The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-12

An EuOrt MaOc 10 COnheCt the Ac-
cused with the killing Through
His Possession of the Timepiece
Story as to How He Secured the
Piece OF Jewelry.
The circumstances surrounding the
mysterious murder of Arthur Middleton
were brought to light in district court
yesterday, with the commencement of
the trial of Nick Kauth. indicted for
grand larceny. Kauth Is accused of hav-
ing stolen the watch formerly owned by
Middleton and which disappeared on the
night of the murder before the police ar
rived on the scene. Consequently an un-
usual degree Of interest attaches to the
trial and Judge Kelly's court room was
crowded With spectators.
Assistant County Attorney Zollman ap-
peared for the state and the defense was
represented by Attorney F. l.. McGhee.
Kauth, who appears to be intensely wor-
ried. occupied a chair behind his at
torney, and scrutinized the witnesses
closely.
The morning session was occupied In
the selection of a jury and 1t was noon
before the following jurymen had been
found to be acceptable: Nicholas Rauen,
Charles Passavant. George w. Potter,
August Peterson, Leonard Ayd. James L.
Mcclure. John G.. simonds, William A.
Spencer, Charles T. Sally, George Rau,
William Brown and John Brown.
After the opening by the state the first
witness called was Sheriff John Wagencr,
who told how he received possession Of
the watch. The murder had occurred on
Sept 5. and he had been accosted by
Kauth early in the campaign, when he
was seeking reelection as sheriff. The
two had considerable conversation at the
time and Kauth brought up the matter
Of the murder mystery. He inquired If
it would not help out the chances Of the
witness reelection if he was enabled to
furnish a solution of the mystery.
Then Kauth had said he knew where
the watch could be recovered and tho
following morning he called at the -sher-
ifs office and held long conversation
on the subject, which eliminated in the
sheriff being placed in possession Of the
watch. which Is all open-faced nickel
affair and valued at not over sis. Kauth
had told the witness that he had gotten
the watch for sale from one Harry Ed
wards and the latter had gotten 1t from
his brother, "Slob' Edwards.
Attorney McGhee went in detail into
the subject matter of the different con-
versations held by the sheriff and Kauth,
to which he appeared to attach consider
able Importance.
Moses Shapiro, a pawnbroker, identified
the watch which he told the court had
been pawned at his place by Middleton.
Mrs. Ardella Yarnen who had been
under arrest at the time of the murder,
charged with the commission Of the crime
and afterwards released, also identified
the watch which she declared she had
seen at her house, near Middleton's store
on the night of Sept. 5, and also at the
union depot.
Officer Robert Finnegan who was the
first policeman on the scene of the mur-
der, told HON he had been called to the
store at 269 West Seventh street between
o'clock and 1:30 on the night of Sept 5.
He found Middleton on his hands and
knees on the sidewalk. The injured man
was dressed, in a gauZe. undershirt. The
storm door was unlocked and the window
up about eight inches. M1dd1eton's vest
hung on the back of chair with a
broken watch chain dangling from the
pocket as If the timepiece had been
Wrenched off.
fhe circumstances attendant upon the
discovery Of the crime were also related
by officer James F. Mccormick, Sergeant
Ross and Detective Murnane. The latter
was on the stand when an adjournment
was taken until 10 a. M today.