The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1905-05-13
KOCH TRIAL IS
NEAR THE End
CASE WILL PROBABLY GO 10
THE JURY BEFORE CLOSE
OF THE WEEK.
STATES NET IS BADLY TORN
DEFENSE STRONGLY ASSAlLS
MANY POINTS OF STATES
TESTIMONY.

Mankato, Mimi. May 5.-The pros
ecution has rested in the Koch MUIR
der trial. Asa P. Brooks, the New
Ulm newspaper man, who was the
only witness of the crime, was not
called by the state, and Judge Cray
Brooks was to be called he must be
called by the defense, which accord
ingly will do so. None of the sensa-
lions that, according to gossip, would
reveal the identity of the murderer
beyond a reasonable doubt yet have
materialized.
The memorandum book Of DR.. Louis
Gebhardt was introduced by the state
late yesterday afternoon, but, con-
trary to general expectation, its con-
tents did not reveal motive for the
crime, or, so far as is yet known, the
whereabouts of any one who could
throw light upon the murder.
ChiIds Closes.
After the testimony of Prof. Carel
was taken, Gen Childs, for the pros
ecution, made his closing address to
the court.
Mankato, Mimi, May 6.-"The man
/ saw bending over the form of DR..
Gebhardt as I gazed through the tran
som on the night of Nov. 1, 1904-the
night of the .murder-was not the de-
fendant, DR.. Koch
Asa P. Brooks, the New Ulm news
paper man. who is the only direct wit
ness in the Koch murder trial, made
this statement yesterday afternoon
while on the stand. Brooks took the
stand shortly before noon yesterday,
while 800 spectators closely followed
| his testimony. His face was pale, he
apparently realizing the full impOr-
lance of his testimony, but never for
a moment showing the slightest sign
of nervousness.
Brooks Tells All.
| Brooks told of his actions on the
night of the murder of DR.. Gebhardt,
commencing with his first action after
| he had eaten supper, and ending with
an expression of the wild fear that
entered his heart as he gazed through
| the transom of the door leading to
DR.. Gebhardt's office and beheld the
murderer bending over his victim.
Describe the murderer was the
request which led up to the dramatic
statement of the witness when he said
DR.. Koch was not the man.
"He was an understood man with a
small black mustache, and with either
a bushy head of hair or small SLOUGH
hat which fitted closely to his head,
Brooks answered.
"Was the man you are speaking of
| the defendant, DR.. Koch?' Attorney
| Somerville asked.
Murderer Was Not Koch.
"The man l saw bending over DR..
Gebhardt as | gazed through the tran
som was not the defendant, Dr.
Koch"
Mankato, Mimi, May Z. - A sensa-
ton was created yesterday in connec-
ton with the Koch murder trial by a
report that an attempt was made by
certain interested persons to reach
the jurors with written argument
in the corridors of the Blue Earth
county court house.
This report gained credence imme-
diately after the adjournment of court
last evening, and it was fostered by
instructions of Judge Cray to the jury
a few minutes before the close, in
which the court ordered that the jur-
ors remain in their secluded room af-
| ter the adjournment of court until all
| persons had left the corridors of the
court house.
In Effort to lmpeach.
The defense launched it's heavy ar
tillery yesterday, in the testimony OF
several witnesses put on the stand in
an attempt to prove that the poison
package mailed to DR.. Gebhardt was
not sent from the village Of Hanska
on the day Dr. Koch visited that town.
The two principal witnesses to this
were l.. Leech and Nels Nelson, rail-
way mail clerks who have been run
ming on the Minneapolis & st. Louis
road between Hanska and New Ulm