Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1912-04-18

There wss little objecting on the1
part of The attorneys either III ne
direct b e'rosas am int Hons e|
thought that the record u; Absolutely
eIrorless.
81 b. Kelly and assistants put I'M
i strong defense Tor the accused and
he was given 4 fair trial With the
facts before the Jury almost identis'
cal on each side. the defense WasE
forced to rely almost entirely On the
theory that the shot fred was acct.
dental This was especially emphasiz
ed III the magni if,cent plea that wa5l
made to the Jury Si1 Sroufe's hehalf|
by MI. Kelly at the close cf The trial.
The state had worked up snI al
most hoie-proof line of testimony III
was able to show that cIaNghlin
had never threatened Sroufe that
Mclaughlin had told sronfe Tint he
ought I'd lick him., but wouldn, T; that
I,aughlin had entered the liz tot
IN a cordial manner that evening and
the feeling between the two men
appeared to be friendly; that the as.
sauit was started by sroufe; that on
the fatal night he had never even
touched Sroufe during the alserca-
stion; that the revolver used was II
Shard acting one and that the theory
OF Its accidental discharge WAS not
plausible
sAs the Independent went to rresa;
last week, the evidence OF Jimmie
Mclaughlin, the murdered man's son
who was with him before and at the
time Of the tragedy, had Just concIud-
ed his testimony. The next witness
called was Miss Conway. d waitress:
who also saw the shooting. Her tes-5
,timony substantiated that given BY the
boy.
Ole Eide testified to hearing Nc
Laughlin tell sroufe that he ought
10 whip him but wouldn't This was
at the time OF the wrangle Iii front
OF the printing office Ii McHenry a
month previous to the shooting f:s
Sroufa was put on the stand Frs:sS
day forenoon and his testimony CON
itinued over to the afternoon session.
His story was substantially as fol-
lows
Parenss sef nd lOtta ausas.
born ii Iowa ]; 81 years old weigh
100; came to North Dakota 10 I years
ago; located at McHenry; most of.
time since spent on farms; run hotel
at Warwick and took u. g. n. hotel
at McHenry last year; worked for,
John Mclaughlin 10 years ago.
Mrs. Mclaughlin was employed at
hotel as cook and part OF the time
as waitress; Mclaughlin spoke to wife
about going to work on own sugges-s
ton; she did not stay nights at first;
went to jamestown February gath just,
before the trouble cf that evening.
Report had come to sroufe in Jan
uary that Mclaughlin had said hes
would get Beardsley and sroufe; Nc
=Laughlin had been aronud hotel eve 4,
ings peeking In windows; after Cole
brought rumor Of McLaughlin's state
ment, went at once up town at noon,
looking for him; stopped IN front of
printing oface and waited for him.,
told him OF rumor; Mclaughlin want
ed to know who said 1t; had words
and + showed him the revolver / had
taken up town with me.
on the day of the tragedy February.
"a, met Mclaughlin and his boy up
town about 4 In evening while was
out after meat for hotel; .saw them
next in dining room Mclaughlin
came from dining room to Office, paid
for supper and bought a cigar, which
he lighted then asked il / was run
ming q respectable hotel; told him /
was; cLaughlin said You're a
=- liar; called me other names i got
revolver from bar shelf and showed it
TO him; told Jack to getSout; he back
ed to front door; boy was pleading
with him to so home and tugging at
his coat; Jack had on fur coat; Jack
was not willing to go out; but got
|clear out OF the hotel and Jack had one
foot out; 4 tried to close door on him.
got II closed within a foot; then Jack
hit door a blow. knocking 1t open; 1
went back to bar and got piece Of
rubber hose, transferred gun to left
hand. came from behind bar and went
to fghting him; hit Jack with hose: he
warded blow with arm; do not think
IA bit his head stepped back to
strike him again; he was coming for
ward; do not know whether his fists
were closed I drew back to hit him
again and heard report from gun;
(Sra,1fa rhoyuod I,r,xr j, !, III ,ry3+t, +,sr,