The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-01-19
It is Still in .Progress--IO8
Witnesses Used 1eStimOny
Closed tuesday Night.
WILL GO TO THE JURY ABOUT FRIDAY

The case against Chas. woodard on
trial for murder in tho first degree for
the alleged poisoning of his wife on
Dec. Is, 1908, which was commenced on
Monday of last week, is still in progress
and will not be submitted to the jury
until some time Thursday. The evil
dence was closed on Tuesday evening
just before o'clock, over one hundred
witnesses having testified during the
long trial. The case not yet being sub
mitted to the jury, this paper makes no
attempt to express an opinion as to the
guilt or innocence of the accused. We
publish a>complete synopsis ofthe testi-
mony Of every witness who has testified
in the case, and leave our readers to
make their own conclusions.
The trial has been long and tedious
one, the court room being packed at
every session. Judge Evans, who is
presiding at the trial, has made favor
able impression with both the attorneys
and the public. 1t is his first term of
court since being elected Judge and he
certainly stepped into hard and COM
plicated case to commence his judicial
career. To disinterested person it is
evident that he has endeavored to pre-
side at the trial with absolute fairness
to both the state and the defendant.
He is very courteous to both the bar
and the public and has made decidedly
favorable impression and we believe he
will make one Of the best judges who
ever sat on the bench in this district.
When court was opened Wednesday
morning County Attorney w. B. Kelley
made the opening argument to the jury.
1t was Mr.. Kelley maiden speech to a
jury in a criminal case, yet he acquitted
himself in highly creditable manner
and made favorable impression on
those who heard him, carefully resum-
ing the evidence to prove the defend
ants guilt and arguing chat the testi,
nony for defendant was not such as
should acquit him. Mr.. Kelley closed
his argument at ten minutes before 2
o'clock.
He was followed by V. r. McGinnis,
who commenced for the defense at
once, and was still addressing the
jury at the time THE REPORTER went to
press.
Mr.. McGinnis will be followed Thurs
day morning by G. W. Hoffman for the
defense and George W. Baker will make
the closing argument for the state. At
this time it looks as if the case would
not go to the jury before Friday.
The following is the testimony in the
case since The REPORTER was issued
last Wednesday evening:
Court was called promptly at o'clock
Thursday morning, the jury being called
and all responding.
DIR. Fl. r. LAYTON
was the first witness called to the
stand and testified he wasa practicing
physician of Leon and, in 1908 held the
Office of county coroner, and held an in
quest on the body of Mrs. Chas. Wood
ard on Dec. 10th, 1908. At the inquest
Charles Woodland was present and testi-
fled, as well as questioned several Of the
witnesses.
CLYDE COOPER
who was on the stand the day before
was recalled for further examination
and testified to hearing conversation
between Chas. Woodland and Mrs. Kirk
patrick in which he said she had beer
taking medicine and before they started
from home that morning he told. her tt
bring her medicine along. At the in
quest heard Charles Woodland say ht
made. application for 1900 on both him
self and wife but when the policie.
came they would only issue $4,000 OF
his wife. That his policy was payabl,
{ to his wife and hers was payable to him
He said his wife wanted to go to he
mothers the day before and he told he
to wait till next day and he would brin.
her., This he told to Mrs. kirkpatrick
but at the inquest he swore he did no
hear anything about her coming unit
that morning. Woodland testified th
DIR. Robinson told him to bring tn
bottle Of her medicine which she ha,
been taking, and when he went bac
home after the children he took til
only bottle he could find, but that h
dropped it on the porch and broke il
and later said he dropped it near tn
woodpile. When asked about the piece