The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-04
Alleged Wife.Murderer Is Now
Putting in His
Defense.
SEVERAL WITNESSES ARE
EXAMINED DURING DAY
Daughter Who Testified Against
Father Will Now Testify
for Him.

IhOmaS vance, alleged nS0rlde, De-
gan the introduction OF testimony in
District Judge Lewis g court Thursday
by which he hopes not only to save his
life but to go free.
The state completed the introduction
of testimony on direct examination
much sooner than expected and took
the defense slightly by surprise when
it rested Thursday without recalling
important witnesses examined at the
first trial. For instance. Lena Vance,
daughter of the prisoner and one of the
state's best witnesses at the original
herring, was not called, presumably for
the reason that she has made affidavit
that Amanda Vance Ward. her aunt,
told her she would go to Jail if she did
not testify Mt the first trial that Vance
kicked bcr mother, and III is likely that
the girl will be used by the defense
now to good advantage. This is the ex
pectation of the defense. ut least.
When the state announced that 1T
rested, A. J. Weber. chief counsel for
the defense, made a motion that the
in verdict of not guilty. This motion
was denied and the defense then began
TO put in its testimony. Mr.. Weber, in
support of his motion. said that the
state had not produced sufficient evl
dence to show that Mrs. Vance's death
was owing to blows or kicks or poison
ing.
Prosecution Closes.
The testimony of two witnesses com
plcted the states case on direct eH-
animation Thursday These witnesses
made an analysis of the dead woman IS
stomach, and j. Farley White, chief
deputy sheriff, who identified the dy-
ing woman IS statement, which was made
to Philo T. Farnsworth, then assistant
county attorney.
Mr.. Harms said that he had found
no traces Of mercurial poison IN the
woman's stomach, but explained, that
the evidences of such poison would pass
away within ten days. Mr.. Harms s
examination Of the stomach was made
almost two weeks after the poison is al
legged to have been administered
Mrs. Vance's dying statement charges
Vance with becoming angry because
Mrs. Vance filled his cup too full of
coffee and. with throwing the cup at
her Then, Mrs. Vance said in this
The next day Mrs. Vance charged In
this statement. she saw Vance drop q
tablet into glass of water from which |
she drank and became deathly sick,
Statement for Defense.
S. A. Maginnis made the opening
statement for the defense This state |
ment shows that the defense will at |
tempt to show that there is a strong |
probability that Mrs. Vance Is death re- |
suited from her own efforts to procure |
an abortion Mr.. Maginnis said that it !
will be shown that Vance did not kick I
his wife and that the discoloration of |
Al l. 4 - l. -.
kick really was scar or skin blemish |
of years standing. That the testimony |
of Mrs. Ward will be impeached. also |
was intimated by Mr.. Maginnis.
In support of the allegation that Mrs. |
Vance may have died by her own in
strumentation the defense introduced |
the deposition Of Mrs. f. l.. Fauckner
to the effect that she had heard Mrs. |
Vance say that she would kill herself |
Mrs Clara u. Richards testified that |
Mrs Ward told her after Mrs. Vance's |
death and Vance's arrest that "they |
have not got the right man in JAIL"
and s1that it was Mary Vance (mean-
ing Mrs A. B. Vance of Ogden) that !
gave my sister the medicine Annie |
Richards. stepdnughter- of Mrs. Rich |
ards. said that she had overheard part
of Mrs, Wards s conversation with hel
steomothcr.
Nephew on Stand.
George w Vance. nephew of the pris-
ouer, and first husband of Mrs. Ward,
said that he had heard Mrs. Vance say
that she would rather be dead than alive
and that if il WASH I for the children
.he would kill herself. Vance at first
was positive Thursday that Mrs, Vance |
had never told him that her husband !
had beaten her but when his testimony
at the first trial WAS read to him hc !
recalled that Mrs. Vance had told him
such.
Mrs. Clara Wunderlich said that Mrs !;
Cora RehpenDing was not at the Vance
home November 26. when Mrs. Vance
is alleged to have called for the police.
saving that her husband was killing her.
and Mrs. Wmnderlich says that Mrs. !
Rebpcnning gained all her information
as to this occurrence from others who !
were there.
The defense is expected to put Lena
Vance, the prisoner IS daughter. on the
stand soon. The daughter will be fol
lowed by witnesses. one or two of whom
have made affidavit that they would not
believe Mrs. Ward on oath