The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-04-05
Jury Completed in the Case Of
State VS.. Forest.
PRESENTATION or EVIDENCE
Testimony OF Eight Witnesses For
State Taken Yesterday--Two To
Come Today--oefense Based On
Theory OF Accidental Shooting.

The second day or the ADJOURNED Sos
sion OF the Circuit court opened at
$50 o'clock yesterday morning with
Judge Mcbride ON the bench and the
court officers and bar In attendance
and all making ready for the even, OF
the term. the trial OF Captain Charles
NJ. Forest. upon the charge OF murder.
The new venlre OF twelve jurors was
In court. and after being duly sworn
TO service, the work OF securing the
four needed jurors in the Forest case
was taken up and the following citt-
xens were selected In that behalf:
Messcrs; W, f, Cole. Q, Paulson, c,
Ryerson and p. T. Peterson. This Allied
the jury bank and the opening state
ment OF the case was made by Dis
trict Attorney G. p. Hedges and G. c.
Fulton; whereupon. the examination
OF witnesses ensued in order,
The case of the state rests upon the
testimony OF about ten direct witness
ses, eight OF whom were examined yes
terday, the other two being held until
this morning. TIE eight testifying
yesterday were DIR, j. A. Fulton, Chief
OF Police Charles Gammal, Coroner W,
C. \. Pohl, Chief Mate, Martin Peter
son. Of the schooner Annie larsen, Ma
thus Littre, sailor on the Larsen. Gus.
Gamble. tallyman for the Astoria Box
Company; Paul Penfrat and Jacob Pc
tersen, longshoreman engaged In load
ing the vessel at the time OF the trag-
edy.
The testimony, aside, from the Off
cial and professional evidence given by
DIR. Fulton and Chief Gammal and
Coroner Pohl, was very direct and ad-
hered closely TO the facts heretofore
published In these columns at the time
Of the unhappy event and since, and
which are genarally known to tho pub
lie of this city; covering the main facts
OF the time, place and character Of the
engagement; the friction between the
master and the man; the blows that
passed; the departure Of the man Geo,
Fisher from the schooner's deck toI
the dock alongside; the going to the
cabin by the captain; Of his return to
the quarter deck, armed. and OF his
firing at Fisher through the port miz
zen rigging. of the wounds inflicted
and Of Fishers subsequent death from
the same There was but little II any
variation in the testimony yielded yes
terday and that given before Coroner
Pohl at the inquest last December. The
state will probably close its presenta-
tion Of the case this morning. AMI viii
be followed by the introduction OF le-
fensive testimony which, 1t is now be-
lieved will be along the line of acciden-
tai shooting;
The court room was crowded to suf- |
location yesterday and Judge Mcbride |
deemed 1t expedient to call the atten-
tion Of the crowd to the weakness Of
the old structure and advise against a |
too great congestion of people at the |
southerly end Of the room 80 that II |
anything happened is should not oc-
cur without warning. Many shifted
their location in the room at this sug-
gestion and others departed rather
than face such a contingency; the an
nouncement was altogether timely and
will probably result in more care be-
Ing used. There was deep interest
throughout the trial yester-
day and this will increase with to-
days unfoldment of the story Of the
defense, which, In the hands of Sena-
tor Fulton and his able brother, viii
be intensely interesting. There is
wide and manifest sympathy for the
aged captain and for his wife and son
munity is plainly apparent all through
who are with him every moment Of
the time and the interest Of the COM
proceedings.
All Jurors not engaged on the case
1t bar, were excused from further SER
vice at the present term Of the court,
indw ent their several ways
The only other matter reaching the
attention of the court yesterday was
he case Of Lizzie Takala versus Matt
rakala, for divorce, went to the record
IN an order Of default and granting the
separation prayed for {
Adjournment was taken until 9:3O i
Jclock this morning.
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