The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-12-26

him to do, anything with; it. He said
he was going to use it. didn't tell
him to throw it into Elm Creek.
\ did not say very much to him. He
was playing he was asleep. He said
some people were hunting there. He
said something about horse shoe
magnets. If he said anything about
la dip needle | don't remember it.
never heard of it. He was there Two
evenings. What he said on the stand
was not like he said at alb, couldn't
say exactly what he did say. We
talked some English and some Ger
man. / did not say anything to him
about more than one gun. ! did not
say 'fiinten', | always spoke the Eng
lish word gun.
!, Made More Deniais.
Witness denied that REIN had
come back in the morning to ask
about where the shells were buried.
He denied telling REIN to go to his
brothers place and get his fathers
old gun and bury it. 81 never said a
wGrd like that. 81 never said the
bullet in Stems body wouldn't fit
that gun.
Il do not know that ever had any
dealings with the John NJ. Smyth
CO. never received express at Wei.
come or mail. My father, G. Vir-
gems, used to get his mail at Wei
come" Shown the Welcome express
book witness said: 81 did not sign it.
| never sign my name C. Virgens.'
= Had Neighborly Dealings.
! Witness said he had business and
neighborly dealings with Steen dur.
Ting the past ten years and described
incidents. Said they would borrow
money from each other, as much as
500, without giving notes and every
thing was satisfactory. Said they
treated each other kindly and neigh.
borly always.
Virgens vehemently denied the ties.
timCny of Witness Bjorklund and his
daughter, Mrs. Bersaw. Said he
never had asy such conversation as
they described. 4
What Fred REIN said about what
l said Of John Steen, j never said a
word like that at. all. / had talk
about Fred REIN with Steen. Steen
told me one night he had caught
REIN on his place. He said he was
near the barn and he called at him
and he ran into the grove. told
Fred REIN about this and told him
he had better keep off other peoples
places at night. He said he wasn't
there at all. ] heard OF the motor.
cycle being stO;eu. asked Fred j!
,he stole it and he said he didn't
John Steen told ME about the motor
cycle being stolen Fred REIN made
threats against Steen, said he'd fix
Il came into the house one day in
him some time
stacking time in 1912, and the WON:
an was sitting on Fred Reim's lap"
Here Mr.. Allen ceased his direct
examination and gave notice that he
wished to recall the witness later.
! Witness Was Confused.
I Mr.. Dean conducted the cross-eX
animation and hurled questions at
| the witness in Volleys. Much Of the
time witness seemed confused. un
certain and evasive. Mr.. Dean was
relentless in his interrogatories and
Mr. Allen frequently objected, taking
exception to counsel's conduct and
methods of interrogating the witness
! Dean compelled the defendant tC
J review his trouble with Edhlung and
Rippel of which he claimed but slight
recollection. He claimed he could
not recall that Steen was a witness
against him. Witness admitted that
he and >Steen had not changed work
or had other dealings in 1912 but in
sisted they were friendly. He SAID
he had visited Stems house with his
wife once since they were married
a couple of years ago.
Why He Bought Revolver.
Asked for what purpose he got the
revolver he said: There were lots oil
people on my place at nights. They
poisoned my dogs. got it to keeI
them off my place nights. l didn't
get it to shoot anybody. 1 didn'
want to shoot anybody unless
had to-"
/ Witness was shown the evidence
the revolver gave of having beer
carried much, the enameling being
worn off. He denied that he carried
it when at >work or much at any
time. Said its appearance must be
\ due to the fact that he did MOI
take proper care of it. Said he die
not have it with him to the state fair
Fred was lying.
!: ut was in pretty good condition
when | last saw it. don't remember
what | wrapped around it when
buried it. Can't say where l wrapped
it to bury it,
Question: Wasn't it in your kitcll
en- and didn't your wife see you?
j, Answer: She did not.
}, Question: Didn't you oil this gun
the day before Stems murdera
!; Answer: | did not.