Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-29
STATES WITNESSES
ALMOST THROUGH
FEATURE OF TopAYs SESSION Is
EVIDENCE OF MRS. CLUTTER As
TO ACTIONS OF JuNkIN THE
NIGHT OF CRIME.
[BY e. G. DoUGHERTY]

Centervflle, May 28.-- Especially
The visit of John Junkin to the home
of Mrs Ray Clutter on the night oi
the brutal murder of Clara Rosen and
there displaying the diamond stolen
from his victim, furnished the most
interesting period of this morning's
session OF the murder trial. The de-
fendant was identified by three witt
nesses, Mrs. Anna Johnson, Mrs. Ed.
Mather and her son Charles as having
been seen near the spot where the
tragedy occurred, and his movements
later In the evening of February S,
were described by Mrs. Clutter. Off.
Ger Frank Harris testified to finding
the ring. Detective John W. Gray and
Sheriff w. B. Griffin told of searching
the attic of the Greasy Spoon res.
taurant on the night of February "a
and finding the jewelry of the dead
girl.
Just previous to adjournment al
noon II. G. Williams was called to the
stand, and during his examination
the admissibility of the confession
made by John Junkin in the Abba jail
came up. After the witness had Civ
en- brief statement, showing what
officials were connected with the Sc
curing of the confession, the state.
ment signed by Junkin was placed in
his hands as exhibit (O) and he was
asked If that was the sworn confess
sion of the defendant He answered
in the affirmative and County Attor
ney CornelPs request that it be made
part of the evidence, brought on the
objection of the defense. Attorney
Hunter objected to the confession on
the ground that 1t was incompetent, Ii,
relevant and immaterial, having peeu
secured under duress and by coercion
and upon promises and through fear
Judge Mitchell asked the court that
the arguments on the confession ba
made while the jury was not In court,
and his motion was sustained.
Court opened this afternoon with the
defense endeavoring to show through
the states Witnesses, Messrs. Gall.
lagher Williams, Griffin and Gray that
the statement was secured through
the avenues their objection was based
on.
The case thus far has been prac.
! tically devoid Of objection and while
both sides are endeavoring to hasten
the proceedings, indications now point
to the continuance of the trial until
next Tuesday. The arguments on the
confession will consume the greater
part of this afternoons session.
Roscoe Recalled.
The morning session opened with
states witness Walter N. Roscoe being
recalled by the defense in order that
the jury might be given another op.
| tu N hn ~ "a
Junkin's crime Attorney Hunter i'm
mediately began an exhaustive exami-
nation to bring out full description
of Miss Rosen's wounds, and the
marks Of torture on her body. The
injury to the skull was declared by
the witness to be fully two inches
long, and it could not have been In
flicted by the force of her fall to the
| sidewalk. Mr.. Roscoe stated that he
placed the rock, in evidence, to the
wound across Miss Rosen's eyes and
4 the marks on the face fitted into the
4 Jagged part of the rock. A new in
jury not brought out before came to
light when Witness Roscoe declared
that he found the lower lip OF the dead
! girl to have been cut through. The
witness was not further examined by
/ the state.
i Three Saw Negro.
Mrs. Anna Johnson, $50 Cara street
was the first witness called to testify
to seeing Junkin in the vicinity Of the
crime.
when saw the man." said Mrs
Johnson" he was lingering the front
part Of his coat. watched him as he
walked down Cara street with long
strides. The defendant looks very
much like the man saw. His move
ments while walking are the same
The defense waived cross examina
ton.
Mrs. Ed Mather and son, Charles
stated they saw negro near the cor
J ner of Cara and Jefferson stree.a
about 7:30, o'clock the night Of the
: crime. The man was going east or
J Cara, but when near the witnesses hs
J cut across Dutro's vacant lot to avoid
!, being recognized. Mrs. Mat1er be
i