The daily morning Alaskan. (Skagway, Alaska) 1899-1904, 1900-07-28
IS BEING TRIED
y
O'Brien, Suspected Murderer,
Being Examined.
UP BEFORE MAJOR WOOD
Prisoner Takes Much Interest in
the Case, and Keeps Notes of the
Testimony---Mrs. Prather is the
First Witness Examined.

George O'Brieg, suspected of having
murdered FredV Clavson, of Skagwav,
Lynn Relic of Seattle, and Lneman Olson
on the Dawson trail, is now running the
gauntlet of the law tor his life in Dawson.
Ghe preliminary examination in the case
of George O'Brien on the specific charge of
numbering Lynn Wallace Relfe came up
before Major Wood in Dawson June 10,
O'Brien is first to be tried for numbering
Relic because the prosecution believes it
has stronger case in connection with his
disappearance.
In the court June 10, the testimony of
Mrs. Jennie C. Prather, who met O'Bren
on the trail last winter, and who was in
terviewed by DAILY ALASKAN report
last winter when in SkagWav, was
taken, and the case further re manded until
June rs. The Dawson News gives the
following in regard to the he airing:
Crown Prosecutor Wade and Captain
Scarth appeared for the Crown and Advo>
O'Brien took keen interest in the testi
monv offered, frequently jotted items in a
note book and consulted with his counsel
from time to time.
Mrs. Prather testified that her party had
left Dawson December II, 1899, for the
outside. About five miles above Mimic
thew took the wrong trail and wandered
off to the right some distance. On discov-
ering their mistake they turned back and
while proceeding toward the regular trail
met O'Brien, the defendant, standing be
hind the sled and having apparently brok-
en- new trail toward the one they were
travelling. Witness next saw defendant at
a road house on the c. d. Company cut
off.
After leaving the CUTOFF thew crossed
Lake LeBarge January 1, O'Bren's team
following behind Mr.. Chareston's as fa
as the island. They next met O'Brien at
Shocks road house, at the head of the
lake the same evening. Several parties,
among them the defendant, stopped there
that night, but she could not recall any
conversation had with him. The onlv
time witness ever saw OBren with money
was on the morning of January at this
road house.
Mrs. Prather said in part:
when paid nv bill in the morning
Mr.. OBrien said: There is quite differ
ence, Mrs. Prather, in your bill and mine.
That is all the conversation had with de
fendant to nv knowledge. The bills were
bank bills, but did not notice the denom-
naton of any of them. There was good
sized roll, about one and three quarters
Inches thick.
On cross>examination Mr.. Robertson
went over the ground exhaustivelv with
Mrs. Prather. Her testimony was in part
as follows:
81 first met O'Brien in December II, on
the trail Never saw him before. He had
on plaid mackinaw coat. and fur cap. He
had beard. The last saw him was or
the morning of January 2. was held a:
a witness as to the theft charged and gave
evidence at the hearing. One day from
Camp 9 on he (O'Brien) travelled with US
alternately droppidg behind and keeping
up. There were other people, but | coulc
not tell their names, who Travelled with u
off and on during the trip.
1--WE always kept the trail except whel
we were lost A trail went over the rive