Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-25
Defendant in Attempted Muir
der Case Swallows Poison
Before Jury's Eyes
This ENDS THE LAWSUIT"
Joseph koskuha Says Neishbors Are
Swearing Falsely Against Him and
phine-Attempt Is Unsuccessful
Court Interrupted an Hour by Incident

This ends the lawsuit" said JOSEPH
Koskuba, the defendant in distr4~s
/ court case for attempted murder. ant
/ with these words, muttered in broker
!, Bohemian, Koskuba lifted to his lip!
an envelope containing morphine tab
let's and swallowed them before the
eyes of Judge Burnham, the jury, the
COUNSEL for both the. state and defense
end the spectators at $3.50 o'clock this
morning.
The CONSERVATION in court rivals the
sensational attempt of j. r. Faust tc
destroy himself by butting out his
brains in the court room a few years
ago, while on trial for arson. koskuba,
however, was indiscreet in his efforts,
for it wasn't an instant until he was
in the hands of friends and few mo-
ments more in charge of a physician.
Apa morphine was administered, and
in five minutes Koskuba parted with
his breakfast, likewise the morphine.
Mrs. Josephine Koskuba, wife of the
defendant, was on the witness stand
when the incident occurred. Mrs. Kos
kuba does not speak English and Coun-
Gilman Tony Psenicka, of the Fifth
ward, was sitting by her side. acting as
interpreter. The defense was introduce
ing direct examination when Koskuba
made the effort to rid himself of his
troubles.
Koskuba Is a large, muscular fellow,
and had eaten a hearty breakfast.
This, and the fact that the physician
was secured so promptly, are all that
prevented the deadly drug from accom-
plishing the purpose Koskuba intended.
The morphine did not act Immediately
on the tissues, and before the process
of absorption set In the apa- morphine,
most active emetic, administered in
poisoning cases, had got In its work.
After Koskuba had yomited freely there
was the least sign of the effect of the
poison as he said he wanted to lie
down. he was so sleepy. The most pro-
nounced effect, however, resulted from
depression and nausea, caused by the
apa-morphfne.
4
a Bohemian and was used as an inter-
prefer during the remainder of Mrs.
Koskuba's testimony, Koskuba told, in
his native tongue. that the reason he
his life was because his
neighbors were swearing falsely
against him. He says all his friends
have deserted him and are trying to
send him to the penitentiary. At 1880,
one hour after the sensational incident,
Koskuba was back in his chair again,
feeling quite Ill. but sufficiently able to
allow the case to proceed.
The Testimony.
Koskuba is the Ferguson farmer who
made an attempt to kill William
Brande, a neighbor, last summer, when
ne fired two barrels OF a shotgun at
him. Koskuba was under the influence
Of liquor at the time and was incensed
at what he thought were undue efforts,
On the part of Brande, in keeping his
son away from home.
The state closed its direct examina-
ion Monday evening, proving the fact
Of the shooting and the circumstances
with. and leading up to, the
trouble. The defense began taking its |
testimony this morning, and it's princi- |
1al point was to prove that Koskuba
vas so intoxicated, at the time of the |
that he was incapable OF |
what he did.
The evidence was all concluded /
shortly after IL o'clock and the argu- /
nents were begun, continuing until |
lfter 2, when the jury was instructed |
nd retired for it's deliberations
KoSkuba was seen this afternoon
nd asked how he was feeling. 81 am
IL right but I'm weak he replied in
roken English. 81 took too much,'' he
dded: half would been enough"
Koskuba asserts that he swallowed
more than seventy-five tablets" He
avs he bought the stuff over week
go and paid % cents for It,
Makepeace Case Next.
The case of the State of Iowa VS.. G.
V. Makepeace. for receiving stolen
property, is assigned next on the dock
t. The case of Thomas Gather, for
ssault with intent to commit murder L
ill likely follow that.
Judge Burnham has set Saturday |
fternoon at the time for probating the !
I'LL Of the late Alvina Radloff, of Lee
rand township, who died last week. ]
Special Venire Drawn.
The fourth time this term of court ]
special venire was drawn for the
[akepeace case. With one jury out. i
nd the prospects that a number of that ]
ody would be challenged in the Make ]
eace case, six extra jurymen were /
to report at o'clock. The ]
st included George Trautmann, n. G. {
7. J. Fletcher, S. C. Bell, a. ]
!. Meeker and I. T. Kirby \
ENAToR DOLLiVER'S LECTURE, I
Innuent Statesman Recites +ha &c r