East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-11-11


on which to build up other theories
The one link missing in tn prose
cution's chain OF evidence Il he lack
Of a witness Of the death OF the
squaw or any direct evidence thai
the defendant is guilty OF the crime
The contention of Prosecutor John
son IL briefly as follows: That CO.
lumbia George quarreled with Ti-mot
on the morning OF Saturday July g.
1912. that he met her afterwards at
the Sam Bitner ranch east of PEN
dleton, rode with her to the river
where he again quarreled with her
and assaulted her with rocks or a
club. Leaving her for dead, he con-
tends. George either set about to re-
move the evidences of the crime from
his hands and clothing or engaged
himself in trying to catch the horse
Of his victim so that, returning to the
road riderless. II would not expose
him. Meanwhile, it is the contention
Ti-mot recovered from the assault
and. fearing another, waded the river
to the north side and intended max
ing a clrcuitous return 10 the Bitner
house. While thus engaged. il is
contendcd George discovered her try
ing to escape and. fearing to be ex-
posed for his assault, jumped on his
horse forced it through the brush,
crossed the river, overlook her and
struck her down with a rock, after
which he made his way up the river
and Joined his wife and the Van
Pelts in their pea picking.
The prosecutions witnesses have
testified that George was in the city
on the morning of that day. purchas-
ed bottle ol alcohol. was drinking
with Toy Toy and Andy Barnhart in
the Dupuis store, and left the city on
his gray horse some time after noon.
The testimony Of both sides has shown
that he met William Switzler, anoth-
| or Indian who was also mounted on
d white horse. and together they
made their way to the Bitner ranch
where they ate dinner. Three wit
nesses have testified TO Ti-mot riding
up to the house, Of being Joined by
George. and of the two riding off to-
gether in the pasture where the first
assault Is alleged To have been com
mitted
That Is as much as was seen. The
| body was found on the following day
| on the north side of the river Al
examination on the south side reveal.
| ed a bottle half filled with alcohol
signs of a struggle. a button attached
to a little piece of pink cloth and 9th.
er articles From the scene of the
| struggle moccasin tracks led to th'
yer edge. A clump of bushes indi
Gated that white horse had beer
| forced through them. Across tn,
river where the body was discover
ed. a bloody rock was found anC
shoe prints in the moist soil.
Later when Columbia George wa!
arrested. Sheriff Taylor found be
meath his bed pair of pink drawers
| similar in color and texture TO tn,
little piece of cloth attached to th'
button which had been found. Tn,
button corresponded to the others oil
The garment and the top button an,
little piece of cloth were missing
The shoes were stained with mark
like blood and similar marks wer
found on the big hat of the defend
ant.
Other witnesses have testified tina
Columbia Georges wife tried to brib
Toy Toy not TO tell of drinking will
George on the morning of the Grim
nor OF the fact that he had bottl
of alcohol
The Defense.
The defense. aside from trying I
prove an alibi set up several the
ories TO account for the death OF tt
mot and thus to exhonerate Colum
bia George. Witnesses have testifie
10 meeting George on the road abov
Pendleton at o'clock and Of having
met him again at pea patch abov
the Bitner place at five. None, how
ever. have shown where he was be
tween those hours. save the shor
time he was at the Bitner rancl
house. The defendant declares h
rode from the ranch back TO the roa'
and then up to the Chinese Garden
er's place where ne awaited tn
coming of his wife and Jennie Va
! tlA NtOl sc Nthi'S hhNlAS SNNb IL
mot AT all on that day.
other witnesses have testified tina
George was not drunk on that Satur
day and he himself has denied drink
. ing at all on that day. Three wit
resses for the defense have testifie
to seeing him mounted on his hors
at the Bitner ranch and turn towar
the road. His wife testified that tn
pink drawers of George had beel
discarded on July 4, two days hefor
the alleged Grim
Both the prosecution and the de
f,nse have made numerous attempt
to impeach witnesses and both hav
been successful in part.
Theories Ane Abandoned.
The first theory set up by the de
fense was that Ti-mot might hav
been kicked by a wild horse or null
in the pasture but the testimon
showed that there had been neither
white horse or white mule in the pas
ture for 4 week prior to her death
Then an attempt was made to cas-
suspicion upon Knute Iversen, for
mer employe of the Bitner ranch an
row convict In Walla Walla. bu
the prosecution produced nrn and h
-