The Wahpeton times., 1905-04-27
WOMAN 70 TELL SENSATIONAL
STORY OF WHAT SHE SAW
NIGHT OF MURDER.
eHILDs OPENS FOR STATE
PROMISES SOME NEW AND
STARTLING EVIDENCE IN
MURDER CASE.

Mankato, Minn., April 2G. - Three
women who were not witnesses in the
first trial of DR.. George r. Koch for
the murder of DR.. Louis a. Gebhardt,
will be introduced for the state in the
second trial. The testimony Of one
of the women. Mrs. J. Dahms of New
Ulm, was exploited in detail by Form
er Attorney General Childs for the
state in his opening address yesterday
afternoon. The last juror was sworn
about 2 o'clock. and Immediately
thereafter Gen. Childs delivered his
opening address, at the conclusion OF
which court adjourned for the day.
Mrs. Dahms, according to the state
ment Of Gen. Childs, will be intro
duced to give evidence regarding the
finding of blood stains upon a gate
post which is situated directly in front
of her house and on the road DR..
Koch was accustomed to take in walk
ing homeward from mis- office, and
that she
Saw Man Running
toward the Koch home the evening of
the murder. Miss Lena Wiedman and
Miss Catherine Waess of New Ulm
will be the other women who will take
the stand, but the nature of their tes-
timony was not exploited by the
states counsel in his opening remarks.
! Those arrayed On the side of the
prosecution, however, say that their
| testimony will be of startling nature
and will greatly strengthen the case
against the accused man.
Dwell en- Hammers identity.
The state doubtless will dwell
strongly upon the Identification of the
hammer found in DR.. Gebhardt's Office
after the murder had been committed.
1t is declared by the state that wit
nesses will identity the hammer as one
frequently seen about the Office of DR..
Koch. A sen of Mrs. Dahms will be
introduced to testify that the hammer
frequently was
Seen About the Koch Home,
and still another witness. it is said,
will testify that DR.. Koch was seen to
return to his Office between 9 and 9:30
! o'clock on the night of the murder,
strike light. and take from drawer
something that appeared to be the
hammer i'll question. The latter wit
ness. according TO Gen. Childs. saw
the occurrence. through one of the Of
flee windows, and the reliability of the
statement therefore is questioned by
.he defending attorneys.
The nature of the testimony to be
introduced by Miss Wiedman ana
Miss Kaess seems at present to be a
puzzle to the defense, although it ia
strange indeed if Koch's attorneys al
ready are not familiar with it. for
their untirng efforts in the case have
been noteworthy. Regarding the state
ment OF farmer named Grusek, who
told County Attorney Wilson Saturday
night that he saw the murderer of DR..
Gebhardt
Escaping From the Scene
of his brutal task, there was nothing
said in Gen. Childs' preliminary ad-
dress. The county attorney yesterday
stated that in all probability the state
| would not introduce Grusek. When
asked why. the attorney said he did
not care to discuss the reason, but he
would not declare the statement unlm-
portant or unreliable. He refused to
discuss the mans whereabouts.
The last juror sworn was Albert
Hageman. farmer who lives out
mile south of Mankato.
TO the great satisfaction Of the de
fense, Gen. Childs did not ask that
DR.. Koch be placed in custody during
the trial, and 1t is therefore likely that
he will be at liberty until verdict is
secured.