The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-01
STATE RESTS
IN WEST TRIAL
EXAMINED LATE YESTER-
DAY AFTERNOON
DEFENSE WILL BEGIN TODAY
Testimony offered Thus Far Has
Been Confined to Events Oc-
curing at Hotel
DacOtah.


Special to The Globe.
GRAND FORKS, N D.. Jan 31-The
state rested IN the trial OF the West case
today, the last witness being examined
late this afternoon. and the defense will
now have it's innings. The state has ex-
amined many witnesses, but with the ex-
ception of Frank Shelburne. of the Pres
colt, the policemen, physicians, and the
men who testified as to the purchase of
the revolver, the testimony has been con-
fined to the story of the events that
actually occurred in the office Of the
Hotel Dacotah, the space of about one
minute, on the night of Nov. 80
The first witness Of the day was
Eugene Elwood, night clerk at the Da-
cotah, who was behind the desk when
West came in, followed presently by
March. He noticed that the men talked
for a moment. and then saw March knock
West down. His story was substantially
the same as told by other witnesses, with
the usual variations as to distance. Wit
ness said he had seen the revolver In
Vests hand, but admitted that at the
preliminary he had testified that he did
not see it. West, he thought, was calm
and collected. ]. H. Campbell was re-
called, and also said that in his opinion.
West did not appear to be excited.
In the afternoon B. o. Seymour, editor
of the East Grand Forks Courier, was
called He had been in the billiard room
and heard a shot. He arrived in time TO
hear West say ''die" with foul eplthet,
to which March replied. IN die game.
Mr.. Bangs then announced that, as the
defense had expressed a desire that evil
dence concerning the conversation In the
Prescott be introduced, he had decided
to call Frank Shelburne, proprietor OF
the Prescott.
March Made Threats.
Mr. shelburne said that both March
and West had boarded with him, and
that on the night of Nov. 80 West was
in the dining room when March came in
and iostled him West sat down near the
window, and March at the table nearby.
March began 30 talk, saying There's a
lot of rats round here, underground rats.
There's some of them here. I've got one
of them already tonight and III get
another before I go to Sleep" West was
reading a paper. and March said, ''No
blank blank can read a paper when I'm
talking to him" West put on his coat
and left the room. March continued his
TRADE and said Got gun, has he?
Looking for me, Ell? I'll show him. III
cram a gun down his throat. I'll cram
two guns down." Shelburne told March
that West had no gun, and was looking
for no one, and Blackburne who sat at
the table with March. tried to pacify him.
March left the room, and a few minutes
| later witness heard the fatal shot. WIZ
| ness noticed that March was drunk,
Geo. Platky, recalled for additional
| cross-examination, said that he had tol0
| March that West had come to his store to
buy a revolver. Here the state rested.
Defense Is Outlined.
Mr.. Cochrane outlined the case for the
defense He said the outlines of the un-
fortunate occurrence of Nov. 80 were be-
fore the jury. The defense would bring
some facts tending to throw additional
light upon it. Mr.. West came to Grand
! Forks early last year as the representa-
tive of Mr. Wright, of ST. Paul. His oc-
cupation was a lawful and peaceable
| one and he took up his residence at the
! Prescott and conducted himself there in
| a peaceful manner. There also lived Mr..
| March, and between the two young men
there sprang up such a friendship as
! grows between young men similarly sit
uated. Owing to the fact that March
was on the road and West in the city
most of the time, their acquaintance
was comparatively slight. 1t would be
| shown that at time about two weeks
| prior to the shooting March had taken
umbrage at something he accused West,
but of which the latter was entirely in
nocent.
At about this time, in the office of the
Prescott, March used violent language
| toward West, and threatened him. II
would be shown that March was power
full man, who boasted Of his physical
prowess. That West was told by an old
resident of the city that if March was
after him he had better look out, as
March was bad man. That partly be.
cause of these threats and partly be-