The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-09
DEPENDANT ON The STAND
ELMER MILLER TESTIFIES IN HIS
OWN BEHALF AT
AN0kA
HE LOOKED A VERY SICK MAN
But His Testimony the Visit to
the Wise Farm and the
Fatal Day WIS
Clear.

ANOILA Mimi. Nov. S.-The defense in
the Wise case called Elmer Miller short
Nv before noon today, 1t was a bod
stroke. End one that had scarcely been
anticipated. Miller is SO evidently i'll
that it did not seem likely he would be
able to stand such an ordeal
When Mr.. Wyman, for the defense, an
.Lunced that the defendant would take
tie stanG, there was rustic OF SILK ana
feathers and the bailiff raped for order
The feminine contingent was out in force,
a LARGE number of women being present
from Minneapolis and st. Paul to near
the closing chapters of the trial.
Miller sIoOd up as his name was called.
He had been prepared for this moment,
but it was apparent that the strain was
terrific. His face lost what little colof
it ad shown and became ghostly ASH
en- yellow. His lips whitened and
scene seemed imminent. The young man
held 10 his hand to be sworn and his
eyes shown darkly by contract with the
pallor of mis- complexion. But Miller did
not let his racked nerves get the better
of him. He braced his shoulders, took
a few long breathS and walked to the
witness chair with a firm step. BY the
time he faced the jury he seemed fairly
COLLAPSED. Miller looked like dying
n.n, but the questions put to him by the
attorneys We're answered without hesita-
ton He spoke in voice that was hard
~ more than a whisper.
DRAMATIS SCENE IN COURT.
The scene in the court room was dra-
u attic one There sat the mother of the
accused. her eyes fixed on his ashen
countenance and her ears drinking in
every word he uttered Near her sat the
half blind father in the old Grand Army
suit with the furnished brass buttons. All
about them were grouped the sisters OF
the two defendants. Little Nettie Hardy,
the petite, auburn haired sister Of Mil
ler's co-defendant, leaned forward, listen
ing eagerly, her hand on her brothers
shoulder. Beside her was Mrs Spencer,
HardyS married sister, in the group just
behind the attorneys for the defense were
Mrs. Bridgeman, Mrs. Elwell, Mrs. Usher
and Maud Miller, sisters of the man on
the stand. All realized that the case was
drawing to a close very rapidly. All
knew how important it was that Elmer
Miller should make a good appearance
before the jury.
There was nothing dramatic in Miller
demeanor, however. He told his story as
one might expect very sick man to tell
a story 1t dealt with every phase OF
the case from the time of his starting
for the ball game at Bethel TO the ncca-
sion when he acted as one of the pail
bered having met the states witness, AL
lie Preston, at a dance on Feb. q. Pres
ton was too drunk to dance on that occa-
sion There had been no conversation
between himself and Preston OF any sort
whatever. The only words he had spoken
to Preston were, Good evening"
Miller went over to visit to the Wise
farm on the Sunday night before the
shooting. He described how the place
had been approached, how Martha and
Eliza had come down to talk with him
self and Hardy. The only weapon he had
with him on that visit was small caiibre
revolver. There had been no talk what
ever about money. Not a word was said
about marriage. The talk had been about
the ball game and other matters, but
there had been no reference to any such
plans as Martha and Eliza had testified
to. He did step off the porch and look
through the window, as had been testified,
and he did not make the remark, 81 could
shoot clean through" nor did he say any
thing at all like that or anything even
remotely concerning shooting. The girls
had asked whether he and Hardy would
be up on the following Sunday, and the
reply made was that they would be up If
possible, but that they belonged to the
ball team and were compelled to play
with the team if they wanted their serv-
ices.
Every detail of the statement made by