The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-05
ERNST TRIAL
NOW ON IN
C0URT

Aside from the regularly conStiiut-
ed court officials. the twelve jurors
secured last evening, the colorcd pris-
oner and his loyal little wife, Stand
ard reporter and perhaps a dozen col
ored men, friends OF the defendant,
few spectators were present in dis
trict court at 10 O'Clock this morning
when the case Of the State of Utah
against Clarnce Ernst. charged with
murder In the first degree, in killing
Charles Staples. on the night of May
18th last, was called. The jury con
sisting OF Thomas A. Reid Heber
Holmes, William Gale, Willard Kay,
Leon F. Browning. o. w. Badger,
Moroni Skeen. George J ReedeT. w s.
Flewelling. James NJ. Russell. c. II,
Martin and T. w Horn answered 10
roll call and the first scene In the sec.
Ond act of the tragic drama was on.
Ernst, the prisoner and defendant in
the case, occupied a seat Immediately
behind his counsel and. until court
was called to order, held an animated
conversation with mis- wife. pleasant
faced little colored woman who has
cheered and encouraged her husband
during almost eight months coniine-
ment in the county jail Ernst is a
Small-si1ed man. He was lidgety and
nervous during C1e session OF court
today and watched the proceedings
closely from beginning to end of the
irst days trial
Opening Statement.
in his opening address to the Jury.
District Attorney Harris said he
would make no extended statement AT
thiS time. but the State would prove
that the defendant. on me night OF
May 18th last, shot and mortaUy
wounded Clarence Stapies and that
the injured man was at once taken
10 the hospital, submitted to an opera.
ton and died short time later as
the result of gunshot wound innict-
ed by the defendant He added that
Ernst was the proprietor and manager
OF negro saloon and gambling house
on Lincoln avenue. near the intcrsec-
lion of Twenty-ffth street. and that
on The evening Aforesaid Staplcs en-.
tered the resort and. with other col
ored men, engaged in a game oil
Black Jack; that during the process
OF the game Staples engaged in an
alteration with the dealer. a colored 4
man named Giles, and chat the latter
grabbed the bank roll" and escnped
lhroueh rear door from the room.
that Staples followed Giles to the
street In an effort TO overtake him and
secure his money in possession of the
uealer' that later, Staples returned
10 Ernsts saloon and, while in front
oi that institution. an alteration oc.
CURED between Ernst and STAPLES.
ih9 tha' The former pulled a revolver.
"hlcn ne had secured from A cigar
'ase IN ms saloon-after Staples had
,ndsed Giles mp Twenty-nfth street
lnd shot Staples to death. Details
oi the shooting were gone into AZ
'onle length. but nothing of a startling
eledtionai ,,,l nature was brought out
,Acept the fact that the prisoner had
,no, staples and that the latter had
''e" from the effects of the wound.
The First Witness.
ne hrst witness called for tnc
- ~ was william l.. Hail. Young
oloreu man formerly In the emulov ~ {
Nv Fuliman company and al presep,
~, ~ 'a"s as waiter in the Louvre
arc a. Salt Lake. Hall admitted tbot
e was well acquainted win Sta.,i,' La Q
,rIn I'm ne knew as horsemap and =
81. ,,o.is TOUT at Saratoga. and said be .
as present In Ernst's gambIjnP. bor9, :
ueoIn avenue the night Of tbo
de detailed Incidents Of