Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-29
Trial of Former Ottumwan on
Serious Charge Begins in
Des Moines.
EX-WIFE ON THE STAND
salieious Testimony Brought in the
Trial of Former Well Known wape.
10 County Man on Charge of Shoot.
ing at Des Mones Physician.


Des Moines. May 27.-Jesse Ham,
mond, formerly of Ottumwa. but now q
resident OF this city, is on trial in Jus.
tlce Duncans court for taking shot
at Dr. Walston at the residence of
diamonds divorced wife about two
weeks ago.
Botn Hammond and Walston were
seafehed for guns before the trial be-
gan They are each charged with as.
sault with intent to kill the other The
case OF Hammond is being tried first.
The feeling is very bitter. and it was
thought by the court necessary to
search the defendant and prosecuting
witness before the trial commenced.
No arms We're found.
Jesse Hammond is the proprietor of
the Drexal bowling alley. on Mulberry
street. a few weeks ago he went to
the home of his divorced wife. at 1O41
Sixth avenue. DR.. Walston, promi-
nent physician. was at the house and
Went to the door. He refused Ham.
mond admittance and Hammond fired
shot through the door. He claims
that Walston was drawing a gun and
he shot i'll self-defense. This was his
defense in the trial begun Monday.
Hammond was arrosterf and held for
trial. and a similar information was fill
ed against Walston.. and that trial
/ comes. on immediately after Ham
monq's trial is concluded. 80.
Much very bitter feeling cropped out
IN, the commencement of the trial yes
ttefdaI Little progress was made, as
| the bad feeling seemed to extend to
the attorneys, and much time was lost
in wfangling. The attorneys all took
occasion. also. to argtto at length with
the court in opposition to rulings made
concerning the admission of evidence.
The. attorneys for Walston are Brad
shaw and Walter McHeury. For Ham.
mend S. S. Etherdge and J. D. Wall.
! in2fosd are appearing
Conspiracy.
Jesse Hammond's divorced wife. and
Mrs. Allen. who keeps the boarding
house where Mrs Hammond lives
We're put on the witness stand. The
principal Developments We're the state
ment made by Attorney Ethridge. that
before the trial was completed the de-
Tense would show that there was a
conspiracy to kill Hammond, and the
, introduction of evidence by the prose
cution to show that Hammond had de-
clared previously that he was going to
Kill Walston This. the state thinks,
is necessary in order show malice on
the part of Hammond.
Mrs. Hammond took the stand first
She was dressed in black and wore
black hat She wore no iewelry. Dnr-
ing the greater part of the examina-
ton she maintained very cool man.
ner. but became somewhat excited
once or twice when being cross-exam-
med as to her relations with DR.. Walls
ton.
Mrs. Hammond stated that she lived
at l04l Sixth avenue and had lived
there since January g.
Did you sec the defendant. Jesse
Hammond; the evening that this shoot
ing occurred" asked Walston's attor-
neys.
Veg
what rilNe
About 80 O'Clock"
"Where?"
In the parlor."
"DeScribe the house and the loearion
of the rooms
Here. Justice Duncan suggested that
some one acquainted with the interior
of the house draw diagram SO that
the exact situation OF the rooms could
be made plain to the court and the at
torneys. Fred Allen drew such dia-
gram and Mrs. Hammond explained
how the rooms We're situated.
Who went TO the door,
Mrs. Allen"
What was said?''
4 told her to tell him that wasn't
at home
Did he come in?"
Yes.
What then?"