Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-22
cLAUD WHISTLER FACES CHARGE
OF sLAYlNG. HIS NEIGH
BoR, FRANK OGDEN
CIRCUMsTANTIAL CASE
Young Farmer Is on Trial for His Life
and the Whole County Watches the
Developments With Much interest
Story Of the Tragedy and Theory Of
Prosecution.

Prosecution.
Bloomfield, March 21.-(Special)-
Great interest is being taken all over
Davis county in the trial Of the case
of the state against Claud Whistler,
charged with the murder of Frank Og-
den, which began before Judge Rob-
erts in the district court here today.
This afternoon the attorneys are Sc
curing a jury, which will take some
time, because of the feeling that is ev-
ident in all parts Of the county.
Story of the Case.
Claud Whistler is son of former
Justice Jacob Whistler of Fox River
township, Davis county. The family Is
spected in the county and this is also
true Of the Ogden family, of which
Frank Ogden. Whisler's alleged victim,
was. member. Young Whistler. VINO
is only about 81 years old, was mar
ried some two or three years ago and
lived with his wife on a farm owned
by his father, adjoining the Ogden
farm. The latter place was worked
by Frank Ogden and his two brothers,
the father being dead.
Prior to April 1, 1905, the date on
which Whistler is accused of murder
ing Ogden, the two men had had sew
eral quarrels regarding the correct
line of division between the two adj
Joining farms.
There was some feeling between the
al hy,% t,d n a.
lxelop intosa murder, and sometimes 1t
| seemed to die out entire H
be renewed Yhen Wdfsler and cnsSbr OH ut
the Ogdens, pafs.acG cGlarly Frank. would
meet and be drawn into discussion
of the line fence.
| On Saturday, April 1, 1905, Ogden
went to Moulton, where it is said he
purchased two or three quarts Of whis-
key, presumably for some farmer boys
living in the neighborhood. Just how
much he was under the influence of
liquor when the alleged crime IS
committed is matter of question an.
will play an important part in the trial
of Whistler.
Say Ogden Was Drunk.
AT any rate, Ogden returned from
Moulton in the early evening and met
Whistler on the road, hauling hay to
his barn. Ogden climbed up on the
load and rode with Whistler to the lat
ter's home. There, according to the
story told by Mrs. Whistler, they sta
bled the horses and later came into
the house for supper. During the
meal, it will be claimed, Ogden became
disorderly and threw eggs on the
floor, scattered the victuals over the
table, spilled his tea and in other
ways showed that he was intoxicated.
Mrs. Whistler claims he insulted her
and, when she and her husband at
tempted to induce him to return to his
home at bedtime he refused. He
even refused, she says, to sleep In the
bed she arranged for him. Finally.
the defense will claim, Whistler tried
to eject his unwelcome visitor from
the house but was unable to get him
farther from the rear porch, where,
it is claimed, Whistler shot Ogden
with revolver Whistler will claim
that the shooting was in self defense
and that Ogden would have injured
him.
| This is the story substantially as 1t
has been drawn out at the inquest and
since then, and the defense will at
tempt to clear Whistler Of the charge
OF murder in the first degree, employ
I ing the plea of self defense.
The Prosecutions Theory.
On the other hand, the prosecution
will have a moderately strong case
built upon circumstantial evidence.
/ The theory is that Ogden was shot by
Whistler while the two were in the
barn before supper, that Ogden never
entered the house at all, and that
| Whistler, after killing him, carried the
| body to the point where it was found,
lying on the ground about thirty feet
from the front door Of the house and
| fully twice that far from the rear
porch, where Whistler says the shoot
| ing occurred.
The Prosecutions Theory.
| Although County Attorney Goodson
is naturally somewhat reticent as to
the line he will follow in the prosecu-
tion, it is understood from other
sources that he will Introduce evil
] dence to show that belt strap from
4 the trousers worn by Ogden when he
was killed was found the next morn
4 ing, soaked in blood. in the chaff scat
tered about on the barn floor. 1t is
said also that Ogden's knife and to-
4 ibacco were found just outside the
door of the barn. The clothing worn
by the man when he WAS shot will play
\ an important part in the case also.
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