The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-03-15
DRAWING TO A CLOSE.
Corbett Case Will Probably be Give1 to
the Jury Late This Afternoon.

the Jury Late This Afternoon
The trial of Henry F. Corbett devel-
oped nothing of a startling nature
Tuesday. Evidence for the defense
was heard most of the day aud the
state commenced putting in its rebut-
tai. AS the remarkable case nears the
end interest increases and men who
have paid little attention up to this
time are beginning to speculate on the
outcome and the probable cost to Ra-
cine county. 1t is generally believed
that the jury will not agree and ex-
perts figure that the trial is costing the
county $500 per day and that the total
amount will not fall short of $1,000. If
all signs do not fail the arguments will
be heard some time today and the jury
will be out to deliberate before dark.
Corbett appears to be in better condi-
ton today than at any other time
during the trial, but he still appears to
take no interest in the outcome and
his attorneys refuse to allow him to be
interviewed.
The evidence as introduced in the
closing hours of the trial was strongly
IN favor of the accused, but the great
est interest will be taken in the story
of the day as told by Corbett himself.
When the court was called to order
Monday afternoon Corbett was placed
on the stand. Judge F1ett had warned
the. attorneys not to divu1ge when he
was to take the stand, fearing that
there would be a rush to the court
room and that there would be a crush.
It was necessary to almost carry the
prisoner to the stand, he is so weak. A
bai1iff was allowed to sit beside him,
After partaking of a drink of water he
commenced to tell his story. He made
great effort to speak plainly, but his
voice was hardly audible across the
room. There was nothing new in his
testimony, more than was told at the
previous examination. He told how
he came to Racine on the morning of
Dec. 4, 1899, and after partaking of a
lunch went to the home of Peter
Lersch and made arrangements for
room and board at Mrs. Williams
house next door. That afternoon he
canvassed for pictures. Getting down
to the morning of the shooting he said
that he arose that morning at 8
O'Clock; went to breakfast; then to
barber shop, where he thought he left
about $50 o'clock; he went to
the postoffice; then to the Hotel Racine,
and then across the street to pho
tographer and to another photog-
rapher. The work he wanted could
not be obtained at these places, and he
went to E1kins' jewe1rY store and from
there he began soliciting orders for
pictures. He visited several houses
and obtained some orders. After this
he went to his boarding place, reach
ing there about II O'Clock. In the
afternoon he again went out canvass
ing. The next day noon he was
arrested by Policeman Schumacher and
taken to Jail. He did not know upon
what charge he had been arrested, and
when Officer Schumacher asked him if
he was nervous he.did not know what
to make of it. He was searched and
the officer asked him where his gun
was. He was then placed in a dungeon.
He never owned gun; never wore
brown stiff hat, but wore a brown fe-
dora. All the pictures he had were
taken by the officers. He talked to the
officers many times. The first time
that he ever saw the Rev. Mr.. Cheney
was when he, was taken before him,
and at that time the pastor was in bed.
He went there with officer Bassinger
and the mayor. He had been afflicted
with rheumatism and asthma for some
years, and on that account could not
run, but was always compelled to move
slowly; he could not run five or six
blocks; he could no stand it; he de-
scribed his wearing apparel on the
morning of the shooting, and he very
alphabetically denied that he was ever
in the Cheney home except when taken
there and that he was never in the
vicinity; on the cross examination he
admitted that he had Travelled under
assumed names, because he thought it
helped his business. In the boarding
house at Milwaukee he went under that
of Corbett He never told Mrs. Will
liams that he carried revolver when
he went out He did not remember if
| he had on two coats that morning, but
| thought he did. On redirect examin-
alton he gave his full name as Henry
Joseph Fu1gough Dakin. After he had
been in Milwaukee two weeks he took
the name of Corbett.