The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-08-24
HEARING IS OVER.
Remainder of the Evidence in
the KasOta Case.
David Young Gives Testimony Tending
to Show a Premeditated Plot
Against Edith Watson.

The remainder of the evidence taken
Thursday at the hearing at Kasota in
the Edith Watson case was as follows ::
Carl Mead said that he lived on the
st. Peter road fifty or sixty feet from
the roadway. The hack stopped at his
place for water. Joe Safer got the
water and gave his name. He heard
a lady talking, but she did not seem to
be able to talk plainly and witness
did not understand what she said.
August Anderson, who has lived on
the Kasota road for fifteen years,
heard hack pass on the night of
Aug. Sd and heard mufled scream.
He also heard men in the hack laugh
when about 100 feet from him. The
hack was going toward Kasota. This
was about 10 30 p. m.
E. E. Boutwell, testified that he
lives on the st. Peter road about two
and half miles south of Kasota, in
LIE Sueur county, and has lived there
since 1856. On the night of Aug. Sd
he was awakened by hearing team
coming, and heard woman scream
ing as if in great distress. The hack
was going toward Kasota. He heard
her scream three or four times. This
was little after midnight.
Burt Cheek was next sworn, and
said that he had lived three miles
south of Kasota on the Mankato-St.
Peter road for four months. On the
night of Aug. Sd he was called to the
door at about midnight by man rap
ping and asking for water for sick
lady from Mankato. Told him to go
to well on the other side of the house,
where he would also find cup, but
the man could not find the cup. Told
him to light a match, but he still
could not find the cup. Witness got
glass, and waited at the door for
the man to come, and called to him
to come and get the glass, but he got
no answer. Saw hack in the road
in front of the house, and then heard
som cone whistle and call out several
times, Come on, Joe, what are you
doing" He then saw the man go
down past his house to the road where
the hack was and heard some re-
marks, and then the hack drove away.
Heard pitiful moan from lady in
the hack. The man had smooth face
Witness identified Joe Safer as the
man
George Clark said that he has lived
in the village of Kasota for four
years. In the night of Aug. Sd, or
early morning of the 4th, was awak-
ened by his wife and heard two
screams and moaning. Saw Miss Wat
son next day at the eating house and
recognized the same voice in her raw
ings as he had heard the night be-
fore
A recess was taken for dinner D.
V. Williams being called away, JUS
tice Moses took the remainder of the
evidence
David Young was the first witness
after dinner He said that he has
lived in Mankato for fifteen years and
is hack driver for Geo. Atchison.
On Thursday, Aug. I'd, he had con-
versation with Joe Safer in John Sal
fer's saloon. Joe said he wanted to
hire hack to go to the depot to meet
party. He did not say who the party
was, except that she was lady, who
was to come on the II :13 p. m. train
that night. Joe Safer was alone with
him during this conversation, and no
one else talked with him on the sub
ject. He went to the train to meet
the lady Joe Salfe and Martin Muir
ray were at the depot when he got
there The lady did not come, how
ever. Saw Joe Safer again the next
night in John Salfer's saloon at about
9 10 p M Joe said that the party
was in town and wanted witness to
take them out into the country No
one else was present at this converse
tion. Joe said he wanted witness to
take them to some lonely place. This
is all that was said The night before,
Joe said that he wanted witness to
take them across the river. Martin
Murray was in the saloon, but did not
say anything Witness asked them if
they wanted to go then, and they said
yes Witness told them that he had
call down the street and would he
back in fifteen minutes. He then left,
but haven't returned yet, as he ex-
pressed it. He did not care to return,
for he suspected that something was
wrong. They did not tell him where
he was to find the woman. Saw Dick
Graves before he had the talk with
Joe Safer, but not afterwards
Graves did not go to either the 8 100 p.
m. or the II :13 p. m. trains on the
night of Aug. Sd, and his hack was out
that night.
The state rested here, and Mr.. Com