Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-04-06
HAS A WEAK Defense
Testimony Of the Defense in Hos.
sack Murder Case Not Con.
sidered Strong.
Experts Sustain the Contention,
Of the State on Many I'm.
portdnt Points.
General Opinion That Mrs. Hos.
sack Will Be Convicted.
The Details.

sack Will Be Convicted.
The Details.
Special to Times Republican.
lndianola, April Cat the opening of
court this morning the defense in the
trial of Margaret Hossack for the mur-
der of her husband. began with the ex-
pert testimony, DR.. j. d. McCleary be-
ing called, but his testimony only added
to the strength of the states side Of the
case. In all seven witnesses We're put
on the stand without bringing word
contrary to what had previously been
testified to. The general opinion is that
the state has a very strong case against
have but little to work upon. At noon
today Judge Gamble adjourned court
until 8 o'clock Monday morning to give
the Jurors the opportunity of spending
sunday at their homes Twelve wit
nesses for the defense are yet to be
heard.
The forenoon yesterday, as stated in
these dispatches, was given to expert
Testimony regarding whether or not,
from the condition of the wounds, Hos
sack would have been able to speak or
converse Immediately after the wounds
We're inflicted Drs. Surber and Porter
field. who conducted the post -mortem
examination, gave their judgment that
Hossack could not have spoken within
half an hour after he was struck DIR.
Porterfield testified that it would be at
least half an hour. and more likely to
be an hour. before Hossack could have
recovered from the shock SO as to speak,
after receiving such blows.
The county attorney handed the doe
tor the ak, saying:
Examine this ak, doctor and tell the
jury whether or not those wounds could
have been made with it,
After measuring the blade and butt of
the ak he answered:
In my judgment they could"
The history of the famous .crowbar''
case was introduced in evidence by the
defense to kill the testimony of witness,
but the doctor made no change in his
Testimony given in tie direct examiaa-
Ition.
Dr. p. L. Baker was called and to the
question, How long do you think it
would be after the Injuries were infiict-
ed before Hossack could have spoken %
answered. Thirty minutes, and rossi-
bly, an hour.
DR.. j. ID. McCleary was next called,
and In his judgment Hossack could
speak. If at all. within ten minutes after
the wounds were inflicted. He had never
seen the wounds. but had heard them
described by the other physicians He
was for years the Hossack family phy-
sician.
On the night of the murder Mrs. L. D.
Heinstreet had arrived and was with
Mrs Hossack for several hours. She
testified that Mrs. Hossack asked her IL
there was any blood on her clothes, and
on examining her shirt discovered the
blood marks. Defendant also spoke to
her on that night of the AK. saying she
was afraid Ivan had not put 1t in the
granary.
Frank Kellar, man OF 10 years OF
age. and neighbor and friend of the
Hossack family for over thirty years,
was placed on the stand He went to the
Hossack home early Sunday morning.
and as he stepped into the bedroom
spoke to Hossack, who answered back
Frank Witness said the dying man
raised his hand and when he took hold
of it to shake that he gave the grip
of a Mason. Witness did not give away
the grip, but said that the dying man
came down hard"
In what position was he lying when
you entered the room
He was on the fat of his back, with
his head turned slightly to the left
eide"
Did you ever see this ak before" i"
asked the attorney.
II have seen 1t many time" shouted
the witness II examined 1t at the
Hossack home and found blood spots on
1t. put my thumb on spot of blood
and 1t adhered TO the thumb. ] talked
with Mrs. Hossack about how ii hap
pened and she told me the same old
story she had told others had az on
the brain and says to Mrs. Hossack:
Where is the ax?' Defendant answered:
1T Is under the granary.'"
Witness knew of the family trouble
and acted as mediator; that Mrs Hos
sack had come for him several times to
go over and talk to her husband when
she claimed he was having his spells.
Mrs. Hossack had told him that when
he came over to bring two. or three of
the neighbors and beat Hossack nearly
to death. and then If he didn't get better
toward his family to come over and
AK him next time" That just recently
Mrs. Hossack had told him that she
did not see why the good Lord did not
take him away
Mr.. Kellar and Mr.. Hossack were all
ways fast friends and Mr.. Hossack all
ways claimed that there was no trouble
in the Hossack family except what the
wife made, and that Hoesack had told
him upon various occasions that mo
one except his God knew what he had to
endure, and he would die without re-
vealing II.
The cross-examination by ]. H. Hem
dersoon failed to shake the testimony
of Mr.. Kellar, and quite often Mr.. Kel-
lar would remark; II am here. Judge, to
tell the truth"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Kellar,s eyi-
- IA |..