Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-03-11
STATE RESTS IN
GRUBER TRIAL
Witnesses Identify Prisoner asMan
Seen With Billings


alias Carlisle. for the MUIR
der Of John II. Billings, In the east.
ern outskirts OF this city on the Ath
Of last December, was continued In
the district court this morning. Dur
ing the day several witnesses have
been examined. among them being
four og the employees Of the Parker
Amusement company, with whom
also the accused murderer and the
murdered man. we're both employed,
The court room was filled through
out the day again. The prisoner con-
tinues his chewing 81 gum, which
has been a characteristic from the
first time that he entered the court
for the trial. He bears the same
Indifferent appearance and smiles
occasionally. as the testimony Is be-
ing given BY the Witnesses.
Harry T. Morton was the frst
witness or the day, He came from
Spokane and Is an employe OF the
Amusement company. He teatltied as
to seeing the defendant and Bill
ings together In Spokane just before
they came to this city on the day
that the murder occurred. Said that
no saw money in the possession OF
Billings and that the two men kept
close together before taking the
train. They showed friendly terms
and acted as though they were go
ing out for q vacation day.
Harry s. Harrison Of the same
company, was the second witness, and
testified In substance about the same
as Morton. Said that he saw the
two men together on the depot plat
form before taking the train and
that the man accused OF the crime
kept close to Billings all OF the
time.
T. q. Hodgson was then called to
the stand He Identified the prison
CT a. the man whom he had seen In
the vicinity of Fernan lake In com
pany with Billings, the murdered
man, and said that he was confident
that the prisoner was carrying a.
large heavy stick when seen. He
described the two men and their
general appearance and actions, Har-
old Fitzner was also called 10 the
stand and gave about the same tea-
timony ~ did Hodgson. In sub
stance their testimony was practl-
cally the same.
Mrs. Myrtle Hastings was the
next witness and proved a valuable
one for the state. She said that the
prisoner. identifying him, was the
man that came to her home and In
quired about the whereabouts of one
Harry George. She said that the ac-
cused man did all OF the talking and
seemed very much surprised In being
told that no such party resided in
that neighborhood rs the one asked
about.
Bert Warren. OF the Amusement
company. testified that he was ac-
quainted with the murdered man
and came to this city and Identified
him as being J. II. Billings. Said
that he knew Billings well and that
he was quiet sort Of = man and
we'll liked BY all Of the employees.
UndersheriR Harry Sawyer was
called to the stand and questioned
along the lines regarding the adj
missions that the prisoner had made
TO him regarding the killing OF Bill
lings, especially at one time when
there was to be hearing in the
probate court and the prisoner was
taken In the sheriff's once TO walt
for few minutes until ne was want
ed.
VIM. Goldbott, q pawnhroker OF
Spokane. identified a receipt No.
1858 for the watch pawned to him
on December 4th. the same day the
murder was committed. and which
was aftsrward identified as the prop
erty Of John H. Billings. Goldbati
Is the proprietor of the U. S. loan
once. 405 Main avenue. The receipt
shows that $3.50 at 3 per cent In
terest per month was obtained on
the watch. together with - cents
insurance on $3.50. the supposed val
ne of the watch. Except the con
Feasson aud the Identification OF GER