The Mankato free press., 1905-05-19

Koch's. The defense put on six witnesses
to say that the handwriting is not that
of DIR. Koch. If Dr. Gebhard was liv-
ing he might speak one word that
would clarity the whole typewriter
Iathmospnere. He might have sent the
box with some article in to be sent
back with another in.
The evidence proves that DIR. Koch
never mailed the blue box, but that
someone else did. 1t shows that the
box was received by DIR. Gebhard before
it was said to have been mailed at
Hanska. If the box was mailed on Oct
2Sth on the Winthrop Storm Lake divi-
sion it would have borne the stamp of
Leecn or Nelson, which it did not do.
The state of Minnesota had better re-
pudiate its bards and stand disgraced
before Christendonl, rather than con-
vict and punish one of its citizens with
out evidence that carries to moral
certainty. This is no ordinary case
Mr.. Brown spoke for an hour and a
quarter upon the blue box, and then
denounced the Pinkerton detective
agency.
Where is the case now left, if there
was poison in tnat bottle? 1t is prov
ed that another man than Dr. Koch
was seeking the life of Dr. Gebhard.
According to the state, the defendant
was SO seeking with the emblems of
his crime that the very dogs bayed at
him as he went through the streets
that night, yet he sought Paul Hippauf
at once to prove an alibi, and Hippauf
was unable to detect a drop of blood. 1t
has been proved by many witnesses
that Koch wore the same clothing for
many days afterwards that he wore on
the night of the murder.
Mr. Brown went over the clothing
field at much length, comparing the
evidence of the different witnesses.
A ten minute recess was taken.
Mr.. Brown took up the inquiries to
the defendants hands. The blood on
the wire was three feet out from the
wall, so that the man who dropped
down from the window could not have
injured his fingers on the wall. The
burns were not made because of sus-
picions, because there were no inquiries
to be hidden. There was nothing in the
carbolic acid stains or in the burns to
disguise injuries until the skin was tax
en- off by the physician. If he had not
burned his hands no suspicion would
have arisen. Suspicion was spawned by
the burns. Dr. Koch worked at his
office until he received the burns and
made no effort to conceal them.
We have the testimony of an eye
witness, which is over and above every
other testimony in this case. Who +
Brooks? A man who has worked him
self up to the proprietorship of a news
paper; man VINO has serious views of
life; man who hurls back the imputa-
tion that. he had taken the name of his
maker in vain. Until Nov. lst, not a
word of suspicion ever pointed toward
Asa p. Brooks. He heard scuffline
upstairs and went and looked. He has
never once has he said that he knew
who it was that ne saw. Who is it
that has the right to sit in judgment
upon that clean, christian man, who
testified only to what he could con-
scientiously. He never said he heard
agonizing screams. He was threatened
with states prison.
Gen. Childs "There is not the
slightest evidence of tnis.'
Mr.. Brown: Crooks testified that
Popham told him So"
Brooks was threatened with the loss
of business by Silverson. What sur
renders he has made, because he will
not testify to what people want him to.
He has talked with thousands of peo-
pie, but where is the man who says
that ne claimed to know who he saw.
Threatened with business injury and
ruin, threatened with the penitentiary,
urged to compromise his testimony-he
stands like an honest man, and for the
fifth time tells his story like one who
realizes that he must answer to a
frowning judge for any misdeeds.
/ fear there are not many who would
stand the test is he has. If thirty
six years of honest living, untarnished
by anything, do not entitle him to have
his testimony given weight in courts,
we might as well dissolve society. The
defense has never threatened states
witness with the penitentiary or busi-
ness ruin.
1t is conceded that the murder took
place after 9:4O. The Koch family do
not give you the exact time. What is
the rabbit story made for? 1t serves no