Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-02-06
WEST MURDER TRIAL.
Prosecution Puts in q Mass of Ev-
idenCe,

The case for the state, in the trial Of
w. E. West for the murder of Frank
March at Grand Forks, was briefly
stated by States Attorney wineman.
The examination of witnesses was then
taken up.
The witness on whose testimony the
state practically rests its case was w.
r Wood, proprietor of the Dacotah.
Mr.. Wood said he was seated in the ho-
tel Office on the night in question, at
some distance from the desk, and with
his back to it, in conversation with Mr..
Robert Brownlee, who faced the desk.
Suddenly Brownlee said: ''There's a.
scrap!" and shouted, Don't do that,
Frank" Wood jumped up and. turn
ing, saw West lying fiat on his back.
with his hand near the desk, with
March standing over him, leaning for
ward and striking at his face.
One swinging blow was struck, and
Wood thought it landed. A second blow
seemed to miss. West raised his foot
which March seized, and, as March had
his arm drawn back for another blow,
Wood seized and pulled him back, the
force Of the pull sending both men well
into the middle of the room, with Wood
between March and West.
Wood, when he recovered his balance,
faced West, and saw him in the act OF
rising from the floor. West drew re-
volver. and witness started toward
him, asking him for the gun. West did
not respond, but took two or three steps
sideways and shot. Wood heard March
say he was shot, and saw him go To-
ward the entrance to the room. WOOD
approached West and asked for his re-
volver, which West refused to relln-
1o1 fo
| Billy
Mr.. Bangs here asked if West said
anything more about this transaction
Wood replied that he stated why he
crossed the street to the Dakotah. Mr..
Bangs hurriedly stopped the witness,
and moved that the answer be stricken
out. to which the defense objected, ana
the objection vas sustained.
This slip on the part of the states
chief witness is important, as it will
help to pave the way for the admission
of evidence tending to show the rela-
tons between the men prior to the KILL
ing. and that March had threatened
West on several occasions. It was in
the Prescott hotel. just across the way.
that the men had met a few minutes
before, and from which West had come
20 avoid March.
]. H. Campbell of Fargo was the next
witness. He was on the opposite SIDE
of the room TO where Wood and Brown
lee were, and was attracted by the noise
Of the scuft1e, though he did not see The
first blows struck. He hurried to the
scene, and from his position he had a
good view of both men until the shot
was fired, at which time he was within
four or five feet of West. His testimo-
nv agreed, in a general way with that Of
Wood as to position and time, though
there was some variation in details.
After the shot he heard March say.
"Im hit! Shoot again! I'll die game!"
Later, he heard West say: "Trouble
has been brewing for several weeks.
He has abused me in the Prescott, ana
I threw my paper down and came over
here. I could not help it. ought to
have shot him again."
The next witness called was J. j. Con
way, who travels for the Leithead Drug
company of Duluth. Mr.. Conway was
standing, with friends, on the south
side of the hotel Office when the trouble
at the desk began. He was the hrsI
man to testify that he saw the blows
struck before West sank to the Hoor.
He saw March strike West twice, ana
the latter fell to the floor. March tneh
continued to strike at West, until ne
was pulled away by Wood. He SAID
that the time that elapsed after west
rose until the shot was fired was ABOUT
shat required to count six or seven.
The testimony so far has been con-,
hicting on number Of points which ap-
near to be of minor Importance, but TINS
will be used by the defense as an indi-
cation that in the excitement Whlcn
prevailed witnesses were incapable OF
Judging correctly. The estimates of dis
tances and locations vary. Some VIII
esses describe the blows struck as
swinging blows and others call them
straight punches. There is difference
of opinion as to whether March selzeo
West by the leg before or after denver
ing the last blows. Several witnesses
saw March said he would Idle game.
Bork says he heard everything distinct
Nv. and that March said nothing Oh the
SORT. The same list of inaccuracies Will
, doubtless appear when the evidence 1or
the defense is introduced.
N. w, waldo's testimony agreed WIN
that of other eye-witnesses, except that
he made the statement that he thoushl
he remembered hearing West say. I'M
mediately after the shot was 1.reu.
..n;a Vol, - You ought to
have died long ago. iAiS'e 49,
Mr.. Waldo remembered them, We're ac-
ccn,ranied by a foul epithet and were
addressed to March.
Mr. Waldo is the first man Who mas
testified TO any language of this KIND.
NJ. P. Ryan, chief of police, testineo
as to the manner of making the arrest
He had been called after the shooting
occurred and arrived on the scene 10
find West slowly walking up and down
with Wood. lie told West to raise MS
hands. and West complied, and the VII
ness took the revolver from his pockee:
West offering no resistance. he acteo
o,,ie+,y and seemed collected. Witness
identified the revolver shown in court
as the one he had taken from West 8
pocket.
Then came John Mcdonnell of Duluth
who is in Grand Forks with his brother:
q paving contractor. Mr.. McDonneii