The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-02-08
STOP KNITTING AND
60 TO SHOOTING
NuRDERERs WILL THEN STAND A
BETTER SHOW
LAHTIAcQ'T'D: SlvILA CONvcrD
Jury Decide. That Cruel Killing Of lack
Ksngos - Amns Last June wsA
JusiinabIe Homicide.

The first case tried at the session OF
the circuit court this week was that Of
The People vs. Andrew Lahti charged
with sle murder OF Jack KaDgos at
Amasa last June. Tnis was likewise
the fret case handled by August j.
Waffen as prosecuting attorney and he
handled it well. his closing address TO
the jury being one Of the best efforts of
the kind that we have heard In the
court OF this county for long time.
Opposed TO Mr.. Waffen were Senator
Moriarty and Clarence Dwyer They
had hard case 10 handle and so ad-
mirably was 10 handled that many in
the audience felt before the case went
to the jury that none other than yer
dict Of acquittal could be brought in.
Briefly stated the PROSECUTORS 8 case
was that Kangos and q companion
named Olander were at the home OF
Lahti on the 3rd day OF June. Kangos
and bis companion had been at Crystal
Falls and secured liquor wilhelm that
city and brought goodly supply Of ID
with them to Amasa By the testi-
mony. the prosecutor established as q
motive for the crime jealousy on the
part OF Lahti In which Lahti's wife
was inferentislly brought In although
there was no testimony that any inn
proper relations had existed or claimed
70 exist. Some time previous 10 the
shooting the men were employed at
mailing sheet iron on the engine house
and Lahti had belittled Kangos ability
by telling him that IL takes brains
TO do the mailing of the iron on Lahti
was doing the brain work with Kangos
at the menlai labor end OF the job.
Kangos replied that he would make
l.ahti eat spikes for that. This Incl
Jent was set upon with great deal OF
khccent by the defense as a motive tor
Ihostility on the part OF Kangos against
Lahti and II was claimed that the sar
castic reply rankled IN the breast Of
Kangos and was the motive for an al
legged attack that Kangos made upon
Lahti at the time of the shooting.
But, to refer back to the prosecution ;
the men had been drinking, Lahti less
than the others because be had been
at work and after his work had gone
70 attend TO some potatoes that be had
planted. On his return from the pota-
10 field he found the two men at his
house and they lndulged in holman
drop refreshments when the incident
Of the ''spikes'' was brought up. The
prosecution witnesses claim that Lahti
deliberately walked into an adjoining
room with the remark, They don't
do that In this country. took down
mis- rifle that was suspended on hang
ers. threw shell into the barrel and
pointing IL at Kangos who was sitting.
rocking back and forth in a chair close
20 the outer wall. pulled the trigger
and me bullet passed through the
mans body IN diagonal course down
ward
The bullet entered the body slightly
urdsr the naval and lbs course. coupled
with the place where the bullet entered
she wall. was the subject OF great deal
Of controversy between the sides.
The defense story co.incided with
that Of the prosecution until 10 arrives
az the point where the quarrel hsgan.
They claimed that this ola 'grudge
about spikes and brains, that had been
rankling in Kangos breast was
brought mp and tnst quarrel ensued
In which K1ngos attacked Lanti. who
was sitting with small chila on his
hap; that Kangos kicked at Lahti.
striking the child In the melee that
70 defend himself Iahti picked mp
chair and held ID between himself and
Kangos 10 ward of the on coming
man that Lahtl backed away from
Kangoe, the latter following with the
chair between them that Lahti saw
Kangos pnt his hand into his pocket
and draw something which be thought
was q kn'd and that. the door OF the
adjoining room having been reached
hd the gun being handy, T.ahti reach
"a up. tooh II from ita hanaings and
shot Kangos as the latter was leaning
forward 70 strike him with the knife.
fhus accounting for the diagonal course
~ the bullet
Those two versions formed the frame
work Of the caso on either eide and a.
bout the position Of the men and the
place where the bullet entered Kangos'
body and the adjoinIug wall ragged the
conse-t