The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-14


The next witness was Judge j. New
salt Of the municipal eeart and before
held. He stated that he had noticed
Vida Johnson 'sshoes and they were run.
over on the left heel. He subsequently
noticed the same fact when walking be-
hind her after the hearing: The next
in Metz &. Vinton,s store. He stated
that asfew days prior to June hessold
a Scent package Of paris greenzsto q
young woman but he was unable to
identify the defendant as the person.
John Christgau Of Gausewitz 8 Chris,
tgau, druggists, testified that he had
analyzed bottle OF water taken from
grains Of poison in it. He stated that
three grains were enough to kill per-
son. He identified the bottle offered in
evidence. Anna Larson stated she was
a dressmaker. On the Sunday preced-
ing the alleged poisoning, she was at
church with Mrs. Lundstrum. She said
thata they were ushered to a seat by
OscM Prestegaard, the young man sup
posed to be interested in the case. She
related how her attention had been
called by the terrible look on the face
Of the defendant and remarked upon
the fact after church services. Miss
Mellum. whose home is near that Of the
y
Of Miss Larson.
Defense Scores Strong Point.
This concluded the case, SO far as the
prosecution was concerned, and II. D..
Leach then stated to the jury what the
defense hoped to prove. The testimony
Of the defense was begun by the calling
Of Oscar P1estegaard, whose name had
been drawn into the case. He re-
futed the testimony Of the states wit
nesses by the statement that he was the
duly elected usher of their church and
on the Sunday mentioned, acted as
usher. He ushered the Johnsons and
their guests to seats and his brother
minutes. His testimony also threw
doubt upon that of thes state in that he
maintained it did not rain on the night
Of the poisoning. He produced his
records as official weather observer to
prove his assertions. He also stated
that the morning following the alleged
poisoning. he had driven over the John.
dry. He saw no footprints, tho he had
looked at the road carefully. s
The slippers worn by Wilda johnson
the morning she was visited BY the
sheriff were then offered in evidence
and identified by Vida johnson.
Edward ErlcksOn, who lives hall
mile north Of Vida Johnson, testified
that he was up until after midnight on
the night Of the poisoning with sick
horse. It was dark night and did
not rain. Friday he was called to
Vida johnson g home to examine the
Paris green In the cellar. He saw
some as stated and also some in the
yard near the house. Asked if Wilds
johnson ever went out alone at night he
said emo, she was afraid of the dark.
Mrs Albert Anderson, a neighbora Of
Vida 8, stated that she had seen Wilde
in church Sunday and that she looked
tired out and sick. Vida had tolt
her that morning she had been out late
the night before. Joseph Broin, q cous
in Of Vida g, was called. He hat
been hauling stone over the johnson
road and the road was hard and dry and
footprints could not be seen.
Magnus Johnson, no relative of tn
many Johnsons in the case, stated tina
in driving home shortly after 9 'cloel
Tuesday evening, his horse suddenl,
SHE'D when near J. L. Johnson's ant
looking out Of his buggy, he saw a mai
walking in the ditch near the road. H
called to him several times, but 20
no response. He maintained that tn
man wore dark suit and broad
brimmed hat pulled down over his eyes
but upon CROSS was not s
certain that it could not have been
woman dressed as man, altho he main
tained that he never had told anybod
that such might have been the case.