The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-06-18
CASE IS
HARD FOUGHT
Helm Stands Trial For OF.
Tense Which May Garry
Death Penalty
tFrom Tuesdays Daily


Late yesterday afternoon the court
succeeded in completing the jury for
trial OF the Helm case and today the
court went at once into the trial,
Both the nature OF the charge and
the character Of the evidence reveal
ed in the former hearings show the
case TO be one OF the most sensational
ever brought into court here, and the
trial is accordingly being followed by
many spectators and listeners.
Under the law the crime OF rape,
with which the indictment charges
r. E. Helm, the defendant, is punish
able by penalties which range from
forms In the penitentiary to the death
sentence itself, and the trial on that
account is OF vita interest through
out. IL is being bitterly fought by
both sides and both sides are amply
prepared TO make the most OF the
fight. states Attorney Henry Bishop
Is being assisted by Gustavus and
jackson and County Attorney Hugh
Umphros, who conducted most Of tho
examining trial and took the orig
inal complaint, is voluntarily assist
ing the state Veale, Lakewood and
Underwood ere representing the de-
tense. lstM
Prosecuting Witness Tells Story.
On call OF the case this morning,
the prosecuting witness was the first
to take the stand. She is a pretty
woman, with clear complexion, rath-
err small features, light brown hair,
and bright eyes which this morning
often sparkled with tears. She 10
well proportional woman and the de-
tense established this morning that
her weight was about $50 pounds.
She was gowned today In the same
brown tailored suit, with hat and
veil to match, which she wore at
all her former appearances in court.
Under the guidance of the prose-
cution this morning she told with
tolerable directness but In n voice
that often faltered the story of the
crime. Helm had been boarding and
rooming at their house on johnson
street for a number OF months and
was often at the house when her
husband c. A Miller, was out on his
run as engineer on the Pecos Valley
lines. Helm, himself, is a fireman
and had been special friend of
her husbands. II was during the
absence OF Miller one day last April,
That Helm, according to the wit
ness's story, overpowered her,
choked her into semi-unconsclous
ness, and committed the crime, Mrs.
Miller's story this morning was
graphic in its dlstinotness in spite
OF her tears and hating vaice and It
plainly exerted powerful effect on
the jury and on the spectators.
Mrs. Miller Under Fire.
Mrs, Mlller's ordeal had Just begun
when she completed her direct testl- |
mony and for most OF the rest OF the
day she has been facing the man
she accuses and his attorneys and |
standing a raking fire OF questions.
u was plain from the first that the
defense would take up the character
OF the witness and. on the ground
OF attacking the credlblllty OF the
Judge Hazlewood, leading
Tor the defense, instituted line Of
questions regarding her life at her
old home in Slater, Mo. The state
frequently objected to these ques-
lions and at several points the de-
tense almost came in conflict with
the court In Its effort TO elicit state
menls concerning the relations OF
Mrs. Miller with people In Missouri
and in Chicago where she visited be-
lore coming to Amarillo.
Freeze Case Monday.
The Helm case will almost certain
y take up the remainder OF the week
ls there are numerous witnesses to
20 introduced by both sides.
Next Monday, according to an
iouncement made today the case
against Jack" Freeze for the killing
u "shady Bin" Warren last week
will be taken up, and a special We
ire of seventy-five men Is being
ummoned today for that trial.
BUCK WATSON BURIED.