The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-16
RAPID-FIRE CROSS
EXAM. AT TRIAL
ATTORNEY BANGS FOR THE DE.
TENSE sTIRs COURT ROOM
WITH HIS FIREYATTAcK ON 81.
MON M'KENzIE, THE WITNESS
COURT TAKES RECESS.

The district court session this morn
ing was, by far the most interesting
since the opening of the state case
against Clyde Sperry, who is charged
with m~anslaughter in the first degree.
The courtrooms was filled to the doors
and the bailiffs experienced some diff
ficulty in handling the vast throng that
crowded the corridors awaiting a
chance to gain admittance to the court
chamber.
The session was opened by recalling
Simon Mckenzie, father of the de-
ceased boy, Kenneth Mckenzie, who
died Oct. "a, in a Fargo hospital, at
the result Of burns received on the
night of Oct. 16, 1909, to the witness
chair.
Attorney Bangs. chief counsel for
the defense, opened up on the witness
with a gruelling rapid-fire cross-ex-
animation. At times it was possible
to hear a pin drop, so intense was the
silence the large crowd in the chamber
maintained. The many spectators who
are attending the trial were spell
bound with the rapidness Of the ques-
tons fired by Attorney Bangs at the
witness.
Attorney Bangs opened by asking
Mckenzie if his son Kenneth and Clyde
Sperry were not childhood friends?
mo sir, they just merely recognized
each other, my boy knew Clyde was
Clyde Sperry and Clyde Sperry knew
my boy was Kenneth Mckenzie" re-
piled Mckenzie.
There was only a vacant lot be-
tween your residence and Sperry's
home, and you state that they only
knew each other as you state" asked
Attorney Bangs.
Yes sir"
when did Clyde sperry quit
SCHOOL,"
Il don't remember, but 1 knew he
had trouble at school,"
At this juncture Attorney Bangs
asked Mr.. Mckenzie to answer the
questions he was asked and nothing
more. His having trouble at school is
uncalled for and o just want to i'm
press the jury with the idea that he
was a troublesome youth at school,
didn't you?"
Mckenzie remained in silence for a
moment and then Attorney Bangs
moved that the court strike out the
answer, which the court sustained.
Nov, Mr.. Mckenzie, didn't you pre-
pare and hold a meeting with Sheriff
Johnson in the Office of your butcher
shop with Clyde Sperry?" asked At
torney Bangs.
YES sir"
Nov, isn't it a fact that you had
the sheriff present there for nothing
more than to scare Clyde with a fake
newspaper clipping" quizzed the tur-
istt
YES sir"
You made arrangements with Sher-
iff johnson to go out and bring Clyde
Sperry to your Office, didn't your"
Il guess l did" replied Mckenzie.
You know you did" snapped Bangs,
The rapidness and sharpness of the
questions and answers given, brought
smiles and ripples of laughter from
the spectators in the court room which
was Immediately hushed by the tap of
the judges gaveI.
eat this meeting, didn't you tell the
Sperry boy that you didn't want to
PASSSSSNC AiAAB bub you ulu tue Jew
boy meaning Summarized? asked
Bangs.
mo sir"
Didn't you threaten sperry if he
didn't tell such a story that you would
go down and get Summerfeld and use
him as a witness against him?'
EYES," was the only reply McKenzi,
made to this question.
what was your purpose in tellin.
Clyde sperry that?" asked Attorne!
Bangs.
Il refuse to answer that at thi
time" replied Mckenzie.
How long did you have Clyde il
your officer" asked Bangs.
About an hour and a half or tw,
hours" was the answer.
This procedure was maintaine
throughout the entire morning sessio,
and in several instances it is said, tn
testimony did not exactly gibe with tn
same testimony given at the Iul
trial in Lakota.
Recess Until Monday,
At noon Judge Charles A. Polloc
adjourned court until $3.50 Monda
morning. Attorney Bangs will retur
to his home in Grand Forks where /
will spend Sunday with his family.
is expected the jury in charge OF ii
bailiffs will attend the LaFoIlette meet
ing at the operahouse this afternoon