The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-18
Northwest News
SCRAWFORD WON'T
SPEAK FOR FARMER
Goes to Elk River to Hep His
Pal, Who Throws All
Blame on Him

Special to The Globe
ELK RIVER, Mimi, April 17.-Ar-
thur Z. Losee, alias Farmer, made very
poor witness in his own behalf today,
railing down badly in direct testimony
and getung worse muddled in cross
examination. The planning of the
murder of Lundeen the shooting. the
ownership of the flash light and even
the robbing of the dead body, were all
put onto Scrawford. Farmers only
admission was that he went through
the pockets of the rest of the bows.
He claimed to have been in mortal fear
OF being shot by Scrawford. and dared
not dlsobey when commanded to help
In the holdup. but could not explain
10 the jury why. if all this were true.
ne had not fled from the assassin and
notified officers of the crime as soon
after leaving the car as occasion of
fered.
While this was going on Scrawford,
who was brought from Minneapolis for
the express purpose of going on the
stand TO try and save his pal, was
waiting in the little Jail below. But
when the time came for him TO go on
the stand he fatty refused to go, SEEM
ing 10 divine what had been doing.
Whenever Farmers testimony conflict
ed with what previous witnesses had
said he never hesitated to put the lie
on them. The evidence is all in and
the case will be finished tomorrow.
The defense tried TO save Farmer
on the claim that he is weak minded,
because of sunstrokes received while
a boy, and was the dupe and tool of
c. ID. Scrawford, who planned the hold
up and fired the shot that killed Lun-
deem.
w. II. Place of Minneapolis. attor-
ney for Farmer, in opening his case,
said that the defendant had borne a
good reputation until he came under
the baneful influence of Scrawford. 1t
would be proved, he said, that Farmer
had been weakminded since he was
10, when he had sunstroke and al
most died. AT another time he was
injured while at work in a field and
was unconscious several hours. These
accidents arrested his mental develop
ment and left him absolutely under
the control of stronger natures. 1t
would be shown, the attorney said, that
the defendant was threatened by
Scrawford and so feared him that he
did not dare disobey.
Farmers Father Testifies
]. ]. Losee of Lake City. father of
the defendant, told how the accident
and prostration by heat had left his
son with a weakened mind. He had
always worked steadily on the farm
and was a good boy. In June he left
home to do harvesting, and in August
was in Devils Lake, n. D., to file on
government land. In November he was
needed at home to husk corn, and his
mother sent him S25 to pay his way
back. The father testified he did not
see his son from June until he met him
In jail in Minneapolis and identified
him.
The defendant testified that he was
at Devils Lake in August, but did not
file on a homestead because he was
under age. He then Joined a thresh-
ing crew and worked until Novem-
Der, when he set out for his home in
Iowa. his father having sent for him.
On the way he fell in with Scrawford
and both attempted to steal rides to
Minneapolis.
He told of the chance meeting with
Lundeen and his companions and said
that Scrawford early in the morning
Of the murder told him he was going
TO rob the boys, and that if he (Par-
mer) did not help him he would be
shot, too, at the same time brandish-
ing his revolver and firing a shot to
arouse the men in the car.