The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-12-13
GOES TO The JURY
Closing Testimony in the Pick
EFT Trial.
The Defendant Subjected to a Search
ing Cross Examination by the
States Attorney.


day at Minneapolis so far as thu
taking of testimony is concerned. Tht
weak point of the states case is the
fact that it has not shown beyond 9
reasonable doubt that Mrs. Pickett
was foully dealt with before the fire.
Damaging evidence was given yes
terday morning against Pickett, but il
did not relate to the manner of the
woman's death, but only went to show
the prisoner Indifference to his wife's
fate and his lack of effort or desire to
save her from the flames. The witness
was George Swanson, who occupied
apartments across the street. He was
awakened by his landlady and after
partially dressing, hurried over to the
building in which the Pickett fat was
located. He reached it about the same
time as did Fred VAIL. They saw
Pickett on the steps or sidewalk, and
asked him what the trouble was.
He cried, "My wife is burning up
in the bathroom.
"Well. let's go up and get her out, -
they urged.
Pickett refused to go with them, and
said: "It's no use.
Nevertheless Swanson and VAIL
entered the building, but did not know
the location If the bathroom, and as
the smoke and fire were dangerous
they were compelled to abandon their
mission.
Mr.. Wahl is employed in st. Paul,
but County Attorney Bosrdman stated
that he had been summoned and the
state hoped to have him by afternoon.
It,rwas also stated that he would be
the last witness
Reuben G.. Pickett had another
heart breaking hour yesterday morn
ing when County Attorney Boardman
recalled the events of Sept. 80, 1900,
and tried to secure some additional
light regarding the manner of his
wife's death. While much disturbed,
and giving away to considerable agi
tation, the prisoner managed to get
through the ordeal without weakening
his story or leaving the state any new
1oopholes for attack.
While it can hardly be said that Pic
kett makes favorable impression on
the stand, he has not been caught in
any traps and has stuck to his first
story.
Pickett said that when he entered
the room the flames we're on the right
side of the room back of the door
when he opened it, around the ice
chest and stove and in the extreme end
opposite the door. Witness could not
say that there was fire elsewhere. The
floor seemed to be on fire, but not all
over. His wife was lying diagonallly
across the room, her head near the
bath tub and her feet behind the door,
"When You entered the room was
your wife on fre2'' asked the county
attorney.
The witness hesitated some time,
and then said: 81 can't say that she
was. She had no clothing on 1t was
all burned off.
"Was the body charred or burned7"
"The nose seemed to be burned off. "
"Was her hair burned OFF,"
81 did not see any hair.
"Your feet and legs were all bar e3"
eyes, sir -
$50 there could not have been any
fire on the floor between the bath tub
and your wife's body2"
"Not while I was there. -
Pickett maintained that he did all
that was possible to save his wife.
chow could the clothing be all
burned off and there be no FIRE on one
side of her9' asked Mr.. Boardmsn.
Pickett could not explain this sppar-
emily strange circumstance.
Witness also testified that he only
went into the bathroom once.
Regarding his burns he said that
three fingers were burned and there
was burn on the ball of his foot,
severe one about the size of half dol
lar and small burn on his knee. He
admitted, however, that he had con-
stantly worn his shoes after the fire.
He had taken hold of his wife's
right arm in his efforts to save her.
The prisoner stated that he did not
remember having told any one that he
had taken hold of his wifes feet.
Neither could he remember that he
had told Mr. and Mrs. Flears that his
wife had been up several times during
the night with the boy.
"Will you say that you did not tell
them so3''
81 will not say. I was not re-
sponsible.
"What did you mean when you said
when I saw what had done I turned
round3"
81 don't remember having made
any such remark"
Witness denied positively that he
had met Swanson and VAIL that night
and had told them that it was no use
trying to save his wife. He denied in
eliminating statements attributed to
him by various witnesses, includin g
some who were called in his behalf.
When Mr.. Boardman had completed
the REORGANIZATION, during which
he made another attempt to secure an
admission from the prisoner regarding