The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-05-05
DIR. KOCH AGAIN ON TRIAL
Charged With the Murder of DR.. Gebhardt
at New Ulm.


word; before the close of this trial
there will be sensational exposure
of the testimony Of certain witnesses
for the state, and this exposure will
be of sufficient Importance to arouse
sudden respect, l tell you that"
Says He's Angry.
"I-isten." he said heatedly, leaning
ness. II know it were much better
for me if did not speak too freely
about this case. but am angry, am
provoked, and I can't help it.
"a certain witness for the state
swore. after he had raised his hand
toward heaven and called God to bear
witness to the truth of his words, he
swore, that my sister identified the
handkerchief found near the body of
the murdered dentist as one belonging
to me. This is false. We will prove
it, 1t is false-listen! This witness
did not tell of that identification at
the first trial. He is an officer of the
law; why did he not tell it then? This
witness was on the stand at that time.
Why was his testimony on that point
not brought out at the last trial?
Tell me that will you?
Said It Wasn't His.
what I tell you in this regard is
true-as true as truth. That witness
who swore that my sister identified
the handkerchief came to our house
as he said, but my sister told him
then that the handkerchief in question
was not mine. She told him this, and
another who was present at that time
will swear to it. This other witness
is no relative of mine, and his evil
dence will be accepted anywhere as
against the testimony of the witness
Of whom l speak,
At this Dr.. Koch reassumed his
wonted silence. Urge him as you
might he would say no more.
Defense's Claim.
SHERIFF julius will testify that the
sister of the defendant did not identi-
fly the handkerchief as one OF
Georges said one of the attorneys
for the defense Yesterday.
Two Star Witnesses.
Saturday the state placed on the
stand two of it's star witnesses. Miss
Lena Weidermann, who testified that
she had seen DIR. Koch in his Office
one half-h)ur before the murder Of
Dr. Gebhardt was committed. wearing
a SLOUGH hat. and apparently taking
something from the wall and placing
| it in his pocket: and Mrs Wilhelmina
Dahms, who testified to hearing the
solnd of running feet, after she had
gone to he'd, and of finding blood
stains on her gate post the next morn
ing.
! Mr.. Abbott put Mrs. Dahms through
severe cross-examination, but failed
| to weaken her testimony.
Mankato, MIMI, May 3.-In view of
| the evidence presented in the Koch
trial yesterday it is doubtful if the
| state will be able to prove conclusive
! ly that the hammer found near the
| murdered body of DR.. Louis A. Geb-
| hardt was the one owned by the
young dentist who is charged with the
| crime.
Heretofore. the evidence. with the
/ exception of that of Mrs. Kars, has
| tended to prove that the hammer was
/ one owned by the Koch family, but
| DR.. G. F. Renieke. whose office joined
Dr.. Gebhardts admitted on the stand
yesterday that he identified the ham
mer at the coroner's inquest as one
| belonging to Dr.. Gebhardt. He said:
First Said It Was Gebhardt's.
"ln my own mind had connected
the hammer found near the murdered
man with one I had heard DR.. tieb-
| hardt speak of long before this AS
Asa Brooks said that the hammer
! found near the murdered, man be-
longed to Dl. Gebhardt's Office. l at
last came TO the conclusion that he
was right and that it was Gebhardts
hammer. Because of this conclusion
| told the coroner's jury the next
morning that the hammer, which was
then shown me, was a fixture of l)r.
'Gebhardt's office; that | had seen it
there before"
Changes His Mind.
But" DR.. Renieke said, "upon
closer consideration, now say that
the hammer did not belong about the
office of DR.. Gebhardt. so far as J
know"
In the cross-examination of DR..
Renieke the defense labored long
and hard, apparently attempting to
make the witness admit positively
that he did not know whether the
hammer belonged at the Gebhardt Of
fee. But while no testimony of this
nature was elected from the witness,
foundation for his impeachment
was brought in an admission that he
had plenty of time to think over the
Identification of the hammer before
the coroner's inquest, and also that he
had good opportunity to make mi
mute inspection of the hammer before
that time.
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ALLEGED SHORTAGE is GROWING