The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-10-12


John Osterberg, Crystal Falls. Mr..
Cook vas particular in examining the
jury 20 inquire into their views on the
plea OF insanity as a defense. The
jury was sworn and given into the Gus
tody OF Irving Jackson, deputy sheriff.
who looked out for their comfort dur
Ing the session.
Before starting TO take testimony
Prosecuting Attorney Watson out
lined the case and the first witness,
John Cuisine, was called. Judge
Stone at this juncture ordered all wit
nesses excluded from the room. This
witness swore that on Friday after
noon, Dec. 2l, 1900, Poncheri and
Ceschi came TO his house about 800 p.
m. Ceschi took a chair while Pom
cheri walked back and forth behind
him. suddenly Poncheri pulled u
knife and plunged it twice into
CeSchi'S breast. CeSchi grabbed his
asSailant's hands when the latter
changed the knife from the right TO
the left hand and plunged it three
times into Ceschi back. Witness
then grabbed Poncheri's hand and
then Ceschi took the knife from him,
closed IL and putting il into his own
pocket, said: august, you gave me
a bad. hurt" Cesch then left the
house aud Poncheri asked for a
revolver but the witness denied him
the request and ran down the road
towards Crystal Falls.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Cook,
which was very searching, witness
stated that defendant acted queer.
different from at any other time. His
eyes rolled and he didn't talk and
when he asked for gun witness asked
him If he was crazy.
Peter Sumalia was the next witness.
This witness needed an interpreter
and clash OF attorneys occurred.
Mr.. Watson asked that Alex Dalpra
act as interpreter but Mr.. Cook OBJ
jected After few words the wit
ness who was just examined was
chosen but this selection proved a
failure ON account Of the fellows lim-
tied knowledge OF English The pros
ecutor finally consented TO the selec-
tion OF Manuel Recla as interpreter
and although that gentleman objected
the Court insisted and this difficulty
was overcome. The witness story
was the same as that of the former,
repeating the assertion OF the first
witness that Poncheri acted queer.
+. G. Sears was the next witness.
lie told OF finding the body 81 Ceschi
and its being placed in the shop TO
await the arrival OF the coroner. On
cross-examinatlon he told how Pom
cheri was taken into the shop to view
the remains. He stated that Pom
cheri stopped over and kissed the dead
man. He further stated that Pom
cheri's face frightened up as II he was
pleased TO see POncher dead
Dr. II. II Darling was next called.
He told Of examining the dead body
and stated that In, his opinion, death
resulted from the loss OF blood caused
by the wounds.
Mrs. Ceschi was the next witness.
She proved very stubborn witness on
croSS-examination which was exacting
and long drawn out. Mr.. Cook held
her on the stand about five hours, the
gist Of his inquiry being into the
actions OF Poncheri the day prior TO
the murder and her opinion OF Pom
cheris mental condition. She logged
ly refused TO say she thought him to
be OF unsound mind Court adjourned
with Mrs Ceschi on the stand but the
Court agreed TO hear Or. Jones, Of
Vulcan, who was called out OF the
order aud for the defense SO as 10 al
low him to get away. He told Of be-
ing called TO attend Lewis Poncheri
at Vulcan about Dec. 2l, 1900. lie
stated that the man was Of unsound
mind
Mrs. Ceschi was put upon the stand
again the following morning but the
attorneys had very little TO say 20 her.
The next witness was Joe Fare. His
testimony related solely Co the actions
OF Lewic and August Poncheri when
they were told that Lewie must leave
the house, also TO Augusta 5 actions
prior 20 the day Of the murder and at
the time the deed was committed.
The testimony Of this witness on
croSs-examination tended strongly 10
show the respondent 70 be Of unSound
mind at that time He was kept on
the stand several hours. Following
this witness l.. G. Searls was put upon
the stand again out of the regular
order SO as 20 allow him 90 get away
on the afternoon train. His testi-
mony was in the line OF rebuttal and
dealt with the actions of the respond