Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-16
INTEREST INCREASING
Trial of the Slifer Case Attract
ing Great Attention In
Central Iowa
THE THEORY OF THE DEFENSE
Attorney wheelers Opening Statement
Shows Defense Will be an Attempt
to Show That the Woman Simply
Committed Suicide = Defendants
Relatives in Court.
Special to Times-Republican.

trial of w. Il. Slifer, for the allege;i
murder of his wife, progresses, the
interest in the case increases. Thurs
day afternoon every bit Of available
space in the court room was occupied
and today all who desired admittance
were unable to be accommodated. Far
mers are driving into town to listen to
the testimony. Fully as many women
as men are attending the trial. The
testimony of the experts to many per-
sons would seem dry and tedious, but
such is the interest in the case that
Ill yesterday afternoon and again to-
day the crowd sat and listened to the
doctors talk on the effect of poison
IN general and chloroform in particu-
lar upon the person who takes 1t,
either by inhalation or into the stoln-
ach. The Slifers as well as the Rodds.
which was the name of Katie Slifer be-
for her marriage, are among the most
respectable people in the county. and
this trouble has been a severe blow
to them. The white haired father OF
the defendant and the aged mother at
tend every session ce che circuit court
and sit silently by the side of their ac-
cused son. Every heart goes out lin
sympathy for them. The defendant,
himself, is bright and cheerful, has
kept up we'll so far during the trying
ordeal. During his long confinement
in Jail he has gained twenty pounds
il flesh.
The theory of the state has been
9retty well shown in the trial thus
TAR, and the reader is able to judge by
the evidence whether the state is max
ing a strong case. A good deal of In
terest is attached to the lines upon
which the defense will be made, and a
very clear idea was given in Attorney
Wheeler's opening statement, which
shows the defense will attempt to
show the woman simply committed
suicide. The outline of the defense by
Wheeler, was in substance as fol-
lows:
AS will be disclosed by the forth
coming testimony, claimed the defense,
both William e. Slifer, the accused,
and his deceased wife, Kate Slifer.
were born and raised in this county,
and are OF highly respectable families;
that they were comparative children
when married, both their ages being
about 81; that they lived in the same
neighborhood and that their courtshlp
was pure, country courtship, with a
subsequent years happy married life;
that they were lovers still on the night
of Dec. 10, 1903. Cat this juncture the
defendant weeps passionately as do
other persons in the court room) The
denefse then asserted that the state
would not attempt to show any mo-
tive for young Slifer killing his own
wife, and that it (the defense) will
prove to the jury that Mrs. Sitter ask
ed to go to Marshalltown on Decem-
Der 10, 1908, and that she wanted to
visit fstends and see the holiday
goods at the stores. The couple ar
rived in Marshalltown about noon of
said date. Mrs. Slifer did not appear
natural that day, according to the de-
tense; the defendant, however, hardly
thought Of it at the time. After get
ting luncheon, the defendant and wife
walked about town, finally stopping at
a "10-cent store" Mr.. Slifer left his
wife there for a few minutes, 1t is
claimed by the defense, to go and see
about his ailing horse. Upon return
ing to the store he found his wife gone
somewhat to his surprise, she hav-
ing agreed to remain there. Then
thinking Of friend whom Slifer knew
his wife would be likely to visit, he
went to that friends store and found
her there. This friend was a man by
the name Of fHoffa, and he wanted to
sell q sewing machine to the young
couple, the, defendant was DESTROYS OF
buying the machine for his wife, but
much to his surprise, Mrs. Slifer didn't
want it,1saying: IT might not have use
for the machine" Before this time she
had been favorable to the purchase
The defense further claims that it Will
show that one of the principal objects
of this Marshalltown visit was to sec
an uncle Of Mrs. Slifer; but that after
arriving in town the wife decided to
not visit that uncle-more to the de-
fendant's surprise. Evidence will be
disclosed to prove that on the morning
of said date, when Mrs. Slifer arose
she did not come downstairs as usual
and that she otherwise acted strange
ly. Mr.. Wheeler, in explaining what
she was doing while alone upstairs
said: "She was writing her last let
ter to her husband. That letter will
be exhibited here" The defense then
continued, that upon arriving nome
that night the said couple found the
elder Slifers retired, as also brother
and sister (of the defendant), who
slept upstairs in room only separated
by thin partition from the young Mr.
and Mrs. Slifer's apartments; and that
any outcry or disturbance eff any kind
would be heard by the occupants OF
said adjoining room. On the arrival
home, as the defense asserts 1T Will
prove instead Of going with her hus-
band to the barn as she was wont To
do before, Mrs. Slifer remained out
side on said particular night. The de-
PENDANT got in bed first; he lay there
with his face towards his wife, who
stood before mirror, looking at her
face. it was then that young William
Sitter noted an expression on her face
that startled him. He spoke to her
but no reply came. He quickly got
out of bed and laying his hand upon
her arm asked: Katie, what's the
NATTER" Her reply was a simple
ooh, nothing" The defense said it will
show that the defendant then wen,
back to bed and fell asleep. The sup
position is that she came to bed later
During the night the defendant, ir
turning over, was awakened by his
hand coming in contact with some.
thing cold and wet; he gently SHOOK
his wife and called her name. Dis
lcontinued On FiftM Pagel