Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-06-23

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that Nordahl was very nervous when
he came up to the scene of the fire
Monday. Noticed that Nordahrs
eyebrows and mustache were badly
singed. Saw scratches on Nordahrs
face. Might have been made by
finger nails On cross examination.
ne stated that they might have been
made in some other manner.
Mark Fallon-Stayed at Nordahl's
place and rode up with him to the
scene Of the fire Monday. Nordahl
appeared very nervous. Witness
noticed that defendants eye brows
and mustachc were sngcd. Also
observed scratches on face of de-
fendant.
Arthur Harding-Had a ranch near
Schleutc place. Was there after fire.
Saw tracks which led down to where
horse was hitched Found flesh
and bones in the ruins of the burned
cabin.
Wilmer Bart-Livcd near the
Schleutcrs and Nordahl Had fre-
quently talked to Nordahl about
Schleuters. Nordahl had told wit
ness that the Schleuters did not like
him; that he heard they were going
to have him arrested; that he wanted
to employ Martha Schleuter as his
cook that he had once playfully
grabbed Martha Schleutcr and almost
threw her to the floor. Witness as
sisted defendant butcher pig on
December 5th. Did not know whcth-
er or not Nordahl got any blood on
his overalls. Nordahl did not wear
any overshoes at that time Charles
J. Marshall and Tom Ayers testified
to having gone to the scene of the
tragedy few days after the inquest;
OF having found the remains Of dog
in the ruins; Of having had John
Lugo disinter the bodies which had
been buried shortly after the inquest.
Witnesses brought remains to Lew
istown and turned them over to
Sheriff Martin Received remains
from Marshall and Ayers. Had a
big tin box made in which the re-
mains were placed, after which the
box was sealed The box containing
the remains had been brought into
court and placed in front of the jury
prior to this time Wednesday morn.
ing this box was opened by Coroner
AttiX and the gruesomc exhibit, con
sistng Of the charred remains Of
two human beings, were placed on
Ia table in front of the jury.
Coroner Attix-Witness told OF
trip to the sceen of the tragedy last
winter. Together with others gath
cred there, had dug into the ruins
and found the remains of five bodies,
two Of adult females and three of
children. In cross examination, At
torney Beldcn asked witness if he
found any marks of violence on re-
mains. Coroner Attix replied that
he did not as they were too badly
burned to permit OF any such dis
covery.
Emil Starz-Witness a chemist re-
siding in Helena, Montana. Had
made an analysis of blood found on
certain clothing delivered into his
hands by Sheriff Martin. Found to
be blood Of a mammal Just what
sort of mammal it was, witness
was unable to determine exactly.
Blood corpuscles were smaller than
those of human being but this
might be accounted for by tho
shrinking of the corpuscles because
of the drying of the blood.
Juror Ornbaum asked DR.. Attix
if he had detached from Nordahl's
overshoe the hair which was found
attached by means of clot Of blood.
The doctor said that he had but that
he was unable to determine how long
the hair had been attached to the
overshoe.
Motion to Acquit Overruled.
This concluded the states case in
chief and the attorneys for the de-
fense made the usual motion to in
struct the jury to acquit the de-
fendant but this motion was pormpt-
ly overruled and Attorney Huntoon
took the floor to make the opening
statement for the defense
Continued on page 81