The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1905-05-05
DIR. KOCH AGAIN ON TRIAL
Charged With the Murder of DR.. Gebhardt
at New Ulnl.

Mi LIZ. bGDldIut, ulu Aot dppCds W
agitate the defendant, who sat as ii
in meditation and only half-conscious
of the proceedings.
Handkerchief Is Rocks.
Chief of Police Adolph Klause, on
the witness stand just before noon,
declared that Miss Ida Koch. sister of
George R. Koch, had told him that
the handkerchief found in DIR. Geb-
hardt's office on the night of the MUIR
der was "one of Georges" and that
"it was one she had marked with the
initials G. r. X
The testimony of the chief was a
surprise and sensation. At the
first trial he did not quote Ida Koch
as making any such statement. Coun-
sci for the defense was dumbfounded.
Mankato, Mimi, April 30.-Dr. G. r.
Koch, the alleged murderer of DR..
Gebhardt, left the Blue Earth county
court house last evening jubilant
man, his face wreathed in smiles.
Mrs. Katherine Kaes, a states Wit
ness. who was sworn to testify that
the hammer found near the murdered
dentists body was one used about the
smiles.
Mrs. Kaes stated positively upon
the witness stand that the hammer on
exhibition was not the one she had
seen in the parlors of DR.. Koch. Mrs.
Kaes was to have been the star wit
ness for the state yesterday, but the
strange and unexpected tenor Of her
testimony startled even the staid and
immovable Mr.. Childs. who is in
charge of the prosecution.
Rhinehold Dahms, twenty-three-
year-old man who lives on the road
over which DR.. Koch was accustomed
to go to and from his dental office,
was on the witness stand greater
part of the day7. Dahms testified that
he was employed every winter to
work at the Koch home. He testified
that he saw the hammer exhibited in
court as the one found near the body
of DR.. Gerhard. at the Koch home
stead every winter until two years
ago.
Mankato, Mimi, May 2. - more
than one of the witnesses for the state
have told on the stand what's not
true. l know this TO be a fact, and
my attorneys Will prove 1t. Mark my
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.
sListen!" he said heatedly, leaning
forward. his face aglow with earnest
ness. II know it were much better
for me if l did not speak too freely
about this case. but | am angry, l am
provoked, and 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-lsten! 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 1t Wasn't His.
What l 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. Sire 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.
fy 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 DR.. Koch in his Office
one half-hour before the murder of
DIR. Gebhardt was committed. wearing
SLOUGH hat and apparently taking
something from the wall and placing
it in his pocket; and Mrs. Wilhelmina
Dahms, who testified to hearing the
sound OF running feet after she had
gone to bed. and of finding blood |
stains OH her gate post the next morn. |
ing.
Mr.. Abbott put Mrs Dahms through
severe cross-examination, but failed !
to weaken her testimony.