The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-30

DIR, T. s. Egge. prominently disclosed
its hand at the opening Of court this
morning, and 1t is general denial Of
the major part of the evidence submit
ted by the state, especially as TO the
defendant ever having been at or any
where In the vicinity of the scene Of
the killing of DR. Egge on the night in
question and that the person seen by
the several witnesses for the state and
alleged to be the defendant was not
Kethman.
Court opened promptly at 9 o'clock
and at no time during the morning ses-
sion was the room half full and not
more than a dozen ladies were pres
emit All eyes seem to be turned alter
nately from the defendant in the wit
ness chair to the jury, seemingly to
satisfy a curiosity as to the effect OF
Kethman's answers, Of mo, / was not"
or mo, 1t was not" to the questions
asked by Attorney Barnett or counsel
for the defense as he piled one inter-
rogation after another with the APP
parent intent of discrediting the array
Of testimony submitted by the state
"Call the defendant himself" rang
out from Mr.. Barnett's lips as soon as
the indiction to proceed came from
Judge Taylor Not during the trial
had the defendant looked SO well as
he did this morning. He appeared
with the fullest confidence and exnib-
tied not the least trace of nervousness.
After the preliminary questions and
interrogations which led up to what
the defendant had been doing after he
returned to Moorhead following the
Labor day proceedings in Fargo, the
night OF which the murder of DIR. Egge
occurred, Mr.. Barnett asked Keith
man if he was at the corner of Sixth
street and Second avenue south (the
scene sof the murder) at any time dur
ing the night of Sept. 6, last and the
answer was, "No, / was not"
Next the defendant was asked If ne
had been in the vicinity of the resi-
dence of A. J. Wright, or that Of Or.
#. S. Egge on the night in question.
The reply, with marked emphasis
was, mo sir, I was not"
The next question asked was whetn-
err the defendant was in front of John
Lambs barn on the night in question
and whether at any time during that
night did he remove any object from
any wagon which stood in front of
the Lamb barn that night.
The defendant replied, Il was not,
and did not"
Mr.. Barnett-Did you see DR.. Egge
after leaving Hollie Walters saloon on
the night in question?
The defendant did not
The defendant denied that he struck
DIR. Egge during the time they were in
the walters saloon. Also he stated
positively that he was never in the
vicinity of o. c. Beck's new house on
the night in question.
Next Mr.. Barnett asked Kethman IL
he struck DR.. Egge with any instru-
ment on the night in question and the
defendants answer was, mo, did not"
Had you any occasion to strike Dr.
Egge? asked Mr.. Barnett. 81 had not"
was Kethman's reply The defendant
also said with force that he had no
feeling whatever against DR.. Egge.
Tells Where He Went.
Mr.. Bennett then questioned the de-
PENDANT closely as to the quarrels he
had had with different men early in
the evening of Sept. S. Defendant said
he had differences with two painters
owing to remarks made about DR.
Egge's house. In reply to questions
the defendant explained the way he
went after leaving the saloon after
closing time, that it was along Front
street west to Fifth street where he
turned north short distance to rest
as his legs had given out that they
hi a
he tried to keep in the shade to avoid
being arrested as drunk by some po-
liceman he did not know.
Kethman Gross Examined.
The witness Kethmap was cross
examined by Attorney Smith of coun-
sci for the state and though very
searching the defendant maintained a
composure and nerve which occasion
ed general comment. Witness was
questioned as to the occurrences in the
saloon Many things he confessed he
could not remember He said 1t was
the first time he was down on the
he thought of the pocketbook. He
thought he was in The saloon about
two hours. He could not remember il
he had talked with DIR. Egge about
his filing saws and doing nothing else
at the time Of the building of the
Egge house. He said the row be-
tween witness and N. B.. Remley was
about the pocketbook. Attorney Smith
questioned witness closely as to his
doings on Front and Fifth street af-
ter leaving the saloon, but he main
tanned that ne was merely trying to
get quietly to his home.
why did you say, don't give the
doctor drink, when you met in the
saloon?'' asked Attorney Smith.
ut was a joke. and because / know
ed him. Kethman replied
Didn't Know Where Esse Lived
In answer to one question by At
torney Smith, Kethman said positively
that he did not know where DIR. Egge
lived on Sept s. He said further that
he had not been in the vicinity of
DIR. Egge's house for seven years He
was shown the badge and the enlarg
ed pictures of the badge disclosed in
exhibits, filed By the defense. The
witness displayed himself not very
well informed as to the kind of badge
ne had been wearing
At the close of the cross examina-
ton the witness was taken by Mr.. Nye
who first asked that the picture ex-
hibits Of the defense be shown to the
Jury and for them to inspect them
with the aid OF a magnifying glass.
The request was granted.
Showing the badge to the defendant.
Mr.. Nve asked him If the badge he
wore on Labor day was ever in that
condition and the witness answered,
mo- He further said that 1t did not