The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-11-14
TAKING TESTIMONY.
Real Work In the Considine Trial Now In Pro-
sress-The First Day.


sress-The First Day.
Seattle, Nov. 6.-The Considine trial
began this morning with the opening
statement in behalf of the state by Pros
ecuting Attorney Walter s. Fulton.
Mr.. Fulton described the feud between
John w. Considine and ex-Chief w. L.
Meredith, stating that he expected to
show that Considine had vindictively
pursued Meredith for long time; that
he had made repeated threats against
him, couched in the vilest language, and
had said that he would Elk him."
He detailed the movements of Mere
dith and Considine for few minutes
before they met at Guys drug store.
He maintained the theory of sixth
shot, saving that the state would show
that single shot was fred at Meredith
while he was at the door; that he there
upon fred two shots with the shot gun
which he carried wrapped in q paper.
The Deadly Struggle.
Mr.. Fulton described the struggle in
side the store, saying that it would be
shown that the two Considines had
seized Meredith and disarmed him.
That they had beaten him almost into
insensibility with a revolver, fracturing
his skull. That other parties, including
the sheriff, had interfered and separated
the parties. He said that the state would
show that Meredith staggered across the
store and was leaning against the show
case, when he was jerked away by John
Considine, who had walked across the
room to reach him, and was falling to
the floor when Considine fired the three
fatal shots. IS.
The defense reserved its opening state
ment.
of tie case the jury was taken to view
the scene of the shooting. Theyreturned
at 11:15.
The first Witness.
The first wlsness called was DR.. ]. g.
Ostrom, who conducted the autopsy over
the remains of w. L. Meredith, on June
26, 1901, the morning after the shooting.
He testified that the wounds were OF two
classes, penetrating wounds made BY
pistol balls, and contusi0ns made BY
blows, the former, three in number, were
all in the body. The contusions, nix in
number, were upon the head. The skull
was fractured in two places, . small frac-
Iture upon the top Of the head, and 9
larger dne on the left parietal region.
| The brain under this was congested. The
effect would be to leave the victim dazed
and At least partially unconscious: These
wounds wer6 not necessarily fatal. The
cause of death was-a bullet which en-
| tered the heart. He recognized the body
as that Of w. L. Meredith.
Croes-examined by Mr.. McElroy, ne
testified that he had pfacticed his proies'
sion three years, mostly IN Seattle. M.
McElroy succeeded in making the wit
ness admit that : man wounded - he
described might retain sufficient control
Of his faculties to be conscious OF hia
surroundings.
Mr. Fulton exhibited : skull 70 thu
witness, who indicased the location o
Ssas nad La1a1s.
Sergeant w. 1. Peer, a ths 6eettle 70
lice department, Wao next examIned p
Mr.. Hart He nid he We On the lore
On June s.. Knew Meredith and tn!
/ IConaidinoe. On tho 18Th Of Nay b ha(
4 : converuation with John Coneidine .
the reop1o'o Theater q tho preeence Q
Tom ConGaine, Dick BuTkm4n and ~
Itectivo Gardner. He to1d John thoe y
hdd ben nunt there ~ ~ ehjo - -
Il his sailing liQudr IN - boMoo- @onl
.f>~f1 A. - 6x/UX DO 0l