The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1910-11-29
THE WHITE JURY.

Damaging testimony against Walter
White, charged with the murder of
his day-old son, was given yesterday
by Dr. Casserly, who testified that
three months before the birth of the
child he was asked by White to per-
form an abortion on his wife, and that,
after the baby was born, White again
asked him if he would not destroy the
child This evidence was the most
discriminating that has been produced
by the state and gave a dramatic turn
to the case.
The trial has been followed with the
utmost interest. Beginning Friday
with the opening day, crowds, divided
almost equally between men and wom-
en-, have taxed the capacity of the
courtroom. All available seats were
occupied and many persons stood in
the aisles.
Consume Day Getting Jury.
The case was called Friday morning
and the work of securing jury was
begun. w. P. Baker, counsel for White,
had r. A. O'Hara entered as assist
ant counsel. All day Friday was con-
,sumed in the effort to get a jury, and
when court adjourned for the day the
jury was not complete. Peremptory
challenges were reached late in the
afternoon and of the 12 jurymen
locked up Friday night a number were
excused Saturday morning. A large
number of others were challenged for
cause, they being unwilling to con-
vict on circumstantial evidence, or
opposed to the infliction of capital
punishment.
County Attorney McCulloch made
the opening statement for the state
Saturday morning. 1t was full pres
,entation of the case of the prosecu-
tion. Concluding, Mr.. McCullOch stat
ed that the evidence, summed up,
showed that the defendant smothered
his own child and should receive the
full penalty of the law
y. White Demands Secrecy.
Marvin Warren, a son of J. A. War
ren, was the first witness for the state.
He testified that he worked for Walter
White at the latter's ranch on Camas
prairie in July when the White child
was born He was sent for the doc
tor, he said, when Mrs. White became
ill, and was admonished not to tell
anybody of his mission. Coming to
Hamilton, he summoned DR.. Casserly
and conveyed him to the White home.
Mrs. Likens, who attended Mrs. White
at the time of the child's birth, was
the next witness called. She said she
was called to attend Mrs. White and
the baby and arrived at the home be-
fore DR.. Casserly returned to Ham
ilton The baby, she said, was strong,
healthy and fully developed and gave
no Indication whatever of not living.
Pressed Chi!d's Head.
White, Mrs. Likens testified, hand
led the baby roughly, pressing it's head
hard with his fingers until she warn
ed him of the danger of pressing
.child's head, because of an open skull
in all new babies. No preparation in
the way of clothes, she testified, had
been made for the reception of the
baby. Two little knit undershirts
were the child's complete wardrobe,
Mrs. Likens stated, and the rest of it's
clothes she made herself by tearing
up strips of outing flannel found
about the house.
Mrs. Likens went home after assist
ing the mother, leaving the child well,
returning the following morning to
find the baby dead and preparations
under way for it's burial. She was
shocked, she said, to find this condi-
ton of affairs No grief was mani
tested by White, the witness asserted,
but on the contrary he acted as if
nothing of consequence had hap
pened.
Mrs. Likens, who is an aged lady,
was strong witness for the state.
Her knowledge of children, she testi-
fled, was gained in raising five of her