Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-28
Lawyers For Defense In the
Slifer Trial Have Their
Innings Today
WOOD AND WHEELER SPEAK
Former Occupied the Forenoon and
Latter Will Close For the Defense
This Afternoon-.AIIbrook to Con-
cIude the Pleas Tomorrow for the
State-Pickett's Address.
Special to Times Republican.

aDle the Slller case VIII go 10 tHs
jury tomorrow afternoon. Attorney
G. e. Pickett finished his plea last
night and A. N. Wood for the defense
finished his argument at 1880 this
incoming Attorney Wheeler will
speak this afternoon, beginning at
1870. He announced that he would
not speak more than three hours, so
that ii is possible the case may so to
the jury by tomorrow noon. Allbrook
for the state, and it is believed he will
conclude by noon tomorrow. The court
will then instruct the jury, and case
will be given to them for decision. The
court room was again packed today to
hear Attorney Wood for the defense.
He made an excellent plea, and adj
vanced the theory that even If Mrs.
Slifer died by chloroform by inhala>
ton, which the defense denies, it was
undoubtedly self administered
Concluding Evidence.
DIR. Albertson, for state, rebuttal,
Tuesday morning. Am a graduate of
the medical college of the State Uni
versity; am instructor in the State
University for three years; have
had, OCCASION to examine stomachs
and other internal organs of the body
after sudden deaths.
How soon after death do you find
post norton appearances taking place
in such subjects?
Defense objects to the question and
~
the attorneys to discuss the admiss-
ability of the testimony of the witness.
The court, after hearing the argu
ments. overruled the objects and al
lowed the witness to answer.
Postmortem changes take place inn
mediately after death, but may not be
observed by the naked eye sooner than
a couple of hours.
Cross examination. would expect
to find post morten changes in the
stomach in less than seven hours. Au-
thorities differ somewhat In regard to
this particular. 1t is not true that in
stomach where death had occurred
instantaneously that post mortem APP
pearances would NOT take place in as
short time as four or five hours.
Mr.. F.. w. Alexander called. What
position did the body occupy in the
casket? On the back. l was present
at the inquest and heard defendant
testify that. he got in bed first and did
not hear his wife come to bed, as he
went to sleep Immediately upon strik-
ing the bed.
Nora Haskins called. Saw Katie
just a week before her death; was at
her home and stayed all night at the
Slifer home Saturday night. Was
with her all Saturday afternoon and
all day Sunday; she appeared to be
very happy and no different from what
she always did. was present at the
inquest Sunday night; heard Mrs. Ed.
Slifer testify. Mrs. Sitter told me she
did not see why she (katie) should
take her own life, as she was always so
we'll and happy.
Cross examination. I did say
I did not understand why she would do
such a thing, as she always appeared
SO healthy and happy.
James Moore, son-in-law of Mr..
Rodd. called. l live in Grundy county;
saw Katie Slifer last alive on Thurs
day before her death in Grundy Center
in the corner store; she appeared as
usual, cheef1ul ana tldppy I, Idu hIloWii |
her eighteen or nineteen years.
Charles Frost, called by defense. l
live in Grundy Center; am photog-
rapher. I took negatives OF defendant |
and his wife April &c, '03;I did not make
any photos from these negatives. The
two negatives We're here introduced in |
evidence by defense as exhibits Ia
and Is. Objections raised by the state |
as to theip admission. Court overruled |
the objections and allowed the adj
mission of the exhibits IA" and "l5,'
in evidence.
No cross examination of Frost, the
photographer.
Here exhibit '5'' was again introduce
I'd by the defense, being the fourth
line the attempt has been made to
ret this letter into evidence. Exhibit
Is" is sletter received by defendant |
rom deceased, before they were mar
led. After another extended controv-
,rsy the objections by the state were
sustained by the court and exhibit IS"
vas not admitted.
The jury was then called in and at
SIS o'clock Mr.. Pickett began the ad-
[ress to the twelve men who have in
heir hands the entire disposition of the
ase.
Pleas Begun.
The address was begun by express
ng sympathy for the jurors, and
autioning them as to the great re-
under which they are
laced, and that under which condi-
ions they are bound by the laws of
Justice, they must lay aside every
and weigh with the utmost
are the evidence as given in the case,
nd for the protection of themselves
nd their families and their neighbours;
hat if in their judgment defendant is
injustice to every citizen of this state
hat he be given his liberty. Upon
he other hand. if the defendant is
lot guilty as charged, according to
our fair judgment, you are likewise
committing an injustice to every citi-
Ell of this county in declaring him
utility.
He also explained the duty of the
ury in weighing the conflicting evil
ence of witnesses, and showing that
was necessary for man charged
18th a crime that he should defend
imself. 1t is necessary in all cases
hat defense be made and the testi-
iony of disinterested and able wit
esses is not to be compared with tes- ,
mony of members of the connections
this defendant. Further the attor- II
ey showed the jury their right to i
1nsidei. the love of life, and especially s
le love of life Of a young bride sur. {