The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-11

Today He VIII ReSume His Story of
the Events on the Night of the
Tragedy, Which Was Interrupted
by AdjOurnment-Witne to
Prove the Good Character of the
Observation-Disclosures News.
BUFFALO, Mimi, July 1O.-(Special.)--
Shortly before court adjourned this aft
ernoon Joseph Boxell, charged with the
murder of his father and step-mother,
was sworn and went on the stand in his
own behalf. The time up to adjournment
was taken up with his direct story of
events on the night of the murder, and
this was not completed when court closed
for the day. Boxen will be on the stand
again tomorrow to complete his story,
and this, together with the cross-examin-
alton, will probably take up the greater
part of the day.
Boxells story, as told on the stand to-
day, was that which he has insisted upon
ever since he became an object of sus-
picion. He stated that early on the night
of the murder he was at his fathers
house, and after a visit there started to
go fishing with two of his brothers. Be
fore he reached the lake he remembered
he was to meet a cousin who was to ar
rive by train that evening and returned
to Howard Lake. After he arrived they
went to his home. He found the doors
locked, and this was so unusual he asked
his wife why the doors were fastened
She said she had seen some men running
from the direction of the home of Boxell
ST. toward the lake, and tnat she locked
the doors because she was frightened.
Continuing his story BoXell said the
first he heard of the murder was told
him by his brothers, who had returned
from fishing. He was in bed when they
came and told him something was wrong
at the house. He told them to arouse the
neighbors and then all went to the scene
of the murder. When they arrived 1t
was 11:50. At this point Boxells story
was interrupted by the adjournment.
Court did not convene until 10 o'clock
this morning, and the greater part of the
day was taken up with testimony as to
the character Of the defendant Several
witnesses testified that they had known
him for years and that he had always
enjoyed good reputation.
James Devices, who said he had lived
in Howard Lake twenty nine years, testi-
fed that at the request of defendants
attorneys he went over the route assumed
by the state to have been taken by Joe
ner to the cove, where the boys were
| fishing, consumed fifteen minutes; from
| that point across the fields to the BoxelI
| home, sixteen minutes; on the main
! road from the Boxell home to Joe's home,
| ten minutes; from there to Dave Work
| mans, nine minutes. On the return trip
| to Howard Lake, witness took the direct
| route from Joe's to DoyIe's corner and
| covered it in thirty-f1ve minutes
Cross-examination developed the fact
| that witness stopped and talked some on
! the way; that it was warm weather at
! the time he made this jaunt, and that he
was sixty-nine years old. He swore that
| he left Howard Lake about 1:35 o. m.
| and returned between and o'clock the
| same afternoon.
The object Of this evidence, 1t is pre-
sumed, was to show that the prosecution
was in error in it's theory regarding the
movements of joe on the night of the
crime, the time consumed.