The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-08
JURY SECURED TO
TRY STEVE ADAMS
Opening Statements Made and
Taking of Testimony
Begun.
HARD LEGAL FIGHT AHEAD
HILTON is CHIEF COUNSEL FOR
THE DEFENSE.

Grand Junction, Colo, July Twin
the Jury completed, nine of whom are
farmers. and only the opening state
ment OF the defense and prosecution.
made, taking of testimony began today
IN the trial of Steve Adams. accused
II assassinating Arthur Collins, mine
manager. during the. strike troubles in
Telluride several years ago.
District Judge Shackleford, sitting in
the case, granted the application of the
defense to have the state summon Ad-
ans witnesses. allowing 500 for the
purpose.
Opening Statement.
In his opening statement for the pros
ecution Congressman II. NJ. Hogg OF
Colorado said:
's'rhe shot that killed Collins was
fired from a shotgun loaded with buck
shot We will account for twelve of
these buckshot. Nobody was seen that
night. From that time until February
1906. the people were unable TO discov-
er who had fired the shot. The morn
ing after the shooting an empty shell
was picked up In front OF the Collins
home.
I'VE will have a witness to prove this,
hut we cannot produce the shell. The
man who had IL, a former sheriff, is
dead. and the shell has disappeared.
The next spring a man by the name
of Webb, whom we will produce. found
a shotgun hidden behind a clump Of
bushes i'm a gulch near Pandora. This
gun contained cartridges Of the same
gauge as the empty shell. loaded with
buckshot. This was the last known un-
III additional evidence was presented
by this defendant himself. l will
say
Hilton Objected.
we object. your honor" interrupt
ed Attorney Hilton, chief counsel for
the defense. Hilton then began an ar
gument as To the admissability of the
alleged confession. upon which docu-
ment the prosecution bases its entire
case.
The court overruled the objection in
so far as IL pertained to the opening
address
The defense filed objections as TO why
the confession should not be admitted.
principal among which was that II was
involuntary and had been secured with
a promise of favor and immunity. The
court withheld decision ON this point.
Second Objection.
The question of the admissiblity of
Adams alleged confession came up
at the afternoon session today, when
the prosecution attempted to question
Buckley Wells. former adjutant gen.
eral of Colorado. who was on the wit
ness stand. to it's contents.
Attorney Hilton. for the defense, OBJ
jected to any statement of the word
Ing on the ground that the document
was signed by Adams under threat and
promise of immunity from the prosecu-
ton. Attorney Hilton charged that
Buckley Wells. Detective James Me-
Partland and the sheriff of the county
in Idaho where Adams was confined in
jail awaiting trial. conspired to fright
en- Adams into placing his signature tC
the document. which purporIed TO be
voluntary confession of the murdei
Of Collins made by Adams.
Court Will Decide Today.
The matter was argued for severa
hours by attorneys for both sides. tho
prosecution denying the charges OF At
torney Hilton. and court adjourned un-
til tomorrow, when il was announced
decision would be rendered on the ques-
ton of admissiblity.
During the morning several witnesse.
were examined, for the purpose o.
showing the manner of Collins death
The shotgun alleged to have been USED
by the assassin was offered I'm evidence
and identified by witness who state,
that shells found in the vicinity of tn,
Collins home and shot taken from tn,
dead body of Collins were fired from
this gun or one similar TO it.