The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-21
w. e. WEST PLACED ON TRIAL FOR
KILLING FRANK
MARCH
CONVICTION IS DOUBTFUL
Public Opinion Is With st. Paul
Man, Who Claims He Shot
March in Self
Defense.

there is intense interest, ana the court
room was crowded this morning when
| court opened
The tragedy which resulted in the
| death of March and the arrest of West,
on a charge of murder occurred in the
office of the Hotel Dacotah on the even
ing of Saturday, Nov. 80. March was
a travelling man, and had represented the
North Star Shoe c-mpany, of Minneapolis,
in this territory for several years. In
his youth he had been a prominent base
ball player, and at one time pitched for
the Minneapolis team. Later he went
to the coast where he umpired in one
of the leagues. Since coming to this
state he has been prominently identified
with the sport, and was regarded as an
authority.
Last season he was the chief umpire of
the North Dakota amateur league. His
connection with base ball matters gave
him prominence, and there were
Few Men Better Known.
Ordinarily he was popular, but he was
of an arbitrary disposition, and at times
was inclined to give much forcible eX
preston to his views that few people
cared to engage in discussion with hum.
He was of superb physique, and a train
ed athlete. He lived at the Prescott hotel
with his wife and one child.
w. E. West came here about a year
ago, as the representative of Geo. E.
Wright, real estate dealer, of st. Paul.
He also boarded at the Prescott, and be-
tween him and the March family there
sprang up an intimate friendship. Every
thing appears to have gone smoothly I'M
til about the middle of November, when
March took offense at something West
had said, and there was trouble. Several
times the men met, and on each occasion
March threatened West with personal
violence. It is stated that West invari-
ably tried to avoid trouble, and that
his attitude was peaceful.
Story of the Shooting.
On the evening of Nov 80, West was
in the dining room Of the Prescott when
! March came in for supper March be-
gan to talk in an abusive manner di-
recting his remarks at West though not
speaking to him. West did not reply,
but left the room and crossed the street
to the Dacotah, which is just across the
corner. March was admonished by the
proprietor of the hotel to refrain from
the use of such language, but paid no
attention. He rose from the table, and
left for the Dacotah, threatening West
as he went. When he reached the hotel
West stood at the clerks desk. March
approached, and the men engaged in con-
dertone for a few moments, when March
began to strike West. Two blows were
struck before West fell, ma March then
| seized West by the leg and continued
striking until bystanders rushed in and
| interfered. March then backed up sew
/ eral PAGES, and West arose, drew a re-
voiver, and fired. The ball struck March
| in the left side of the abdomen, passed
| through his intestineS, and lodged in his
| back He was taken to the hospital,
where he died Monday noon.
West made no resistance to arrest, de-
livering his revolver to the police. He
retained Cochrane & Corliss as his at
torneys and after the preliminary ex-
| animation application was made to Judge
Fisk for admission to bail. 1nis was
| denied, and the supreme court was asked
| to grant a writ of habeas corpus, which
| was also denied.
| Popular Sympathy for West.
Since that time West has been an in
| mate of the county jail A great deal Of
! liberty has been allowed him, as there
is great sympathy for him on account
| Of the provocation which brought on
| the trouble. He has occupied the sheriff S
private office, and there he has trans
| acted business for his employer. He has
in this manner conducted several i'm
portant real estate deals and has done
who is restricted to correspondence
Since his incarceration his employer, Mr.
| Wright has placed another man in the
| field to take care of the outside work,
| but West has been in charge of the bust
! ness in this territory.
Vests home is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
where he has many friends. He has had
offers from friends in that section as well
as from his employer and his business
associates here offer all the financial as
sstance that he needs, and unlimited bail
| would have been forthcoming if it could
| have been accepted. He is a man of
| quiet, retiring disposition and good
| habits. His father, William West of
Cedar Rapids, arrived yesterday to at
| tend the trial. He is seventy years of
age, and has lived since the death of
his wife, last fall, with his son-in-law
J. w. Rasey, a Cedar Rapids banker.
| For twenty years he kept the West
House at Cedar Rapids. The prisoner
sister, Miss Hattie West, a teacher in
the Cedar Rapids schools, is also here.
State Charges Deliberate Murder.
The case of the state will be conducted
| by J. B. Wineman, states attorney for
Grand Forks county, and Assistant At
| t0rney Rex, and with them is assoc ated
| Hon. Tracy r. Bangs, who was appointed
| by the county board at the request OF
Mr.. Wineman. The case of the state
| will depend on the time which elapsed
| after West rose from the floor and before
the fatal shot was fired. The state will
| attempt to prove that the men were sep
| arated that the assault was over and
that there was no possibility of it's being
! resumed. It will be claimed that in draw
ing the gun and handling it before shoot
| ing West acted with great elaboration,
and that he was composed. From this it
/ will ho q fhso hnf
| not as a means of self protection, but
with a deliberate intent to kill.
The defense will try to establish that
| the entire transaction occupied only
about minute, and that after being
knocked down and getting up West had
| not time to compose himself or to realize
| that he was no longer in danger from
| the man who had assaulted him. The
charge in the information is simply muir
der, and the jury may under the law
bring in a verdict of acquittal, or of
murder or manslaughter in any degree.
No one expects a conviction of more than
the lowest degree of manslaughter, and
opinion as to any conviction seems to
be pretty equally divided.
A special venire of so jurors was drawn
for this case, and it is expected several
days will be occupied in selecting the
twelve men who are to try it. The pro-
ceedings in court were uninteresting.
Eleven jurors were excused and the day
was spent in examination Of thirteen of
the remainder. Two jurors, A. P. Wins
low, of Hegton, and E. 0. Berg, of North
wood, both farmers, were accepted. OF
the other ten, six were excused for cause
three on peremptory challenges, by the
defense, and one peremptoriy by the
state.