The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-13
From a Staff Correspondent.

~
New Ulm, Mimi, Jan. l3.-Members
Of the Koch family took up most Of the
morning session today in giving the
testimony which, if uncontroverted,
will go long way towards saving DR..
Koch from the gallows. Without con-
tradiction, they told their stories and
stood by them, even when iercely as
sailed by the cross-examination OF the
state. ~: r. 'E'
The alibi, about which 50 much has
been said, was told in the courtroom
just as it was told in III e Journal
after DR.. Koch was first suspected of
the crime. It was exact in every par
ticular and was composed OF so many
separate parts that it will be diff
cult task for the state to shake it's firm
structure. $50 ~ 80
Particularly significant was the tes-
timony of William Koch, brother of
the defendant. While it had nothing
to do with the alibi,a it was strongly
in favor Of the defendant. He told of
coming home the night of the murder
and going to bed while the defendant
! was reading in another room. He was
| asleep when George wens to bed and
George awoke: He told him about the
murder and the young man s surprise
at hearing of the crime, if genuine
1 argues strongly for his innocence.
| ..4 The States Tactics.
The only way in which the state so
far has been able to injure the alibi
testimony is by questions as to SINH
lar events occurring on other nights.
Every member of the Koch family,
when cross-examined by General Childs,
was asked what time George came home
on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and
Wednesday nights. None of them had
clear memories on these points. 1t is
| likely that the state will argue that
| if they could not remember the time
he came home those nights, it is very
| tinctly the time of his arrival on Tues
day night. In other words, the state
| will cali it "family alibi' and argue
that it is manufactured to save the de-
| PENDANT.
After the members of the family had
been sworn to prove DR.. Koch's allbl,
the defense called witnesses to estab-
lish just how late the murderer was
known to have been in DR.. Gebhard 2
office. This was the work of the at.
ternoon session.
How He Knew Clock Was Fast.
e. G.. Koch, father Of the defendant.
was recalled at the opening of court
| to explain about his clock being seven
minutes fast He said that on Sunday
afternoon before the murder, when the
church clocks struck 4, his clock was
seven minutes past 4. After that he
timed his clock for l02 hours and 1T
gained just three minutes.
"And what time was it-actual time
when George came home?' asked
Senator somerville.
eft was twenty-five minutes to To-,
actual time Ny clock said a quarter
to 10, but it was seven minutes fast.
| Miss Koch Supports Alibi.
Miss Ida Koch, sister of the de-
PENDANT and a teacher in the high
school, was called to the stand. She
, is 81 and has been teaching school for
six years. She was examined by Sen
ator Somerville.
"Were YOU at home the night of
mDid you eat supper with George. =
HWhat time did he leavea' cat
"What did you do that evening?''
"I helped my sister wash the dishes
and then wrote letters until $3.50.
."Was that clock time or actual
"Did you know that the clock was
s ~ knew it was fast, but did moi
s know how much fast it was"
l "Do you take your lunches at home
g while teaching7" Usually"
"Did you know from a comparison
t of the clock time and the town time
t that the clock was fast.
~ eyes, I thought it was about five
d minutes fast
s GLOW did you happen to look at thu
i ~ Heard George Come In.
q ~ had been writing letters and hal
u written four. / was tired and | won
dered if / had time to read. ] looket
at the clock and it was $780,
s'Did you see George come in9
ssI heard him come in. / first hear,
Is him on the porch and then he came int
the Kitchen
tHow long was that after you ha
- looked at the clock. -
:. "About fifteen minutes.
"a s. Is that your best estimated
II "Yes.''
y y eWhat were you doing when h
" came in9'' 81 was reading
"What did George do frsts''
n Continued on Cd Page. I'd Column