Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-06-29
HIS LIFE IN
The HANDS
OF COURT
ROSELAIR CASE ARGUED BE-
FORE SUPREME COURT TODAY
--STUNG BY THE WHIPS OF
REMoRSE HE AWAITS HIS
FATE.

Because his wife when he asked
her for some milk to moisten the
bread he was eating at his morning
meal became enraged and dashed
the contents Of the milk bowl at his
person, John d. Roselair, of Hills
boro, rushed at her with a huge
bread knife and stabbed her upon
the hands and neck. Surveying his
work for a moment he continued
the onslaught for the purpose, as he
says in his confession, of putting
her out of her misery" and the
knife was piled again and again
upon her defenseless person until
life ned, and she lay on the floor OF
their home a limp and lifeloss
moiety of humanity.
Then seemingly realizing the
enormity Of his diabolical crime he
knelt down in the pool that her life
blood had formed on the floor, and
taking her limp, dead body in his
arms, shrieked out to the winter
winds that played about the desolate
and lonely cabin they called their
home, his remorse. Then washing
up the blood from the floor and
throwing sheet over her dead body
he went TO the officers at Hillsboro
20 miles away, surrendered and con-
fessed
That is his story. Maybe It is
true and maybe 1t is not. There
were no witnesses to the grim trag-
edy in the hills on that January
morning and the woman is dead.
Were she living It may be that she
could tell different story, but
with her lips forever closed the
world will probably know but the
one story--that of the murderer.
unless It should be that the supreme
court to which he has appealed and
before whom his case was argued to.
day should affirm the lower court,
and he upon ascending the scaffold
TO pay the penalty for his crime
should tell different tale.
Ine same Ola story.
Roselalr was born in Holland,
June 2s, 1853. He was married
three times. The first wife died,
the second he divorced, and the
third he murdered. He married his |
third wife-Lizetta Roselair, In |
1908, and according to his confess
sion, II was the same old story that
has rolled down the ages from the
time OF Adam--it was the woman's
fault.
He met her through a man of tho
name of Charles and when he first
set eyes on her she, together with
several other women, were seated
around table seeking TO commune
with the spirits of the other world
They were dressed In costumes, and
according TO his confession. the wo-
man he was to take for a bride had
her face blaokened and was attired
in the costume Of negro, He made
arrangements TO call upon her that
evening and from then on their Wis
its became frequent and they con-
fessed love for each other She was
in hurry to become married, ho
says, but he wanted to take his
time. She persisted in her plead
ings, and finally one day he yielded,
and they walked over 10 jeweiry
store and he purchased her wedding
ring. The price OF that ring was
the prlneely sum OF SO. but he
tossed over 70 the jeweler a Ave
dollar gold piece and he accepted Il,
and then they were married.
Then Trouble Came.
His wife was a converted Jewess
he says, but she dld not take kindly
to the Christian religion, and over
this subject they Quarreled, Her
temper WIS violent, according to his
confession, and she cursed at him
and threw household articles at him
from time to time. She was large