The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-04
STORY OF THE SLEUTH
ALEX M'VEETY, THE DETECTIVE
IN THE BOXELL MURDER
CASE, TESTIFIES
TALKS WITH THE DEFENDANT
Gave Different Explanations at
Different Times About the Blood
Stains on the Coat and the
Scratches on the Back of His
Hand-Mixed Up ON His Fathers
Watch.

BUFFALO. Mimi, July 9.-While the
evidence against Joe Boxell, charged with
the murder of his father, is largely cir
cumstantial SO far the fact that he had
motive for the crime has been shown,
and the blood spots upon his coat, worn
the night of the crime, and the scratches
upon his hands, supposed to have been
received at that time, have been estab-
llshed by number of witnesses
Aleck McVeety, a detective, who has
worked on the case since the murder,
was the first witness called today. Ar
irving at the scene of the murder Sun
day morning, he saw an ak covered with
blood by the elm tree. In conversation,
Joe said that his father had made will,
and had intended to change it, but he
had not, as he did not go into an at
| torney's Office while IN Toward Lake the
day before. Joe said he was to have the
forty acres.
Witness corroborated the testimony of
previous witnesses as the track leading
from the lake to the BoXell homestead.
He also examined the meadow and the
plowed ground back of the stables and
noticed the bloody coat. He found the
track on the plowed ground evidently
made by a person running north in the
direction of Joe's home. He compared by
| accurate measurements this track with
the tracks leading from the lake. They
were the same size. All the tracks were
fresh and had been made by about a
No. s shoe.
He noticed the duck coat as the one
he had taken from Mr.. Farrells field. He
had examined 1t while it was lying on
the harrow in the field. 1t had been
washed, but he noticed that flies had
gathered on the spots. They appeared to
be blood spots. He chased the flies away
with straw and they always returned
to the same place He asked Joe to let
him take the coat. Joe objected. Joe said
that the detective could not tell that there
had been blood on the coat, as it had
been freshly washed Joe saw the wit
ness that evening in Howard Lake and
asked him for the coat Joe said he got
the coat from a man who had worked
for Dave Workman, and that the fellow
had got it bloody while butchering there.
A few weeks later witness asked Joe
about the scratches on the back of his
hand. Joe said he got scratched two
weeks before the murder. He said a cow
kicked him while he was milking Joe
had told the witness the morning follow
ing the murder that he got them while
grubbing for Lem Ferrill. When a wit
ness told Joe that experts could tell the
difference between human blood and other
kinds, Joe said:
IF they find any blood on my coat 1t
will be because l have the nose-bleed fire.
quently and had wiped the blood on my
sleeves
The witness went with the constable to
Joe's house between 10 and II o'clock at
night, and Joe was arrested. Joe accused
the witness of stealing his coat. Witness
told Joe he ought not to feel hard to-
wards him as his wife had told so many
different stories about it.
Joe then asked what his wife had told
him. Witness said Joe's wife had told
him that a pig had got hold of 1t and