The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-06-03

ial to the Pioneer.)-The prelim-
mary hearing in the case of the
state vs.. David Cochrane of Deer
River, who is charged with mur-
der in the first degree, in having
shot and killed Allan Whit, near
Writ postofice, was continued all
last week, and will probably be
brought to q close today.
George H. Spear, attorney for
the defendant, is leaving no stone
unturned to get at the bottom of
the case that will be made out by
the state, and County Attorney
Thwing is closely watching the
states interests.
Mrs. Whit, wife of the man
who was killed, and who is the
states principal witness, was on
the stand nearly the whole of last
week, and the woman was sub
jected to a heart breaking ex
animation on the part Of Attor
ney Spear, for the defendant.
In her direct testimony, on be-
half of the state, Mrs. Whit
stated that she was married to a.
man named Racine and lived in
Racine, Wis, prior to January,
1905, at which time, she claims,
the couple agreed on a separa-
tion, and shortly afterWard, ac-
cording to the witness own
story, she went to Abbotsford:
Wis, from Racine, where she
was working in hotel, and was
married by justice of the peace
to Allan Whit. She could not
remember the name of the
justice of the peace, said she and
Whit had not procured a mar
riage license, and further that
neither she or Racine, the man
whom she left, had applied for a
divorce prior to the alleged mar,
rage with Whit. According to
Mrs. Whit, the marriage 20
Whit was performed at 1 o'clock
in the morning, at Abbotsford,
and there were no witnesses
present at the ceremony, and no
one but'the contracting parties
and the justice (the name of
whom she could not remember)
ever knew absolutely that such a
marriage took place. It was
brought out at the hearing that
Racine, the woman's first hus.
band, secured a divorce from her
in January, 1907, charging adult.
cry.
The stories of the exact man
ner in which Whit met his death
differ very materially, as told by
Mrs. Whit for the state, and
David Cochrane and Fred Ander.
son, the latter two defendants.
AS the story is told by Mrs.
Whit (who is the states sole
witness who was present when
the tragedy was enacted), David
Cochrane, who is accused of hav-
ing fred the shot that killed
Whit, had been at the home of
Fred Anderson, near Writ post
Office, on the morning Of Whit s
DEATH, and that Anderson had
gone to Writ TO get his mail.
When the latter returned to his
home, he brought Mr.. and Mrs.
Whit with him and introduced
them to Cochrane, VINO was an
attorney in Deer River and who
had come out to bis claim, near
that Of Anderson, to stop for. a
week in hopes Of beneftting bis
health.
Soon after the arrival of And
erson and Mr.. and Mrs. Whit
it was decided to 60 out and dc
some hunting, and Cochrane,
Mr.. and Mrs. Whit left the
house and went short distance
down the road. 1t appears that
Whit and Anderson had been
drinking prior to coming te
IS Anderson's home, and that Whit
and Cochrane had some words
while on the road leaving the
house. Mrs. Whit swears tha
while the three were on the roaC
Cochrane (who had known Whit
but few hours, and had nt
grievance against him) levelet