Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-05


the state will disclose that Mrs. Pratt
and Pers.ng, Pratt's hired man, enter
ed into a conspiracy to cause Josiah M.
Pratt's death. and succeeded The
crime was done secretly, in the sense
that the husband was not aware OF 1T
and that it was difficult of detection by
others. For that reason a poison was
used-arsenic, an inert, white powder.
almost tssteless and adapted to the
purpose. Pratt was a strong, healthy
man of about thirty-four years, mar
ried in northern Iowa and came to CAL
houn county five or six years ago, 10
eating near Yetter. In the fall or win
ter of 1904-05 VIM. Persing came to the
neighborhood and went to work for
Pratt. He was tall and athletic, young
er than Mrs. Pratt, and she became In
fatuated with him. We will show by
testimony that Persing and Mrs. Pratt
soon grew familiar in their actions to-
ward each other and their conduct was
marked continuous and fragrant UP to
the time of Pratt's death and Persing's
arrest 1'ersing would fondle defend
ant and she would fondle him in the
presence of neighbors. She would
place her head on his shoulder. He
would place his arm around he form,
and would place his hand on her
shoulder and on her chest:
would squeeze her hand, pinch her arm
and yulgarly pinch her hips: with no
objection but rather pleasure on the
part Of this defendant. She absolutely
forgot the proprieties of the relations
of husband and wife. These two sat
on the bed of the sick man when he
was not FULLY conscious and caressed
each other; and on the night Pratt lay
dying they were in the room and she
leaned her head against Persing and
they held each others hands; that she
shed no .ears at the bedside and that
soon after she left the room she was
found by one of the watchers lying on
bed in another bedroom, and Persing
was lying: on the same bed The next
day and The following day she went to
neighboring towns in company with
Persing, and was much in his company.
That she said after a drive to Auburn
that people might talk, but Will would
stay at the farm; that the children
liked him.
We wilt show by evidence that Mrs.
Pratt prepared, with Persing. the drink
that Pratt was to take during the night
time; that she and Persing were
in the kitchen alone when they pre-
pared that drink; that during sthe
night he complained Of extreme thirst
and burning in his throat; used ice to
cool it, and coughed and belched until
blood was seen on his teeth. That
Mrs. Pratt had purchased arsenic with
out anyone knowing 1t at the time and
stated afterwards that after preparing
part of it for poisoning mice she had
burnt up the rest. But Persing drove
her to town the day she bought the
arsenic and we will show that her state
ments are not true. Counsel referred
to the purchase of poison fly paper and
to the fact with which all our readers
are familiar, that the stomach of the
dead man was removed and sent to the
state chemist for examination. He
said the state would not ask convic-
ton on TIE mere fact that arsenic was
found in the stomach, but would rely
on other proof furnished by conditions
existing in the organs. He also re-
ferred to what he said were contradic-
tory statements by the defendant about
the possibility Of arsenic being found
in Pratts stomach, and said the gener-
al trend Of the evidence in the case
would show the defendant guilty of
the crime of murder.
Tho Defense.
Attorney j. M. Parsons made the an
swering statement for the defense. 1t
was not IA long one. He stated that
Mrs. Pratt was born in Duchess coun-
ty, New York about thirty-four years
ago, and moved to Iowa at the age Of
TO- She resided on farm taught
school in Dickinson county, and at the
age of 20 met Josiah NJ Pratt. They
were married in 1892, lived in Dickin-
son county four years and one child
was born there, girl now about 10
years old. They then moved to CAL
houn county and have since resided
here, where their second child was
born. They lived happily together and
were a peaceful, happy family. He
was troubled for fifteen or twenty
years with a stomach affection, and
He was of jovial disposition and the
family were on familiar terms with
each other, the hired help and the
neighbors Everyone called him Isl"
and her Jennie" The state. in its
opening statement has told you many
things, but it has not told you any
thirig that will not be explained by the
defense in a manner consistent with
the entire innocence of the defendant
of the crime charged. We admit that
Mrs. Pratt and Persing were seen on
the same bed after Mr. Prattss death,
but there were six persons in that room
at the same time and these two were
sitting on the bed with the little girl
between them, both trying to comfort
the child. Some of the things the
state has told you are true = partly.
and YOU know that truth half told Is
worse than a lte These matters will
all be explained in our defense. 1t Is
unfortunate this body was embalmed.
for after e.mbalming a body 1t is almost
impossible to detect arsenical pofson-
ing. Experts a generation ago would
swear that it was impossible for arsen-
ic to reach the stomach If it should be
in iected into the veins, but they VIII
not saw so now. After you hear all
the expert testimony you will not be
able to get around the fact that chang
es occur in scientific knowledge. and
that the conditions do not prove the
crime charged. / ask you not to make
ND YOUR r1inds on the stateplent of the