Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-22
Main Point to be Established in
The John Findley Muir.
der Case.
DEFENDANT WILL, TELL STORY
Claims That He Did Not Know What
He Was Doing When Trouble
Occurred.

Of counsel to the jury. The taking of
testimony was commenced this after
noon, and it is probable the hearing
of the evidence viii consume fully as
long time. if not more. than did the
selecting of a jury.
The statements of counsel were
widely at variance. particularly as to
the condition of the defendant on the
night Of the shooting. the defense
holding that FinGley had reached a
state of intoXication where he did
not know what he was doing. while
the prosecution will enGeavor to show
that he had only taken four small
drinks of beer. not sufficient to make
drunk Il man who was accustomed to
using liquor. as Findley was.
States Attorney H. y. Weld first
addressed the jury. He read the law
in its entirety covering murder and
homicide. calculating the meaning of
reasonable Doubt. circumstantial evil
dence and presumption of innocence.
He then entered upon recitation of
the facts.
Story of the Murder.
The murder occurred on the night
of March Z, 1908. Findley had attend
ed meeting of the Moline Iron Mold
ers' union. Of which he was member
leaving the lodge room about 1920
Going 10 the Haymarket saloon he
met Arthur r. Bradley. who had re-
turned from Davenport, where he was
employed. and who had planned to at
tend dance in Moline that night.
Nothing occurred there beyond an eN-
change Of pleasantries between the
men. Others in the saloon were
Texas" GOetZman, Joe Feeley. Jas
per, the bartender. and "Tippe" Carl
son. Jasper and Bradley were TO at
tend the same dance. Later the crowd
turned up at Decker's saloon. Brad
ley left the party. and during his alb
sence Findley and Goetzmau got into
a discussion Of the usefulness of the
Naval Reserves Goetzman belonged
to this branch of the militia. and
Findley had formerly been a member.
but he resigned for the reason that
he did not approve of their partici-
pating in strikes. shooting down the
workingman.
FIDdIey Shoots at Goetzman.
The argument grew heated. and as
moved toward the door
Findley pulled out revolver and shot
at him, but did not hit him. FintIley
then walked to the outside of the sa-
Icon and leaned against fence. all
the while holding the revolver in his
hand. Bradley returned. having heard
the shot, He sought TO diSarm Find
ley. and when the latter resisted. told
him that he was under arrest. Bradley
to be vested with authority
tn preserve the peace owing to his
with the Naval Reserves.
having been commander of the Mo-
line division during the Spanish
American war. Findlcy would not
have any interference on the part of
Bradley and took a shot at him, but
went wide Of the mark. Findley ran
Gown the street. with Bradley and
FeeIey in pursuit. When about twenty
feet away Findley fired again. but
missed. The next shot. however. |
brought down his man. Bradley fall
ng To the sidewalk and remarlling. |
I'm all in" Findley fired again, but
only one shot took effect. the bullet |
Bradley's intestines and |
'ausing death within a few hours. |
Mr.. Weld held that the facts disprovel |
any element of self-defeESe.
Defendant to Go On stand.
{. J. Searle. for the defense. remind |
FL the jury that the question of rea- |
sonable doubt and presumption Of in |
locence were not mere fictions OF law. |
~ claimed by the state. but were |
matters to he considered by the jury |
L. of material Importance i'm the rem |
lering of verdict There was no |
Element OF generalization on the part |
# Findley or malice aforethought. |
The law gives man the right TO de-
lend himself against attack or danger
# attack. Findley viii go on the
stand during the trial and tell the
story "a he remembers it.
Personnel of FfndIey Jury
The personnel of the jury follows:
W. +. Milan. Moline. carpenter.
Charles Dangerfield. city. works 4
Rock Island Lumber company.
H. X. McGrath. boards at CONNER
.iaI House. retired harnessmaker.
f. r. Palmer. Hillsdale, farmer.
Phillip Dingeldein. South Rock Isl
and. gardner.
W. {. Lukens, south Rock Island.
farmer
John Colgrove, Hillsdale. farmer.
James y. Moran. Rock Island. en-
1loved at the Woodmen head Office
Andrew Paulsen. South Rock Island |
Charles y Bloom, Moline. boss pain
ter.
\. +. Greaser. city. ianitor al Hor-
ace Mann.
William Hill. South Rock Island. EN- |
Dloyed n driller at Rock Island Piow |
company
Have YOU a fun. heavy. mean feeling |
in your stomach after eating. feel
azv. tired and weak? Hollis tiers Rocky |
Mountain Tea viii make you well. |
keep YOU wei. - cents T. II. Thorn