Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-10-20

1ort ne couiu 'rHthe MS thonSntS In +
words. and 40 his last message Is only a (
broken one. i am dying, he wrote. (
murdered by Astra' a'--a-s-t-r-a-- I
and his life departed
1.-The prosecution has told you that 1
he intended 10 write 'Astray Mursden.
The defense has been unable to deny it |
The prosecution has said no wrote 40
that justice might be metel out To his /
murderer The defense has hintcd only
limited, gentlemen--cvcn they have not !
dared to do more than whisper--that
Josiah Marsden hated his ward or son
and did what he did In revenge. faced
eternity with the foulest sin that man
could commit upon his soul died with
n lie in his heart. that n young man
might be hanged. The defense has hint
ed that this is why the paper was writ
ten. will not venture to express my
own opinion Of such method Of de-
fense Let MS look at the matter dispas-
sionately, II we are to believe that Jo-
siah Marsdcn committed this loathsome
deed as his last act ON earth and that
Astray Marsden did not murder him.
then that murder was committed by
some unknown enemy of the old man.
HAS the defense been able to hint Mt
any snch persony No. Has the defense
been able to assume or deduce that any
other person was in tho house on that
mighty No. IT has simply contented IT,
self with categorical des4ial Of every
thing and plea rs surprising as 1t Ia
abominable
"The value Of that plea gentlemen,
/ 1p.sr 80. ia. 1
again to the circrmstantial evidence
and deal first Of all with
The Norwegian Knife.
''This knife has the letter a brand.
ed upon it's handle The knife was in
the prisoners possession, it is agreed.
until u few moments or u few hours be.
fore the murder Il is admitted that
Astray Marsden was with Josiah Mars
den on the night Of the murder II il
also admitted thathe used the knife to
open cigar box in the presence Of his
guardian and then left il behind him
ready for the murderer. who we are
told. entered the house after the prison.
or had left it The value of that plea.
gentlemen. is again for you to decide.
1.-The murder was first discovered by
the woman Margaret Gadsden. who was
in the habit Of going daily TO attend To
the domestic requirements of the de
ceased On the morning Of Jan. IL she
went, as usual, and gained admittance
at the side entrance by the key she al
ways had in her possession.
lyon will rec llect that between the
night Of the lltA aud the morning Of
tho 18th there was u phenomennlly
heavy fall OF snow. and the woman no
ticed that there were footprints leading
to the front door OF the house. but none
leading from 1t.
, becoming alarmed mt the unusual
stiffness which reigned through the
house ana unable to get any answer
when she knocked at Josiah Marsden's
door, Margaret Gaasden hastened to
the police station and returned with
Chief Of Police Dobson.
THAT man, gentlemen. yon have had
before you. He has told You himself of
his attempt 10 blind the aims Of justice
! by withholding the most important
piece Of evidence in this intricate case.
] the paper that Josiah Marsden left be-
hind him Dobson has expressed his
contrition and regret for the disgrace
full course which he took. but whether
: that contrition will absolve him from
the penalties of his action very much
doubt ! cannot refrain from referring
e to the supreme and utter idiocy mani
Tested throughout by Chief Dobson in
relation TO this case and cannot too
I warmly applaud the indcfatigable on.
= ergy. the zeal and acnmcn. of Mr.. Her.
@ bert Darrent. the official who took
= charge Of the case and was fortunately
I able TO retrieve all the errors-I will
0 content myself by calling them errors
Z at pre-ent-which Dobson committed
prior 10 his appearance on the scene
= Returning to the events OF Jan. j2. you
D Will remember that Dobson and the
woman returned together and upon en-
d tering the library found Josiah Marslcn
: lying dead urdn tho floor. stabbed 70
!. the heart BY his side was tho paper
! which has had such an important bear
r ing upon the case. tho paper which
1 Dobson retained. showing IL only to the
h prisoner. Astray Marsden You have
4 heard Dobspp's nccot.nt Of that inter
Y yiew--that the prisoner turned pale and
d trembled and then promised To see him
Is later in the day
!. at is for you 10 say whether Dobson
4 IL man whose evidence can be relied
y upon or not Bnt setting that upon one
e side. was the action of Astray Marsdcn
that Of an innocent manf He sought
| refuge In fight II IL urged that he be
II came the prey 10 spssn of fear. but
d an innocent man shonld have no snch
E. cowardly emotion Why did he not defy
d the blaclcmail Of Dobson and. knowing
9. his innocence. rest coDtented ON being
/ able to prove AN alibif Why Because.
sr gentlemen. he could not because hs
ID was bonpd 10 admit that he was ut TIL,
70 CRANE. on that night He OWNS he wa,
o at The Grange. but pleads that he left
"a before the snowstorm and left JOSIAH