Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-15
The STEVENSON
MURDER CASE
NOW IN HANDS OF JURY-EARLY
VERDICT EXPECTED.
SHOOTING OF WOODSlDE
WAS AN ACCIDENT.
to the Story Related by the
Defendant on the Witness
Stand.

The trial of Frederick w. stevenson
for the murder of Joseph NJ. Woodside
at Melrose on June last was resumed in
Judge C!ancy's court this morning, but
before the Inter Mountain reaches its
readers this evening, the case will be in
the hands OF the jury. Once there it is
believed that verdict will soon be reach
ed. The last OF the testimony which in
cluded lot of rebuttal, was submitted at
10: 40 o'clock and recess of ten minutes
was then taken to give the attorneys
time in which to arrange their argument.
AS to the reputation of the defendant
there is a vast difference of opinion
among the residents of Melrose | fthe
testimony adduced is to be relied upon.
Several swore positively that the defend
ant had always borne a good character
for truthfuiness. honesty and peaceful
ness there. while others swore to test!-
mony Of an opposite nature and put an
accent on the bad.
The defense sought to prove that the
shooting of Woodside by Stevenson was
an accident; that Stevenson picked up
the revolver for the purpose of blutlins
Woo9side ard in raising it above the bar
the hammer or trigger had come In con-
tact with the woodwork of the bar and
exploded cartridge in the chamber.
He said he was Al years old and had liv-
ed in Silver Bow county fifteen years.
He had known Woodside several years
and they had always been good friends.
At times they had spoken roughly to
each other but it had never engendered
any i'll feeling between them. On June ).
the day the killing occurred. Woodside
had entered the saloon, but had gone out
again, saying before he left that he
would return. About five minutes later
he had come back with some companions
and rema rked: That is a pretty look
ing - to be waiting on
white people, addressing the remark to
his companions and having reference to
him. witness. Stevenson said he told
Woodside he did not like that kind OF
language and Woodside replied that he.
witness, would do until one could be
found. 'sHe leaned against the bar, SAID
Stephenson. "and nothing more in par
ticular was said until he made another
remark about - again.
Then l told him I would stand no more
of it. I had just started to eat my
supper anu picked up the gun in a josh. l
brought it up over the edge of the bar
with my thumb on the hammer and my
| finger back Of the trigger. AS l raised
! the wea pom I must have struck the trig-
ger against the edge of the bar. for 1t
| went off. I do not know how the ham
| mer got back. but l must have pulled it
! up without knowing it,. There was no
| guard around the trigger: had there been
! one I would not be here now. AS soon
! as the explosion occurred Woodside fel
/ and everybody left the room. l put the
gun on the back bar. Pretty soon Dr.
Walker came in and I asked him il
! Woodside was dead and he said yes.
admit that l said to a man that l killed
! him. but l also said / would tell him al
about it later. / meant that 1t killed
! Kim instead of I killed him..
Stevenson was cross examined a con
| siderable length by County Attorney
! Connolly.
Did you say to George T. Franklin
who was in the saloon at the time of tht
shooting, that Woodside was trying tt
get your job and if you got show yol
would get even with him?"
Il did not
Did you have anything to do Will
Franklin leaving Tec!a and the state t
prevent him from giving testimony Il
| this case?"
NO, sir
San this gun be shot off by th
trigger without the hammer being pulle
clear back and set?"
Il do not know, I never tried it AM
do not care to try it,
At the request of the county attorne
, the defendant then described the insd
of the bar. Woodside, he said, was lean
ing over the bar with his face close t
the opposite side In regard to his ar
t rest he said he had at no time proteste
: against it. Under the circumstances h
had surrendered himself, as he consid
cred it the best thing for him to do. Il
, reiterated his former statement that tn
raising of the gun above the bar wa
| only bluff.