The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-10
Tells Story Of ARRAY which
Ended in the
DEATH OF CARROLL
Witness Goercke is Subjected to a Rigid
Cross Examination.-Is Placed in
Bad Light.

Yesterdays accc'.nt If the trial Of
Patton for the murder of Carroll led
up to the afternoon session Of court.
The next witness called, Adelbert
Collins, a boy about IA years Of asc,
testified that he saw the defendant
the day after Carroll was killed. He
was asked as to what Patton had said
to him at that time, but the testimony
was not admitted
William Casey testified that he had
a conversation with Witness Goercke
in restaurant, during the latter part
Of November in which witness said
to Goercke: IF you would go on the
stand and tell what you know Patton
would be cleared" Goercke replied:
well, I've got to defend myself"
Witness said he had become acqraint-
ed with Patton while in the county
Jail on a charge of larceny.
William Herndon, another wi.ncs3
recently discharged from the county
JAIL testified that Goercke hao told
him, Herndon, that he, Goercke ard
Pat (meaning CarrolD had gone to
the kitchen to Elk" Patton, and had
thrown cans at the door; that Carroll
had made jump at Patton and that
Patton stuck the knife into him.
Enoch Rowe testified substantially
as above, and in addition said tnat
Goercke when he brought Patton a
package of tobacco to the jail during
the latter part of December, ha, said
Patton, I'm sorry to see you in
here, and if it wasnn't for givins my.
sci: the worst of it you'd be out.
John F. Davis testified that Go Ike
had said to him: "I could do Jim q
whole lot of good, but I'm afraid OF
duplicating myself" Subsequently
Goercke had asked him if he thought
Jim's (Patton's) folks had any money.
That if he could get little money he
would skip out. Witness admitted
having been tried and fined $25 for
assault in the second degree and with
having been charged with arson.
which charge however had been dis
missed.
L. McTaggart, another ex-prisoner,
testified to conversation with
Goercke sometime in December in
which the latter had said that after
the killing took place he had picked
up the lantern, lit it, and carried it
into the kitchen.
Patrick Cooney testified that ne had
overheard conversation between
Goercke and Patton in the jail during
the latter part of January, in which
Goercke said to Patton "Jim, I'm dis
couraged, and if I'd ten or fifteeL dol
lars I'd duck" Patton had rep!.cl
that he wouldn't give him five cents
to leave; that he wanted him to stay
and tell the truth. Afterwards
Goerecke had told witness that his
(Goercke's) testimony didn't amount
to much. Witness had been in Jail
for drunkenness.
George Sandy, of Big Fork, saw
Goercke in the Big Fork saloon on the
evening of the killing. Witness de-
scribed Goercke's condition that night
as "sloppy;;" that he was drinking :.ni
drinking whiskey, but he could not
hold it. Witness was slightly intox-
icated himself. He had been order
ed out of the saloon. The witness
was put through severe course of
sprouts by Mr.. Grubb, and his testi
mony caused some amusement in the
court room.
Wilbur Wheeler said he had known
Patton off and on since 1882, and said
the defendant had always borne a
good reputation. He had been a rail.
road contractor on the Northern Pa.
cifc
William Myers was recalled and tes.
titled that as long as he had known
Patton, some two months, he had borne
a good reputation, and was we'll be-
haved. Mr.. Grubb wanted the wit.
ness to define reputation" ami the
witness had hard time of it.
Jackson was recalled and was ask
ed as to Patton's reputation at Big
Fork. He did not know much of his
own knowledge; and was not allowed
to tell what he had heard.
Stenographer Xereses Kemp Stout
CONTINUED on page ~