The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-02
HALF DA LOST
IN KOCH CASE
No Returns Made to the Court on
Special Venire List Served
at Springfield.
From q STAFF Correspondent.

From STAFF Correspondent.
New Ulln, Jan 2.-The failure of
station agent to give the mail messen-
ger on a train passing thru Springfield
last night, letter entrusted to him,
has cost the state not less than $500
and ,necessitates a delay in the Koch
murder trial. The letter contained
special venire list from Springfield.
Deputy Coroner Sullivan Of Spring
field, who served the subpenas on TWEEN.
ty OF the second special venire ordered
to report this morning., took the list to
told the agent to = give it to the g mail
messenger 50 that It would be in New
Ulm in time for the court this morn
ing. The agent promised to do SO, but
forgot it and when court convened this
morning the list, was not here. The
talesmen, however, were present, but
the court could not proceed until the
message was sent to Springfield and the
cause Of the delay ascertained. It was
learned that the next train which, could
bring the return to New Ulm, would
not arrive until 4 O'Clock, and Deputy
Coroner Sullivan was ordered to drive
post haste to- New Ulm, q distance Of +
thirty miles, in time for the adlourned
session which was called for 2 this af-
| ternOOn.
| =a ACCOIueyS CdulOC ASlee.
While the court was waiting, Mr..
Somerville of the defense made two
propositions to the state. One was to
proceed with the trial with ten. jurors,
the defense waving all claims of a
technical error. Mr.. Childs objected.
Then Mr.. Somerville agreed to drop the
venire from Springfield and proceed
with the hundred men from other parts
; Of fho ntx1 1hn
this, also, Mr.. Childs objected. g..
Later, Mr.. Childs offered to stipulate
the unofficial return of the Springfield
venire made by Coroner l.. A. Fritschie
Mr.. Somerville demurred to this, and
court was adjourned until 2 pm.
AS a surprise to the defense, Genera!
Childs announced that L. G. Davis, 6
Sleepy Eye attorney, would assist the
prosecution in drawing the jury: This
announcement delighted the attorneys
on the other side Of the table, for they
read in it an indication that the state
was ready to admit that it is in 6
tight place.
So adroitly has Senator Somerville
worked in selecting the first ten jurors
that the state had been compelled tx
use eight Of its ten peremptory chal
lenges. This puts it at decided dis
advantage, as the defense still has six
teen peremptories to use in selecting
two Jurors. It is evident that no ont
will 90 upon the jury who is not salts
factory to DR.. Koch or his attorneys.
4 impatient for Trial. "
All New Ulm is impatient for the rea
beginning Of the case. For months ru
testimony, which has never been mad
public, is in the hands Of the prosecu
ton. When the defense has been az
preached on the subject it has scoffed a
it. It says the public knows every wor
Of testimony there is against the defer
to disprove all Of it and clear DR.. Koct
The state's attorney comes back b
saying that the, testimony against tn
young dentistis Of such nature that
, will be heart-rending to- his friends: Tn
, state refuses to tparticularlze, and tn
people are a11xiously awaiting the bt
ginning Of the case, when they wi
. learn lust how much truth there is /
these rumors.
q Their natural curiosity will be graf
fed soon,> for it is probable that tn
first witness will be sworn early tomo
row, if not late this afternoon, and 8
3 soon as the corpus deficit is proven, tn
g evidence against DR. Koch will be fortl
: coming. ..-.. = -r.,.......
r General Childs has not yet announce
9 who will be the first witness, but it
J. likely it will be either Coroner Fritschi
J, Or some one who saw Gerhard lyin
f dead in his office. s..-
t Everybody is asking: How long wi
i the trial last9 Of course, 1t is impo
t sible for any one to say, but it appear
absolutely certain that week from t.
$ day the court will still be considerin
9 the case.
t DR.. o. G. Stricken, who attended Al
who was poisoned a few days ago /
eating sausages, says. it was undoubte
ly a case of ptonaine poisoning, ar
that there is no reason to believe tn;
any one doctored the meat. Both Ho
/ SAX and his wife have recovered.
; go III G.. Davis