Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-27
EVIDENCE ALI N,
PLEAS ARE BEGUN
Taking of Testimony In the Sill
fer Murder Trial Concluded
at Grundy Center Today
TO JURY BEGUN
End Of the Famous Murder Case APP
pears to be in sisht-RebuttaI for
the State Brought Out But Little
New Evidence and Case Will Likely
go to the Jury Thursday.

Special to Times Republican.
F Grundy Center, Sept. 27-The trial
of w. E. Slifer for the murder or MS
wife, is nearing a close, and the end
is now in sight This morning at IL
O'Clock the last bit of evidence was in
troduced and Attorney c. e. Pickett
of Waterloo, at once began the plea
for the state. In anticipation of this
climax in the case large crowd had
gathered in the court room, the atten
dance being largely increased to hear
the attorneys make their arguments to
the jury. Attorney Pickett is an ex-
cellent speaker and his opening address
to the jury was a fine piece Of elo-
quence. AT noon he had only fairly be-
gun his argument, and as the time
for argument mas not been limited, it is
probable he will occupy most of the AFT
ternoon. AS the end of the trial draws
near the most intense interest in the
verdict is manifested. Just how the
jury views the evidence is not possible
to TELL but the large majority of people
who have heard the evidence seem to
expect verdict of acquittal.
The testimony this morning was not
important 1t consisted of rebuttal evil
dence by Dr. Albertson, of Iowa City.
He testified as to the probability of the
time at which post mortem action
would take place on the internal Or
gans of dead body. r. w. Alexander
testified as to what defendant testified
to at the inquest. Nora Haskins and
James Moore of Written testified as to
Mrs. Slifer's apparent cheerfulness just
prior to her death. Charles Frost, of
Grundy Center, photographer for the
defense, testified to having taken two
negatives of defendant and his wife and
the negatives were admitted as evil
dence
Mondays evidence in detail follows:
Monday Morning.
Court opened at IL o'clock a. M. by
calling defendant to the stand to i'm
ish the examination begun Saturday.
/ wore a cap in Marshalltown that
day. Did not have on soft hat any
time that day. / never saw anyone
heard the little dog whine and also
got my hand In the wet on the bed
clothes. The dog whining did not fui-
ly wake me up.
/ was in Marshalltown with my wife
October 20. l was not with her
all day in town. / was at the Lenox
machinery shop part Of the time.
Cross examined.
Attended school about ten years.
did not take any papers myself.
1 can't recall the names of any pa
pers we took.
I was in Grundy Center one winter
working for Charles Frost in the pho-
tographer's business.
Have taken d good many pictures.
Took pictures for Banker, Wood OF
Colfax.
1 did say was not in the Powers
drug store. I did not have any cons
versation with Mr.. Vogel about buys
ing chloroform to kill a dog; that I
had bought some and lost it.
Defense objected to questions along
this line, and court sustained objec.
tons.
1 first met Katie about a year be-
fore we went together.
l got in bed first on the night of De-
cember 10.
I knew when she got in bed.
/ do not recall saying at the inquest
I dropped to sleep as soon as l struck
the bed, or any such an expression.
The INSTRUMENTATION of the defen-
dant was confined very closely to the
direct questioning, numerous objec-
tons being sustained by the court, the
court ruling that nothing could be
drawn out of the evidence of defen-
dant that was not directly alluded to
on direct examination.
/ did not open the letter, exhibit 10,
My father opened it with a pair OF
shears. I did not see it until after
my sister read it.
I did not say to Asa Rodd I had
found a letter Katie had left, and 1t
was dated October 20, the day we all
went to Marshalltown.
1 did not hear it reported thru the
house that something had been found
Upstairs. did not hear anyone say
We found bottle. Katie suicided.
Here the states attorney asked to
If the witness and the rights of the
tate to cross examine the witness as
my other witness, claiming that In
aking the stand as a witness in his
,wn behalf he valves the right as
defendant, and becomes a witness as
my other witness, and is out from I'M.
Ter the protection of the code, as to
he compulsion of his testifying.
AS the code provides that defen-
lent cannot be made to testify for the
tate in criminal charge, wherein he |
S defendant, by going on the stand
n his own behalf, he valves this right. |
The able attorney argued the ques-
ion at length before the court and for |
ne and one-half hours, with the court |
DOM packed to its entire capacity, the |
curt heard arguments of Mr.. ALL |
rock for the state and Mr.. Dawlqy for
he defense. 1t was ruled that the state
hould be closely confined to the direct |
lquiry in the cross-examination
Defendant again takes the stand at |
o. M l do not know anything of
bottle being found in Katie's trunk.
Do you know anything about this
ottle? (Showing witness bottle found |
/ trunk No sir, l don't.
Did you not buy this bottle in
rundy Center at the Hibergen drug
tore on Thursday, December II. two
avs before the death of your wife?
efense objects to the question, and
ourt sustafns the objection. Witness
,tired.