The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-17

on the Charge of Murder-He Says
About 1t.
The coroner's jury, assembled yester-
day by Coroner Nelson to investigate the
death Of James Miller who was shot at
Justice Smiths office, SO South Robert
street. Wednesday afternoon, formally
placed the responsibility for the deed
upon Fred F. Guion, who blew out Mil
ler's brains with shotgun. The evidence
presented at the inquest was substan-
TALLY the story printed In the G oh of
yesterday, showing that Guion had will
fully, and without protocation, murdered
old man Miller. The jury was composed
of D. T. Wellington, David Kribs, o. s.
Boston, Fred Brandt, A. w. Caldwell and
A w. Vance. Assistant County Attorney
zollman attended the inquest as the rep
resentative of the county legal depart
ment, while john H. Ives was present
in the interest of Guion.
Justice Joseph Smith told Of his dealing
with Guion, detailing the occurrences
leading to the murder of Miller. He said
Guion asked him to confer with Attor-
ney j. V. l. Dodd about renewing a suit
Guion had in the district court. Attorney
Dodd informed him, witness said, that
the payment of S. in fees would be neces-
sary. Wednesday morning Guion called
again and was told what Attorney Dodd
said. Guion was angry, Justice Smith
said, and went away dissatisfied. About
2:30 o'clock in the afternoon Guion visited
.T1IStica Smith aapOnd tjroa MiIJar ha
murdered man, and ]. B. Maynard were
in the = Office at this time. Guion and
Justice Smith discussed the case, the wit
ness said, and Guion angrily objected to
the payment of the S. fee. Justice Smith
said Guion asked him If Judgment in
Guion's favor could be guaranteed If the
fee was paid. Justice Smith said he told
Guion he could make no such guarantee.
This provoked Guion more than ever
Justice Smith said, when, he alleged
Guton threatened to shoot him. At this
juncture Guion turned to Miller, who was
listening to the argument. the witness
said, and called upon Miller to remember
that Justice Smith had said he could not
guarantee judgment in Guion's favor
Then, the witness said Guion left the
office, evidently in a wrathful mood.
Justice Smith said he saw Guion ap-
preaching the Office half an hour later
with gun across his shoulder He said
he remarked that Guion was coming back
with a gun and wondered if there was
any danger of trouble. Before a move
could be made Justice Smith said Guion
stood within the office with the shotgun
leVeled at Miller. The witness said Mil
lar inn Oo6 Of hi aha ~
toward Guton, when the gun was dis
charged, killing Miller instantly. The
witness declared Guion had aimed the
gun at Miller Immediately upon entering
the door, without menacing any one else
first. Witness said Miller did not walk
in front of the gun, but that it was aimed
at him from the first.
''Was Guion drunk?" asked Coroner
Nelson. - :'@
81 do not know" answered the witness;
'he appeared very much excited, but did
not stagger." ,-.-.--, - ,''-aS
What was his mental slater"
well, he was excited. He undoubtedly
thought Attorney Dodd and were try
ing to job MIN out of the S. fee
Ferdinand Barta, who grappled with
Guion after the first shot that killed
Miller, when the murderer was swinging
about to get line On Justice Smith,
told about the same story of the muir
der. He said Guion was excited, but did
not appear to be drunk. He said Guion
aimed at Miller as soon as he entered
the room and fired when Miller started
toward him. With the gun still at his
shoulder Guion wheeled around toward,
Justice Smith, according to the witness,
when Mr. Barta says he grappled with
the murderer. Guion struggled to get
away, Mr.. Barta said, and IN the Scufflei
the second barrel of the gun was dis
charged. Then Justice Smith went to his
assistance, Mr.. Barta said, and Guion
was held until officer Zimmerman ar
rived. -
I ]. B. Maynard, living at 165 East Fair
field avenue, said he was in the Office
when Guion entered the door, but was
frightened at the sight of the gun and
ran through door opening off of the
office into a rear room. Miller was Shot
just as Maynard reached the back room,
so the witness said he did not see Guion
point the gun nor witness MHler's fall
In few seconds, Maynard said, he heard
the second shot, He remained in the
out. Maynard said Guion walked per-
fectly straight when he entered the door
and was APPARENTLY sober.
when 1 saw Guion with the gun I
was afraid of trouble and skipped, /"
said the witness.
FatrOlman zimmerman testified to see
ing Guion coming from the direction of
his home with the shotgun. Later he
heard two shots and ran to Justice
Smiths office, to find Miller lying dead
on the floor, while Justice Smith and At
tOrney Barta were struggling with the
murderer. Witness identified the gun.
Guion was arraigned in the municipal
court yesterday on the charge of murder
He appeared stondly Indifferent to the
proceedings. Asked If he engaged an at
torney, Guion sullenly answered that he
had not Judge Orr asked him If he
would like to consult an attorney
"Oh, I don't know" answered Guion,
at might be a good thing to talk with
some one about it"
. In order to give the accused murderer
time to secure counsel the case was con-
tinued until today. Guion was renanded
to the county jail without ball.
Guion was much brighter. and some
what more civil, yesterday than when he
was arrested. He was willing to talk
about himself but grew excited at every
mention of the murder of Miller, and re-
peatedfy declared he did not murder the
old man. He says that Miller was his
friend, and that he had nothing against
the old soldier. He admits now that he
can remember about having trouble with
Justice, Smith over the lawsuit, but when
any reference to the murder Is made his
memory falls him. Guion says he had
been drinking hard several days before
the murder He processes to be unable
to remember how or where he got the
says he recognized the gun at the sta
kG1 HI JooJa