The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-07
THE WISE MURDER CASE
ONE OF THE ACCUSED MAY TAKE
THE WITNESS STAND
TODAY
SAYS STATE CASE rs WEAK
Attorney Lane, for the Defense, Cam
not See Wherein Lies Any
Possibility of Con-
VictiOn.
SAYS STATE CASE IS WEAK

ANOKA Mimi. Nov. cit is probable
that one of the defendants in the Wise
murder case will be called to the witness
stand tomorrow morning. Some further
testimony remains to be heard in sup
port of the alibi, but Mr. Lane for the
defense believes that this will be disposed
of by 10 o'clock. and Hardy OF Miller
Will then be placed on the stand. Mr..
Lane believes that there is not a scintilla
of evidence against Hardy and he re-
CARDS the states case against both the
boys as weak one, resting almost eX-
clusively on the testimony of Eliza and
Martha Wise. both of whom are no
toriously untruthful. The defense con-
siders that such testimony in corrOhOra-
ton of the girls as was given by young
Preston cannot impress a jury as i'm
portant, the jury having shown by
credible witnesses that Preston had been
drinking when he made his~stat enoent to
the county attorney: and that he has
since loudly proclaimed the fact that he
was drunk at the time and did not know
what he was talking about. Preston is
looked upon by the defense as mere
notOr1ety seeker of the familiar country
town type, who in this instance has run
deeper into the mire than he bargained
for. Preston's story on the stand how
ever. corroborated that originally made
to the county attorney, nor was he
shaken in any material particular by the
rosS-eXanination.
1t is the generally accepted belief that
James Hardy will make a good witness
in his own case. He is exceedingly cool
and resourceful. and he expresses an
anxiety that he be allowed TO tell his
story to the jury. During the last few
days Hardy has been taking an active
part in the conduct of the case. He has
occupied chair close beside the lawyers
and has conveyed whispered information
to them at frequent intervals. He notes
every move of the prosecution, and
listens to each word of the witnesses
with Just such interest as might lawyer
working on the case. His color is good.
his eye clear. his expression that of
conscious innocence. If guilty he is a
more perfect master of the art of dis
similation than ever Harry Hayward
was If innocent. his behavior has been
admirable. The defense expects that
Hardy's statement will carry conviction
to the minds of the jury that he is in
nocent of any connection with the crime.
EVIDENCE FOR DEFENSE.
The defense expects to be able to
prove by a DISTINGUISHED witness that Mil
Ter and Hardy were standing at the
pump in the yard of Miller's home at 9:25
on the night of the murder, as has been
testified to by the brother, John Miller.
The latterS testimony was of a character
calculated to do the case more harm than
good. He swoce that it took an hour to
drive two miles with team of horses,
which struck even the most unbiased
spectator as improbable. His determine
ton to stretch the time as much as pos
sfble was so palpable that none could
have failed to observe it.
1t is questionable whether Elmer Mil
Ter will be physically able to withstand
the ordeal on the stand. The probability
is~,that he will be put on, however.
The theory advanced yesterday that
Eliza ana Martha Wise were both labor-
ing under a hypnotic delusion has created
a great deal of interest among all classes
of people. Some Of the best-read. men
among students of psychology in Mime
apolis, when spoken to on the subject this
morning, were unanimous in their con-
>viction that evidence of this character
ought to be excluded from the courts, but
all agreed that such condition that Dr.
Aldrich claims the girls are in, may cas-
lily exist. DR.. A. P. Williamson said to a
representative of the Journal that the
stories told by the two girls might quite
conceivably be without an atom Of
foundation, but merely the reflection of
story learned by constant reitera tion. In
a case of this sort, the doctor pointed
out, there was nothing unusual in the
subjects being able to withstand cross
examination. Experiment has demon
strated fully that such curious mental
processes were possible.
No case in this state since Harry Hay
ward was tried for the murder of Gather
inc Cling has created such widespread
interest. There is especial interest in
this case, however, among medical men,
who regard the Wise girls as degenerates
81
eve of a national election politics absofbs
the notice of the reading public to the ex-
cIusion of everything else but it is no
exaggeration to say that political matters
for the last week have divided honors
with the Wise murder trial.