Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-15

increased as the trial of Prof. T. l..
Clifford for the murder of Hosea A..
Bigelow Nov. 5, 1904, has progressed
during the past week at the court
house. At every session the court
room has been crowded to its capacity,
men and women standing in the aisles
for hours at time, intent upon hear
ing every word spoken during the
progress of the case.
The jury seems to be bearing up ex-
cellently under the strain of the long
trial, paying the closest attention to
every portion of the testimony, seem
ingly desirious of judging intelligent
ly and impartially upon every matter
coming up in the case, and OF being
able when the case comes before them
to decide the fate of Prof. Clifford
wholly upon the evidence offered in
the case and the instructions given
them by Judge Hobson.
AS before the defendant Clifford sits
during the trial of the case few feet
behind his attorneys, most of the time
quietly rocking in a rocking chair, ap-
parently unconcerned in the progress
of the case, and the testimony OF the
witnesses, never at any time during
court consulting his attorneys or any
one else concerning the trial.
There have been many lively tilts be-
tween the attorneys for the state and
defense concerning certain portions OF
the evidence and the admission OF GER
tain parts of the testimony OF the wit
nesses. The examination OF the wit
nesses for the state has been conducted
by Attys. Sayre and Kaye and for the
defense by Attys. Acers and Gray,
dividing it about equally between
them, while County Atty. Strand and
Berg for the state and Atty. Harmon
for the defense have analysed the tes-
timony as it proceeded, repeatedly
comforting with the others concerning
it. The insanity specialists and local
physicians have also watched the case
closely and been in constant communi-
cation with the attorneys.
Our record of the case last week
closed when Atty. Acers for the de-
fense was reading the depositions Sc
cured by him in New York, over
which the state through Mr.. Sayre in
terposed objections, but they were
finally admitted as evidence. The ex-
animation of Drs. Hill and Daubney
by Mr.. Acers and the severe cross ex-
animation by Mr.. Kaye, as well as
that of Mr.. Gray and Mr.. Sayre in
other cases was intensely interesting.
At the opening of court ON Wednes-
day morning after the last issue of
this paper had been mailed, the read
ing of the depositions OF the New York
parties was continued by Atty. Il. II.
Acers for the defense, which occupied
the entire forenoon and an hour OF the
afternoon session. AS stated last week
they were sworn to by DIR. Allen
Vaughn, Raymond Bates, husband OF
Gifford's insane daughter, DIR. Il. ;.
Parkhill, James Clifford, James II.
Clifford and Henry R. Clifford. and re-
lated to the insanity of ancestors OF
Clifford in New York, tending to show
hereditary insanity.
When this was completed the defense
called
MRS. T. /. CLIFFORD.
She testified that she remembered of
his speaking of the cow shed one even
ing after they returned from party.
He said it was Willett's mistake, he
intended to reserve it in the lease,
that it was all right. Since vacation
began last June he has become more
restless every day, wanted to work all
the time, often noticed the glare in
his ewes, strange look in his face,
would stand and stare at her. She
spoke to him about it, said he should
control this strange look or he would
spoil the expression of his face. This
occurred frequently, almost daily III
September and October she saw that
CLEAN, that fixed glare, some days
several times. During the summer
and fall he did not work at his books,
but steadily at physical labor, said his
days of study were over, his head
troubled him, he could not fix his
mind on his books. She saw him cut
ting wood often in September and
October. seldom without wild, nervous
gesture, and wild look on his face, be-
came more uneasy all the time. Prof.
and Mrs. Clifford lived with his father
in New York., and cared for him. He
was uneasy, had that glare in his face,