The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-27
TRIAL OF KOCH
ON AT NEW ULM
Defendant and His Attorneys
Maintain Their Air of
Confidence.
DIFFICULT TASK
IN SECURING TRIERS
No Juror Accepted at the Fore
+ noon Session, Tho Five
Were Examined. ".a.r
From q STAFF CORRESPONDENT,

Were Examined. @
From q STAFF Correspondent. t@..:
New Ulm, Mimi, Dec. 27.-No juror
was secured this forenoon to try DR..
Koch for the murder Of DR.. Gebhard.
So great has been the interest in the
case and so widespread the agitation
and speculation created that it is not
thought a single juror will be secured
from the regular panel now in the city.
Promptly at 9 o. 'clock Sheriff William
Julius called the Brown county court
room to order. General II. O: Childs,
special county attorney, moved the case
the famous murder trial was started.
AS the defendant, neatly attired in
q black sack coat, fashionable trousers,
patent leather shoes, and black and red
bow tie, entered, a hundred pairs Of
eyes were turned in curious stare at
him, but, seemingly oblivious, he found
a seat near Sheriff Julius table.
, All thru the morning session, as the
court was engaged in securing a jury
to pass upon his guilt or innocence, DIR.
Koch sat calmly listening to the pro
ceedings. If the crowd in the court
room expected to see him tremble and
appointed. He was calm-serious, in
fact-but little concerned apparently
about the case.
Many In the courtroom thought they
could detect an air Of assurance about
the defendant as he sat with his legs
crossed, swinging his left foot. Others
thought that he was nervous, but l
could detect nothing in his demeanor
different from that which he exhibited
~ f,,,& ,o& S,,h hio
after the murder.
Case Drags at the Start. i. .
The morning session was a dragging
called Judge B. F. Webber consulted
with the attorneys as to the. methods
of SUNNI moning the Jury and stipulationss
were made to that effect. General
IChilds announced that Albert Pfaen
zens' committee, and Aaolph Frederick
son Of Springfield would assist The
| prosecution. Senator George Somer
! vile of Sleepy Eye and w. B. Abbott
of Wlnona, appear for the defendant
Henry Somsen, a New Ulm attorney
and brother-in-law Of DR.. Koch, sat un
officially in the case. #= %s..
It was a difficult task to secure com
|petent triers. After much delay ant
deliberation the court appointed Vir
gil B. Seward Of Marshall and Josep]
A. Eckstein and William Skinner O.
New Ulm as triers. Mr.. Abbott oh
iected to Mr.. Seward on the grount
that he is resident Of Lyon county
but Judge Webber overruled the oh
Five Rejected. ~.
A. r. Hudson, a farmer from Alpi
township, was the first talesman called
Mr.. Somerville challenged for actua
bias. The state admitted the challenge
Eden met a similar fate. A. H. Pickl
: Of Sleepy Eye had formed no opinio
and the defense used a peremptor
challenge.
3 Michael Huiras Of Springfield suite
the defense, and the state used PEI
emptory. Agaton Miller Of Hansk
was challenged for actual bias by tn
defense. ~
Among the interested spectator
were William E. Koch Of New Ulm an
Albert Koch of Echo, brothers of tn
defendant. Neither appeared nervor
and each confidently expects that D
Koch will be acquitted.
The States Side.
Just what will be the testimony {
the states witnesses is an enlgm;
u.
have ioated about New Ulm Of var
GUS things that would be proved by tt
state. Just how much grain there is
all this chaf is a question. That tt
state will endeavor to prove the owne
ship of the hammer with which tt
dentist was slain is evident from tt
fact that Miss Lydia Schapekahm, car
taker of DR.. Gebhard's office, is OF
Of the witnesses. It is stated that 81
hot hn hoY n
the property of the murdered man. III
Inference is that it was carried the!
~ Along this line it is expected th'
hammer belonged to DR.. Koch and th'
il was formerly kept in the worksht
in the rear Of DR.. Koch g residenc
It is stated that two witnesses W!
identify the hammer as his. One, it
said, will say that the handle is tt
short by about three inches.
Rumor has it that this piece Of ha
die is in the possession of the state,
well as the hacksaw, such as is us,
in cutting iron, with which it was g
off. Both are said to have been $
cured by detectives who searched t.
workshop at the Koch home.
Defense as Confident as Ever.
I MUCH Llulc Will Uc tdhCu Ny C1C qua
in proving the corpus deficit, and it W
be late in the week before the taking
evidence that bears directly again
DR.. Koch will be started.
The defense refuses to say how it W
battle down this evidence, but the ;
torneys for the defense went into t
trial with an air of confidence.
You may look for something to hs
pen,' said Senator Somerville. II {
not ready to say what it will be, b
we are not going to trial without
defense"
No Progress Yet.
-Four more jurors were rejected eal
this afternoon-Henry Goede, Jr., q
Charles A. Heers Of New Ulm and
chael Frantz and John Tessmer
Sleepy Eye.
YOUNG MOTHER A SUICIDE.
Chioa po Dec 97-A v0llne won