The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-12-10
DEFECT IN EVIDENCE
Testimony Is Strong but Doesn't
Conclusively Prove Murder.
PICKETT ON THE STAND AGAIN
He Says He Was Not Responsible
at the Time of the
Fire.

VIII 10 LuIu0u over 10 the COuSlu6rdL1On
of the jury this afternoon. The trial la
over, and, unless the attorneys consume
great deal of time on their arguments
there is no reason why the jury should
not retire to-day for final deliberation.
The best that the state can expect from
the jury is a disa agreement, and the
chances for acquittal seem more than
good. That the state has woven a fairly
strong web around Pickett is admitted by
attorneys, and some of them have gone so
far as to say that the test imony is strong
er than in the Hayward case. In the lat
ter tragedy, however, 1t was clearly
proved that Catherine Cling was mur-
dered, but, whatever the suspicious in the
Pickett case may be, there has been no
satisfactory proof that the unfortunate
woman was murdered.
If it could have been shown beyond a.
doubt that Mrs. Pickett had been foully
dealt with before the fire, the case would
have presented an entirely different as
pect.
Damaging evidence was given this
morning against Pickett, but it did not
go to the manner Of the wcmans death,
but only to show the prisoners indiffer-
ence to his wife's fate and his lack OF
effort or desire to save her from the
flames. The witness was George Swan
son, who occupied apartments across the
street. He was awakened by his land
lady and after partially dressing, hurried
over to the building in which the Pickett
fat was located. He reached out the
same time as did Fred Wahl ney saw
Pickett on the steps or sidewalk, and
asked him what the trouble was.
He cried, my wife is burning up in the
bathroom"
"WeI. let's go up and get her out"
they urged
Pickett refused to go with them, and
said: ITS no use."
Nevertheless Swanson and Wahl entered
the building, but they did not know the
location of 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 Boardman stated that
hoped to have him by afternoon. 1t was
also stated that he would be the last
witness.
Pickett Finishes His Recital.
Reuben c. Pickett had another heart
breaking hour this morning when County
Attorney Boardman recalled the events of
Sept. 29, 1900, and tried to secure some
additional light regarding the manner Of
his wife's death. While much disturbed.
and giving away to considerable agitation.
the prisoner managed to get through the
ordeal without weakening his story or
leaving the state any new loopholes for
attack
While it can hardly be said that Pickett
makes a 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 +ha
room the flames were 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 Wit
ness could not say that there was fire
elsewhere. The floor seemed to be on fire.
diagonally across the room, her head near
the bath tub and her feet behind the door.
When you entered the room was your
wife on fire?" asked the county attorney.
The witness hesitated some time, and
then said:
Il can't say that she was. She had NO
clothing on 1t was all burned off"
Was the body charred or burned?"
The nose seemed to be burned off,"
Was her hair burned off ?"
Il did not see any hair
Your feet and legs were all bare?"
''Yes, sir"
$50 there could not have been any fire
on the floor between the bath tub and your
wife's body?"
Not while I was there"
Pickett maintained that he did all that
was possible to save his wife
''How could the clothing be all burned
off and there be no fire on one side of
herr" asked Mr.. Boardman.
Pickett could not explain this apparently
strange circumstance.
Witness also testified that he only went
into the bathroom once.
How He Was Burned.
Regarding his burns he said that three
fingers were burned and there was a burn
on the ball of his foot, a severe one about
the size Of half dollar and a small burn
on his knee. He admitted, however. that
ne mad constantly worn MS 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 re-
member having told any one that he had
taken hold OF his wife's 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
so?''
"I will not say. was not RESPONSE
BILE"
what did you mean when you said,
When l saw what 1 had done l turned
round?'"
81 don't remember having made any
such remark"
Witness denied positively that he had
met Swanson and Wahl that night and
had told them that it was no use trying
to save his wife. He denied discriminating
statements attributed to him by various
witnesses, including some who were called
in his behalf
The Defense Rests.
When Mr.. Boardman mad completed the
cross examination, during which he made
another attempt to secure an admission
from the prisoner regarding his conduct
while in the employ OF Smith & zimmaR,