Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-20
}|AlE RESTS N
IHE S[F[R TRIAL
Defense Begins the Taking of
Evidence In the Murder Case
at Grundy Center
EXPERTS PLACED ON STAND
Dr.. FairchiId and Or. Beary Testify
That Death With Symptoms Similar
to Those In the Case of Mrs.Aslifer
Might Be Caused BY Taking chloro-
form Into the Stomach.
snecia1 70 r,mes-Renublican.

rested its case in the Sitter murde
trial this forenoon, and taking OF evi
| dence for the defense was begun, eN
pert witnesses being called in the per
| sons If DR.. Fairchild, one of the mos
emf, ant surgeons of Iowa, and d.
Beary, of the University, who spen
] two years studying in Europe. Thei
| evidence was favorable to the defense
ton framed by the lawyers for the &C
| cused gave it as their opinion tina
death under circumstances not unlike
that in the case of Mrs. Sitter should
be ascribed to the taking of the chloro-
form into the stomach, a point which
the state did not succeed in oyercom'
ing in their cross xamlnatlon. Dr
Fairchild is a practicing physician o,
Des Moines has been In practice fol
twenty-seven years and is surgeon TO.
the Rock Island and Northwestern
roads, He was questioned at consid-
cradle length in regard to the disease
known as vitiligo, with which Mrs Sill
nerves and nervous system.
Miss Mason was the first witness for
the state examined this morning. She is
a clerk in the ten cent store at MARSHALL
town. She testified to a conversation
lad with Mrs. Slifer the day before
her death.
Mrs Thomas Rodd, mother of the
dead woman, was called to the stand
today. She testified to having asked
defendant to go with her to see the
remains OF her daughter, but that he
refused Thomas Rodd, father Of the
dead woman, corroborstted his wife's
testimony. Both broke down and waDt
during their testimony. Harvey Hoffa,
Of Marshalltown, was recalled and tes-
titled as to Mrs. Slife1's appearance
when she called at his office December
10. Mrs. Clara Hoffa, sister of the de-
ceased woman was on the stand. Said
the last time she saw Mrs. Slifer alive
she appeared in excellent spirits. She
was not cross amined. At this po2lt
the court permitted. the jurors to exam
ins the letters offered i'm evidence for
the purpose of comparing the writing
Of the defendant and the dead woman
with that Of the note found on the
dresser.
1t now looks as if the case would be
concluded by Saturday. There is a
difference of opinion as to whether the
state has made a strong case. A great
n. any think that the evidence has been
weak and the lack Of a motive for the
CRIME has made the states case seem
weaker. There are many, too, who
think the state has presented strong
case, while the majority are content
to wait until the defense has presented
it's side Of the issue and let the jury
decide whether the prisoner is guilty or
The defendant presents
fine appearance in court and because of
his youth and look of innocence lie is
the object of much sympathy. The tas-
t:mony in detail:
Monday Morning.
Court opened at II "A. m. Frank
Foster called and presented letter from
defendant, which was offered in evil
dence. Mr. Eighmry, banker of Wa
terloo, called. Consider myself judge
Of handwriting. Witness was here
shown letters of Mrs. Katie Slifer and
compared them with the note found on
the dresser, supposed to be written by
the dead woman. Testified the note
did not resemble deceased's handwrit-
ing.
Witness shown letters of the defen-
dant and testified that in his opinion
they were written by the same hand.
ross-examination only brought out
why witness could tell the difference
in Notwithstanding that every
land had characteristic peculiar to
he Individual, and different from all
,ther Individuals The weight of his
testimony was not destroyed in cross
examination.
Monday Afternoon.
Court resumed the work at 2 o'clock
" calling Mr.. Elliott of Waterloo. Wit
less has had some experience in the
Identification of handwriting; witness
vas shown letters of the defendants
lead wife to compare with exhibit "a,
he note found on the dead woman's
resser, and gave it as his opinion
hat they were not written by the same
and. Was then shown letters
written by the defendant to COM
are with exhibit GA Witness testi-
ed that it is his opinion it is the same
and. Much time was occupied by the
efense in the cross-examination of the |
fitness, going thru the pages of the |
light or ten different letters offered in |
whence, but without materially chang
lg the evidence already recorded.
Ira Roadmer, bank cashier at Water
10, called. Was shown handwriting
nd corroborated the evidence of the
Their witnesses which have already
estiied on the same points. Was some
hat confused in cross examination
nd made to acknowledge that there
ere variations in the same hand.
Miss Della Trusseil called. Reside
i Grundy Center; have known Katie
lifer four years; have received letters
'om her. Identifies letters.
Mr.. Carpenter of Des Moines, manu-
lcturer of Rex embalming fluid, called.
old w. f. Alexander Rex embalming
uid Jan. 1903 Here witness described
hat it was made Of No cross-exam-
lation.
Mr. Size. Of Marshall county. Re
de in Marshall for twenty-seven
ears; brick manufact lrer; know
here the Powers drug store " in Mar
lhIllOHu. SOW tAC uCISsuss3 Ill III the
overs drug store on Dec. 10, 1903;
card him ask for IS cents worth of
lloroform; he wanted it to kill a dog.
'oss- examination. il