The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-04-04
TELL STORY OF
STRANGE KILLING
EYEw1TNEssBs TESTIFY TO THE
SHOOTING OF PRIVATE
GERKN.
(From Thursday Advertiser)


John Floyd, private in the First In.
fantry, stationed at Schofeld Barracks,
aud star witness for the prosecution,
took the stand yesterday morning aud
vivdly described the events leading up
to and the shooting of Henry Gerkin
on the night of December s, for which
| William Hageman is held responsible,
and is now on trial for his life in the
United States district court.
Beginning with the events transpir-
ing earlier in the day, Floyd wound
graphic tale about the two principals,
down to the time when Gerkin lay
] gasping in the middle of the dimly
! lighted, dusty road with blood stream
ing from three mortal wounds.
According to Floyd's testimony, and
that of several other men who follow
| ed him on the stand, there had been no
! trouble between the two men at the
barracks, and both always seemed to
| be the best of friends. The shooting
came as a thunderbot out of clear
| sky, and for time rendered the on
lockers incapable of action.
| My tent was next to the one occu-
| pied by Hageman and Gerkin and had
a very good chance to see and hear
what took place around it, stated
Floyd.
Story of Eyewitness.
"Shortly after two O'Clock on the
afternoon of December 8, l was sitting
in the doorway of my tent and heard
Gerkin, who had just entered his tent,
tell Hageman that he had the $2OS5
he owed him and that he better get up
and put it in his locker. Hageman,
who was evidently lying down, told
Gerkin not to bother him, but to put
it into his own locker This Gerkin
did and then left the tent. He had not
been gone more than few minutes
| when Hageman came out and walked
down the company street in the oppo-
site direction to that taken by Gerkin.
90 In the meantime, Gerkin came back
and re-entered the tent and after few
minutes came out again. Hageman by
this time had returned and the two
met. Gerkin accused Hageman of hav-
ing taken the money. This Hageman
denied, but on being accused the sec
ond time, admitted he had. Gerkin
then said that he only put $40 in the
locker and was keeping the other $40
to gamble with. While they were talk
ing, several other men came up and
they all went into the tent. ! also
went IN with them.
Several bottles of beer were opened
and after drinking several glasses, Ger
KIN wanted to start crap game. No
one would play with him but Hage-
man. GerRin told Hageman that he
, would not play with him because he
was a friend of his. This little meet
, ing ended in fight and we all left
) the tent. Gerkin went for more beer
and I for a walk.
81 met Gerkin later with a bottle
of beer under him arm and we walked
, up the street together. We were join
ed by several other soldiers. When
9 we reached the entrance of nv tent 7
: turned away. A footstep on the gravel
/, behind me attracted my attention and
= as | turned, / saw Hageman pull re-
: volver from his pocket and fire the
n three shots from his hip. then called
f to the officer of the day and Joined the
:. crowd that gathered.
). ''Got Me This Time
/ Paul C. Evans, another private, was
: next called to the stand and went into
detail as to Gerkin s death.
d ''When the shooting took place, -
+ said Evans, 81 was walking along the
f company street with Gerkin on my arm.
/ Hageman loomed up in front of us from
e somewhere in the darkness, and after
e firing the three shots, calmly walked
l. away
It "When Gerkin fell, dropped to my
|, knees and held his head on my arm
r In husky voice he said to me-
He's got me dead to rights this
r. time'
" "By this time the ambulance arrived
e and GerSin was taken to the hospital. u
r Sergeant Luden, who arrested Hage
,r man was the next witness, and testi
o fed that when he entered Hageman 4
d tent, he was lying on the bed appar
IT emily asleep. When told he was under
% arrest, he got up and while putting OF
a his shoes said,
els the - dead"
Other witnesses were Sergeant Sleyes
- William Young, Jesse M. Young anC
I; William T.. Hayes. The testimony o.
j all these men differed hut little To thai