Mower County transcript., 1903-01-14

away from Green, heard a shot, Green
kept on running after Bell had fred
the first shot, they had not gone very far
between the firing of the two shots,
after second shot Green fell.
4 Clifford Green, youngest son of the
murdered man, testified that he was:
with his father at the time: Saw his
father strike Bell with a stick, Bell ran
away from his father and shot him
while he was running. >.'5% r.. Il
\ DR.. Schottler, who attended Green,
testified Of the nature of the wounds
and injuries resulting from the two
shots. Coroner w. T.. Hollister testi-
fed regarding the post. mortem ex-
animation. -. III: <.'"--
This was all Of the important tesd-
mony by the state. Frank w. Bell, the
defendant, was put on the witness
stand Wednesday afternoon and Thurs
day forenoon. His story was much the
same as that Of the previous witnesses
He explained that he kept revolver |
because he was express agent as we'll as
station agent and often had valuable
packages to protect in the Office and
at home where he carried them nights.
he generally left the revolver in the
office during the day but on Sept:
neglected to take it out of his pocket.
When he saw Green coming at him, his
temper got the better of him.. Sell was
very lame from a arunning sore on his
leg and could not get away from Green.
He did not think he had hit Green
with the first shot as Green kept COM
ing after him with the club, and he
then fred the second shot. BELL drew
the revolver before Green struck him.
The defendant was manifestly weak
and broken down and during his testi-
mony gave way frequently to weeping.
Mrs. Frank W. Bell, wife of defend
ant testified that Bell frequently kept
money and valuables belonging to the
railroad aud express companies at his
home over night for safety and kept
revolver to protect them. She also
testified as to Bells sore leg at the time
Of the shooting. -. r
This was all the important evidence
for. the defense. The takingsef testi-
mony closed Thursday y4noon. <.s
Thursday afternoon, s. ID. Gather
wood argued the case for the state and
Z. French closed the case for the de-.
fendant. The defense was the elplea of
self 5defenee, the claim heing made that:
Mr.. Bell in the discharge of his duties
to the railroad company and ,under
their direction had sealed the lumber
car and forbidden Green to open it un-
It'll the claimed demurragewas paid; THAT
Green assaulted Bell with "a stick and
followed him to edo him great bodily
| harm" and that when Beilsawhe could
| mot get away from him ON account of
his sore leg he:shot at him in self pno-
teetiOn.
Judge Kingsley then charged the
jury in regard to the nataare of the
crime alleged in the Indictment and in
regand to justifable homicide and at
$50 O'Clock, Thursday evening, the
case went to the jury. They deliberat-
ed over it all nighG and until 2:30 Fri
day afternoon when they brought in a
verdict of guilty.
! Lawyer French has made a motion
for new trial and this will be argued
at an adjourned session of the present
term of court to be held at ten a. m.
Feb. %. This was the first case tried
by our new county attorney, A. W..
Wright, and shows that the interests Of
the county and state will be ably look
ed after.