The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-09-27
THE MURDER TRIAL.
A Pen Picture of the Defendant and
Full Proceedings of the Trial
Continued from page u

"A ESu ElCtuIS Vi Tic DclCIlodiit diiu
Full Proceedings of the Trial.
Continued from page u
Fred Rettinger continues his evil
dence Tuesday afternoon
When you started to town did
you put on your belt and revolver"
Yes, sir" Found that the hogs were
dying; went to three saloons to see
if l could find my father; told my
father at the barber shop that he
could get home with West; went
from Nelson's to get bicycle at
stock-yards; rode to town and went
to Spencer's to get shaved; left
wheel at picture gallery and went to
find my father; saw Bates first on the
corner as | went for bicycle; was not
in at my brother Nelson's before the
shooting; did not tell my father and
brother that | was going to shoot
Bates; was about Is or 20 feet from
Bates when | saw him; he came from
the meat market with bundle in his
left arm; was passing him, and just
as he passed | saw him move his right
arm; he had stopped and stood edge
ways TO me; was two or three feet
from him when | saw the motion OF
his right arm; was three or four feet
away when | shot him; did not have
revolver in my hand when met
Bates; drew revolver after had pass
ed him; kept my eye on him; did
he say anything to you before you
shot him?" Yes, sir" Saw Frank
Bates after | shot him; was several
feet away; did not fire two shots az
Bates; did not say, before firing at
Frank, "I'll get you" saw VIM. Bates
lying just off the sidewalk; Frank
was up and going in the restaurant
after ! took my eyes off from Bates;
followed Frank into restaurant; four
chambers were empty when | began
to reload; Plant called on me to
stop; did not warn him not to come
to me or l would shoot him; had
no other purpose in view than my
own protection when | shot Bates.
Redirect by Parker: Ellinger went
by my place two or three times fir
ing off revolver; saw Ellinger
waiting in field near where | was
blowing: had been told that he was
waiting for me; went home and got
my revolver. Went to Warsaw to
get work on an interurban railroad
because of the long trouble at home
from which / wanted to get away
James Berkeypile recalled: The
reputation of VIM. Bates was bad
B. W. Parks called to the stand
Said the reputation of Vim. Bates
was bad. Knew of six fights he had
had. Drank whiskey.
Daniel Lemler testified. Was &C
quainted with the general reputation
Of Bates; it was not the best. Cues
tion-"You may state to the jury
whether or not on the 18th day of
May last Fred Rettinger was a per-
son of unsound mind Ans.-"I
, don't consider him a person of real
sound mind" Cross-examined by
Mr.. Kellison and denied or qualified
certain alleged statements made to
Kellison touching defendants un
soundness of mind.
Homer. Reddick called: The rep
utation of VIM. Bates was bad. Be-
iieve Rettinger to be person of
unsound mind.
Cross questioned: Sold him Sc
of harness and Fred wanted some
changes made in the harness tina
were senseless. Related other in
stances which satisfied witness OF his
| unsoundness of mind.
F, Joseph Ray called Was present
at threshing at Frank Bates and
heard VIM. Bates say he would give
SIS and pay the fine of any one that
would whip Fred Rettinger Heard
some words of an attempt to be
made. on Fred Rettinger and told him
to get Up on his wagon; he did so
and Ellinger attempted to pull him
OF his wagon, and Fred drew his
revolver.
Fred Long called. Was acquainted
with VIM. Bates reputation for good
or bad, and call his reputation as
pretty bad. In my opinion Fred Ret
finger, on May 18th, was a person
of unsound mind.
| Wesley Rettinger on the stand
said that he had heard that Bates
said he had two or three men to
shoot and he expected it would cost
him blood and money.
He said the reputation of Bates
was bad, but on cross-examination
said he did not know who had said
that Bates wanted to shoot some one
and had never heard any one say
Bates was a dangerous man, he had
heard members of his own famil,
talk about it, but he could not give
the names of those who said the
the reputation of Bates was bad; bu
he heard that Bates had shot hi:
neighbors' hogs, heard that h,
knocked Frank Campbell down, pull
ed Lawyer Parks whiskers out ant
Esd fights with several other men
Never heard that Bates carried OF