT
| ter editorial Connella. IN commenting on
the lncdcn. In the News. h.s paper. said
/ Il was ~ too Ettle consequence to occupy
| 50 much space ard that such an action
vas to be expected from n --
| fool Ike Nelson" The following week
/ another article appeared. saying that Net
! son denied having been In the opera h1uss
! on the night IN question ard stating eaat a
pin head named Mckee tore down the
picture
Conrelia claims 20 have heard neantirne
from man named FTanery that Nelson
had said that he had struck Conneiia and
chased him on the street ard II was "a
ask why Nelson had said these things sha,
0etsheg 10
Articles in the Tndcpendent describing ths
} ;acAent wers read 70 ras Jury and offered