The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-03-17
fletcher on the STAND

Letcher's former residence in this
city will make his testimony interest
ing reading and for that reason we
publish a portion of it, as follows:
George Letcher, serene as Il June
Gay, although on trial for arson. was
the first witness in his own behalf
this morning. HIS testimony was
given in q clear, firm voice and with
out hesitation. His examination in
chiel was conducted by Attorney X.
L. Starr. Letcher said he was born
in MaYsville, Ind, and came to Will
Hams county when he was three years
Old. He attended Oberlin college,
and took a commercial course He
was first employed by Ketcham,
Bingham & Co., Toledo wholesale
grocers. Then he came to Bryan and
was engaged with his father in the
commission business for four years.
He then vent to Fayette, Fulton
county, and engaged in the drug bus
ated a grain elevator. In 1875 he
was married in Fayette to Miss Hod-
son, Of Pioneer. His business grew,
he said, until he owned half the
business blocks and started a bank.
Five brick blocks, still standing he
built himself.
The bank was started in 1876 The
firm name was Hodson & Letcher.
They sold out to D. q. Baxter & Bro.
Letcller acquired a livery stable and
continued to operate his grain ele-
yator. Witness said he also owned
property in Pettisville, IA Sawmill and
flour null, and also a flour mill at
%SwanLon. The Pettisville mill burned
in 1876. The flour mill was the ouly
n insured, Then Letcller built the
Swanton flour Mill, costing SIC. 0Oc.
fletcher left Fayette in the spring
of 1882, going To Mitchell S ID.
:" owned a large brick block on
s%lod1way, Toledo, in 1881" said the
witness. VI sold it to Williams &
Hallalln. When | moved away |
owned two brick buildings in don't
pelier. They are there today
Witness said he was engaged In the
hardware business in Dakota. uis
father was government land register.
paving been appointed by his cousin.
President Garfield. Letcher said he
Dakota and live brick BUILDINGS. He
Aved five years in Mitchell, going to
Minneapolis In 1887. lie also re-
manned there five years: was ia. Mon.
taha. Oregon aud Utah two years.
then went to san francisco. In
Minneapolis he conducted a cflattel
loan business. He owned no property
there. Letcher said none of his prop
erty in Mitchell burned.
lin San Francisco | was cashier of
the Western Meat company Said
witness, ''and afterwards established
a branch house in Oakland, then
another one in San Jose. / have
lived in San Jose ever since. ] now
have a cigar stand and restaurant in
the depot. ] have mad it ten yeals.
I was separated tlom my wife at
MINNEAPOLIS by divorce. We had four
children they are now in Califor-
mia. ,One son has an automobile
plant. another is a dentist and two
daughters have just completed a col
eye course. ] was married the sec
ond time in 1895, at Oakland"
Letcher told about the drug store
and epxress office fire at Fayette, for
ton county. He said that after the
destruction OF the building he re-
built, He bought an adjoining lot
and put up another building Letch-
er said John Crennan. of Toledo. was
his assistant in his Fayette bank in
1880. Crenan went to Dakota with
Letcller, was d land office clerk there,
returned home TO Toledo and died
there.
.'In 1881 | was worth SIS. 600 and
all my property was Inincumbeled,' .
said witness.
"Were you in Montpelier in the
fall Of 1882" was asked.
81 may have been. bad property
there"