The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-05
CAUSED A SURPRISE
Defense in the West Murder Case
Rests Unexpectedly.
ARGUMENTS THIS AFTERNOON
I9AlI the Principals Are, Worried
West II Good Witness for
4k! Himself.
Special to The Journal

} 44es..#,f..5 Himself.
Special to The Journal
Grand Forks, N. D., Feb. 5.-Practically
all that remains of the West case, before
1t goes to the jury. is the addresses by the
attorneys and the charge by the judge.
General surprise was created this morning
when, after the conclusion of the cross
examination Of the defendant: Mr.. Coch-
rane announced that the defense rested.
The state called P. Mcdonnell, who
sWore positively that March did not KICK
West when he was down and that ne ola
not attempt to take the revolver from MS
. (West's) pocket.
P. +. Bewlitz was then called by the
state for the first time and rehearsed the
entire shooting. He was in the Dacotah
office at the time, but the state had Deen
/ until now unable to find him: In the Sc
we're cross examination ne greatly
amused the audience, and Judge FISK had
frequently to rap for order.
His testimony in the main was the same
as that Of the first witnesses for the
state. He will be the last witness in re-
buttal and the defense will have no wit
nesses in rebuttal. The arguments will
therefore probably begin late this after
Eoon
Strain Is Telling.
AS the end Of the trial approaches, the
| interest in the outcome increases. The
defendant is beginning to look worried and
his examination told on him materially
He made good witness, however, and
though the cross examination was severe,
ne stood up under it we'll. His father,
William West, is breaking down under
the strain, which is hard on him on &C
count of his extreme age. The interest
with which he watches for every word
from the witnesses is one of the most
touching features of the trial. '.r
Mrs. March and other relatives OF the
dead man also show the results of the
strain to which they have been subjected,
especially since the state rested and the
defense took up it's side of the case and
| the evidence adduced had more to do with
the troubles leading up to the shooting
than with the shooting itself
There is much speculation as to the YER
dict and there Is a wide difference of opin-
ion as to what twill be.
West on the Stand.
Continuing his evidence yesterday aft
| ernoon, West related the following story
! of the first trouble between him and
| March: rs +-
| March spoke first in reference to letters
alleged to have been written about his sister
| in-law. forget his opening words. I said
| to him, Frank, you haven't done right to
! threaten me in public dining-room for some
l. thing am innocent Of. You know haven't
written letters about Eileen. You know I
don't feel that way toward her You know
| J ann not that kind of a man You know l
! am a friend of you and your family. l have
stood up for you when every one was against
you, and it's not right to treat me in this
way over something that I have nothing to
| do with, and it is all your own fault
| He said then that his wife said had threat
| ened Eileen. l said, mo, hadn't threat
ened Eileen. I don't feel that way toward
| her" He says Didn't you say you would
make her sorry for what she had done?' I
| said, mo, j did not say anything OF the
| kind"
Maybe you didn't write the letter, but you
told that, Eileen was at Fargo" said, Il
may have mentioned that, for Mrs. Prescott
told me she there. see no harm in
1t. !" He said, ou5don't deny Them and
! you tell?" I@.'I think if I told it at all, it
was to Mrs. ,Marr.' He says, mo, you didn't
tell Mrs. MARI Didn't you tell this milliner
down to Platkeys?" I said, 81 max have
+ told her, He says, you don't deny?' I
! said, mo, I don't dny telling it, At that he
| seemed to get angry. rss>..s,.; ~.
| We'll, what do you mean by saying that
you have been my friend? ''Just what I
say, Frank. I have been your friend here
| all summer why shouldn't you be my
! friend?' 81 don't know as there is any rea-
| son why I shouldn't" well, what do you
mean by bringing it UP then?' I said, Il
mean what l have said, that I have stood
| by you through thick and thin, and now you
| are trying to force me into a fracas. All
these things that you bringing up you
! know ann innocent Of" ...@.. H.. :
s:I'll Get You Right"
At that he threw his overcoat down and
| he says, d. you. have notion to smash
you right here. Look out for me this time.
/ to/.o
I'll get you right I says, Frank, you
may do that, but am innocent Of all these
| things that you have brought up and you
/ can't prove enc of them by anybody" / said
| then, If ! have offended you or yours 1 will
| apologize for it, but haven't by any word
| or act .-s g..
| He then ran up the stairs and says, s'Come
| up to my room and I'll prove this" and
| says, 'No, Frank, l know better than to 20
| to your room,' and he started toward me.
He said, 'I'll get you," and ran to my own
room and locked the door. ..
Throughout his recital the scene was
| almost dramatic. West spoke in a low
and distinctly, although FARTHER rapidly,
as if nervous.
| The Revolver.
] West said prior to the night of the
| shooting he had purchased a revolver and
took means to let March know that he had
| 1t. His story of what occurred in the
| office of the Prescott was to the effect,
that after pushing him away from the
! hotel register March settled himself at
the table with Harry Blackburn. March
| commenced talking in a rather loud tone
! of voice, saying:
There's rats around here; rats you
underground rat. got one of them to-
night and will get another one before l
! go to bed. There's one right behind you.
] And he's got gun. I'll cram it down his
! throat, I'll cram two guns down his
| throat. No - can read his paper while
| am talking to him."
/ Events at the DacOtah.
West then left and went to Hotel Da-
| cotah, where he had decided to remain
! over night. March followed Immediately
and approached him at the desk.
! March came up to me on my right and said:
Have you got a gum" replied. mo
] He then said:
We'll, you'd better get one, for you'll
need it,
He then struck me twice, over the left eye
and again on the jaw, knocking me down.
After knocking me down, March kicked me
me in the face three times. March left his
| mark on both jaws, over the left eye and on
| the right temple. Mr. Wood came Hup and
| pulled March away as has been described by
witnesses. | got up Immediately and started
toward the Alpha avenue side of the counter
! NV idea was to get away from him. Nv irst