The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-18
Special to The Journal.

Thomas Bowles, 81; Ceres.
Special to The Journal. 49,
Mankato, Mimi, July 1S.-The tax
ing Of evidence for the state began
this morning in the Koch trial. A com
paratively small audience, composed al
ent when the proceedings opened. The
attendance gradually grew in size as
the day advanced.
Albert Pfaender of New Ulm, one of
the attorneys for the state, was pres
ent for the first time at this trial, hav-
ing been in camp with the second regi-
ment during the first week of the trial.
Will Koch, a brother of the defendant,
was also present, together with Chief
Adolph Klause and other New Ulm peo-
pie, whose names are prominently con-
nected with the case.
Weiser First Witness.
DR.. George B. Weiser, New Uln1, who
conducted the autopsy on the body Of
the murdered dentist on the morning
after the murder, and who also saw him
lying dead in his Office the night of the
murder, was called rs the first wit
ness by the state. He described the
condition and position Of the body as
HG HIsI saw IL dhu dlSo GHe HdCule anu
effect Of the many wounds on the head
inflicted by the blows of hammer and
the stabs of a knife. When he first
saw the body it had been turned over
on it's back, but pencil was lying
in a pool Of blood near the head.
DR.. Weiser illustrated the position of
the knife cuts on Attorney Pfaender,
who stood before the jury. General
| Childs conducted the examination for
the state, and L. L. Brown for the
| defense. The testimony of this wit
ness did not differ from what he gave
at previous trials.
Mrs. Kafz Called Again.
Mrs. Kafz, who disappointed the state
with her testimony at the last trial, has
been subpenaed again for this trial
She has said since the last trial that
she was unable then to identify the
hammer which she saw in DR.. Koch Is
office because it had label on it when
able to identify it at the present trial
New Point by Baltrusch.
The only new point brought out by
the testimony this forenoon was give1
by Herbert Baltruscvh, the youns
printer in Asa P. Brooks Review
office, on cross examination. Hereto
fore he has always stated that thu
footsteps on the stairway leading tx
mediately after DR.. Koch had passet
the. office window. He gave this OF
direct examination. today, but whe1
asked by Senator Somervi1le how long
it was after DR.. Koch had passed, h
said it was ''minute or two" Gen
eral Childs attempted to question tn
witness as to where DR.. Koch woult
meet any other person on the stree
who might have gone up the stairway
objections by the defensce, the cour
stating that that was a matter for tn
jury. General Childs said that he wa
very much surprised at the evidenc
given by the witness and he asked TO
time to look up the records at tn
previous trial and was allowed unit
afternoon. The attorneys for the de
Tense state the witness was never be
fore asked as to the exact length o
time which elapsed after DR.. Koc
passed the window until tire footstep
were heard.
Pfefferle on the Stand.
) Eugene Pfefferle, the druggists, tie:
tilted, to seeing Dr. Koch at the Sin
. NETT barger shop at $3.50 pm. on NOV
} l, saying that Dr.. Koch remained fe7
IlOul6uUS duU Gucu WCuL OuG. 1x4
Pfefferle also testified that he ha
} walked from the Otto Meyer plot t
the Koch residence, and that it too
him fifteen minutes and forty-fve SCI
onds Anton Simmett, the barber, teI
tilted that DR.. Koch left his shop q
1928 or "a, and that he had on brow
derby hat and black overcoat. Alfre
HIM, a 17-year-old boy, who worke
a, in the Simmett shop, testified to SCI
Nv, Il L, r
: the Pfefferle drugstore, where the wi
! ness was standing, and that he can
= back into the barber shop. .
.. Herbert Baltrusch did not remembe
the exact time when DR.. Koch passe
the Review Office window. He hear
:. no cries or noises over the Office, nc
did he hear any while walking hom
He did not learn of the murder unit
next day, when at the Berg corner b
: met Asa P. Brooks and Henry +. Son
sen, brother in-law Of the defendan
walking south.
;. The jury was completed yesterds
!. and the case was opened for the sta
by County Attorney Wilson. q
New Evidence Promised. !.
Mr.. Wilson outlined some new ev
e dence which the state has secured, al
4 which has been kept a secret until tn
r time. It relates to the account give
3 by DR.. Koch Of the manner in whit
he received the scratches on his ia,
and hands on the Sunday before tt
murder. DR.. Koch always has elaine
' that he got the scratches in runni1
J. thru the bushes toward his horse, whit
r had become frightened by the approae
d Of threshing machine. He had go1
Il riding into the country with your
lady and had left her holding the az
NAL while he got out and hunted qua
J. In the meantime the threshing machi1
Il came up. @
,: The state now has evidence, it claim
y that this story has no truth. Mr.. Wi
son stated that the threshing machi1
crew members would prove the accou1
!, given by DR.. Koch to be "consu1
T mate falsehood. Their testimo1
:. would be strengthened by that Of a lac
: living near. All saw the occurrence ar
would testify that there were no BUSH
: where DR.. Koch was and that he coul
not have gotten scratched.