The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-11
DEFENDANT TELLS
HIS LIES STORY
Killing Of the Inoffensive Boy
Was, He Says, Purely Ac-
cidental.
SHOT TO NTIMIDATE
AND NOT TO MURDER
Defense Cheered by the Hope Of
q Disagreement Palmer
- on the Stand.

q Disagreement Palmer
G. on the Stand.
Special to Tho Journal.
Elk River, Mimi, April lie. D.
Crawford, the confessed slayer of young
Lundeen, hopes to escape the moose on
his frank admissions made this fore
noon on the stand that he shot and
killed the inoffensive boy not with in
tent and generalization, but accidental
ly while he was engaged in intimidating
his victim and the latter s companions
Crawford was on the stand from $40
until noon, and made good witness
The jury and spectators seemed to be
impressed with the running story he
told of his life, leading up to the box
car murder. Statements were read
from officers of the regiment in which
he served in the Philippines, all giving
him credit for being good soldier
and for having a clean record. .. .
l., 2 Did Not Plan to Murder.
G. F. Wheaton, leading counsel for
the defense, outlined his case in an adj
dress Of half hour. He said the fatal
shooting of Lundeen by Crawford was
admitted, but it would be shown that
i it was not premeditated and was acct
dental. Crawford did not plan to muir
der. The lurching of the car caused
him to swerve and discharge the pistol
when it was pointed at the head of 'Lun-
! deem. His only purpose was to; scare
and rob.
In examining Crawford the attorney
took him back to his early life near
Joplin, Mo-, where he lived with his
the war. with Spain. Replying to sub.
sequent questions, he told the story Of
his service in the Philippines and China
and of his life in Oregon, Idaho and
North Dakota after the war.
/ Character Evidence.
The character evidence admitted by
the state was in the nature of written
statements from General William Quin-
ton, Colonel Daggett, Captain Hasbrook
and First Sergeant Bowden, officers
who served with the Fourteenth United
States infantry when the defendant
was in the ranks. The name Of the
as Burt G. D.. Crawford of Company
G., Fourteenth United States infantry.
) While the state permitted the intro
! duction Of the statements, in accord
ance with an agreement made at the
outset Of the trial, it did not ,concede
vulnerable. and on the cross. examina.
ton attacked it with fusilade of
! questions which the witness was able
to answer or parry for the most part.
/ His War Experience.
9 Crawford testified that he first en-
: listed in the Second Missouri volun
J teers, serving eleven months and re-
ceiving an honorable discharge. He
then Went to San Francisco and re-en
listed in the, Fourteenth United States
infantry, and served IN campaigns II
A,%1 o and n G
to this country with his regiment and
being honorably discharged on May 4
1902.
He then drifted into Idaho anc
worked ON the ranches Of William Moor
of Boise City, and later was employed
Salt Lake City. He then vert to Ion
! tana and North Dakota, generally bein@
employed on ranches and farms. HI
worked in this capacity for Roy Spray
heart of Kenyon, N. D., and also spen
some time OH a farm near Valley City
- Sprayheart gave him a good character
and a written statement from him wa
read to the jury.
~ Tells of the Shooting.
When the fatal shooting of Lundee1
occurred, Crawford said he was on hi
way to Joplin, Mo-, to spend the white
with his parents. He. was short o
money and was beating his way when
= ever possible. On the night of the al
legged crime he had two one-haf pin
; bottles Of whisky and drank most 0
the liquor himself. He admitted tina
he plotted with Palmer to rob Lundee,
and his companions, but asserted Their
was no purpose or intent to shoot an
one, only to scare the mem by firing int
the framework of the car. He pointe
his revolver in the direction of Lur
go. deem, who was lying ON, table, an
the rapid speed and jolting of the trai
made it difficult for him to stand upo
his feet. Unconsciously, he said, h
pressed the trigger and Lundeen wa
shot and killed without premeditatio
or intent. He took no part, he test
fed, in robbing the men. .
Crawford's Pal Sworn.
- Arthur Losee, alias George Palmer
companion of Crawford, was sworn thi
afternoon when court reconvened an
will probably be the last witness for tn
defense. AS the defendants were i
close conference with. their attorney
evidence of Palmer will be CO.
roborative in all essential respects.
The defense is hopeful of a disagree
e=- ment and feels that it is making heat
way. The jury is taking the keenest il
terest in the proceedings and one men
DcI LII pal t1CulcilA l1CQuCuC1y 1OoC L1Ol
his seat to question the defendant.
The case will in all probability +
submitted some time tomorrow for
noon.
Story of the Arrests.
- John Heinan, landlord of the lit
hotel at Rogers Siding, where Gray
ford and Palmer were arrested, was {
= the stand yesterday afternoon. H
story was that the two men came to
place about CLOCK on the eveni1
Of Nov. 20, registered as Miller al
Coleman, ate supper and went to b
about $50.
Heinan retired at 8. Between
- and l, he was awakened by Shert
Ward Of Elk River, who asked if tv
strangers were there. Being SO i
formed, the sheriff asked to be taken
them. The landlord lighted a lanter
and they started for the rooms.
At the stairs, the landlord refused
60 ahead, so Ward took the lead with
big revolver in his hand, followed