The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-01-16
THE WILLIAMS CASE
Jury Secured and Work Proceed
ing in Murder Trial.

The trial Of the case OF the state
vs., Dick Williams, charged with the
murder of William Sharper, was
commenced in earnest Tuesday even
| ing. The jury was finally secured
and the opening statements made by
the council and the taking Of evil
dence in the case was commenced.
The court adjourned few moments
after five o'clock until nine O'Clock
Wednesday morning when the hear
Ing OF evidence was taken.up.
The morning was given to the
hearing OF the evidence OF the state
ments of Fritz Womhoudt. Among
other thlngs this man atated that he
saw the defendant shoot Sharper.
Jury Secured
The securing of the jury occupied
nearly all day but it was finally se-
cured after all challenges had been
exhausted. The jury is a good one
and both sides are satisfied with the
men chosen.
The personnel is as follows:
John Grandia, Black Oak.
Dave White, Oskaloosa.
n. s. Stanton, New Sharon.
James Padgett, Madison.
Tom Young, Oskaloosa.
Charles Barnes, Pleasant Grove.
Joe Barnett, East Des Moines.
John Grice, Oskaloosa.
r. w. Bass, Rose Hill.
L. o. Clark, Black Oak.
L.F. Ceaver, Taintor.
Billy Sells, Beacon.
Following the securing of the jury,
which work was completed about
four o'clock, the court took a recess
of fifteen minutes and after re-cou-
vening proceeded with the work in
hand.
B. w. Preston, who Is assisting the
state in the prosecution of the case,
read the indictment and made the
opening statement to the jury. The
statement was brief and to the point
and was mainly in accordance with
the facts connected with the shooting
as the HERALD readers are acquainI-
ed u lth them. The speaker held
forth the fact that the defendant
provoked the fuss and when those in
the saloon attempted to leave it he
deliberately placed himself between
them and the door - the shack
He stated that the troP9le startt d
over the assertion Of a &nnksn fell
low who was in the place conc6rTfng
the worth Of team of horseg. The
attorney stated that t5e state would
show that defendant at Ottumwa
when approached for arrest denied
that his name was Williams and de-
MED having been at Buxton. Both
these facts, claimed the attorney.
are evidences of guilt.
George Woodson, for the deferd-
ant, stated that he would show that
number of the inmates of the place
we're in liquor and that the killing of
Sharper was in fact the result Of q
drunken brawl and that the shooting
Of the deceased was wholly without
intent or purpose as the defendant
had been upon the best OF terms
with all in the place. The shooting
wac, in fact, an accident, stated Mr..
Woodson, and it would be the effort
of the defense to show the jury that
no crime had been committed.
Judge Ben Mccoy is assisting the
defense.
Following the opening statements.
VIM. Crickett, sheriff of Mahaska
county, was called as the first wit
ness of the state. The gentleman
had gone to Ottumwa for the defend
ant and had received from the off,
GERS in that place a A .caIibre "Colt''
revolver that was said to be taken
from the prisoner. The gun was
still loaded and the court requested
the witness to remove the shells from
the chambers of the cylinder. This
was accomplished with considerable
difficulty.
An unusual thing was noted about
the cartridges removed from the gun.
The "nose' of the bullet had been
flattened to certain extent and cross
ridges cut in the surface thus made.
1t is said that this treatment of q
bullet causes it to hatten out and
spread upon contact with any sub
stance struck.
The evidence for thel afternoon
closed with this part of Mr.. Cricket's
story. He will be called to the stand
again.
The jury win be specially cared
for during the course of the trial.
They are under the special charge OF
Matthew Mccarthy. They win be
under surveillance constantly and
win be allowed little orlno freedom.
DEDICATION.