Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-29
PROSECUTION FINISHES Evl-
DENcE AGAINST cLAUD
WHISTLER
DEFENSE WORKS FAST
Twelve Witnesses Were Examined at
Morning Session Of Davis County
District Court Minor Evidence In.
trodueed in Young WhisIers Behalf.

bloomheld. March 2S.-(SpeciaD -
me state rested it's case against Claud
whistler, charged with murder, late
Yesterday, and the defense is now in
Producing testimony to disprove the al
legations that Young Whistler was
guilty OF a crime when he killed
Frank Ogden on the night Of April /,
!9O5. AS yet only the minor evidence
mas been introduced, with the excep-
tlon OF that of DR.. Patterson Of Milton.
VINO made the post morten examina-
tion OF the body of Ogden and who de-
ciared on the witness stand that he
found no bullet wound In the heart.
This Is to controvert the testimony in
troduced by the state to the effect that
the bullet from Whisler's revolver
struck Ogden in the breast and pene-
trated the heart, causing instant death.
Twelve Witnesses Examined.
AT this mornings session of the Da-
Wis county district court twelve wit
nesses for the defense were examined,
their testimony being intended to show
that Ogden, on the day of the shooting
was intoxicated and that he drank 8
large quantity of whiskey between
Moulton, where he spent much of the
day, and the home of Whistler, where
he met his death. Frank Tay-
lor of Moulton, who was on
the stand when the court ad-
journed Tuesday evening, said that
when he saw Ogden in Moulton Og-
den was under the influence of liquor
and said he was preparing to have a
might with the boys" J.. w. Young,
Tom Evans, G. G. Hennen, Burl Null
nix and G. H. Tharp all testified to
seeing Ogden in Moulton on April 1,
1905, and that he had whiskey and
was drinking. Lee and Carl Slower
said they met Ogden on the road be,
tween Moulton and his homo, aisd that
he offered them whiskey. Gus Mitch
ell testified that he drank with Ogden
while the latter was en- route home
from Moulton and that Ogden had two
quart bottles Of whiskey and was
drinking.
Witness Eats Pie.
Jesse Bridgman and Chalres Clark
testified that they visited Whisler's
house on the morning after the shoot.
ing and saw the pallet on the floor
which Whistler claims his wife ar.
ranged for Ogden to use as a bed.
after Whistler had invited him to re.
main at the home all night. Bridgman
testified further that he found a peach
pie from which one piece had been
eaten and that he ate a second slice.
AL G. Balm, father-in-law Of the de.
fendant, testified that on April 10 he
accom- panied Whistler to Bloomfield
and that they went to a photograph
gallery, where picture OF Claud was
taken, showing a wound which the de
Tense claims was made by Ogden dur.
| ing the fight preceding the shooting
The photograph was introduced in
evidence and identified by w. G.. Dun
ley, who made it.
Defendant May Testify.
Those who have been watching the
development of the case are asking
each other il the defendant will
be placed on the stand. 1t was hinted
in the statement before the testimony
! began that Mrs. Whistler will give evi
dence in her husbands behalf, but the
curious are anxious to hear the story
Of the tragedy from the lips of the
man who admits that he fired the shot
that killed his neighbor, but who
claims that 1t was fired in self defense
His attorneys will not say whether he
will testify or remain silent.
Doctor Tells Of Wound.
| Yesterday afternoon DIR. R. o. Shell
ton testified for the state. He said he