The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-19
FIRST TESTIMONY
IN MURDER trial
Neighbor Testihes of Condi-
tions at the Scene of the
Wornan's Death.
STATE OUTLINES
PLAN OF ACTION
Will Seek 10 Show That liushan nd kill
ctj His Wife With Hatcl,et-Ased
Mother OF the Defendant. Weighed
will, Years. in Crowded Courtroom.


witt, Years. in Crowded Courtroom.
Tn" li!s; meshes of the net of cir
evidence by which the
state is attempting to show that Mat,
Holuna of Milton murdered his wife
on June 20. 1917. were woven in the.
district count in this city this mornine.
Tha, the evidence will be purely
circumstantial was indicated in the
opening address Of states Attorney
ir!nso., of Cavalier county. who gave
a detailed account 10 the jury of the
points which will he brought up by
the state in the case at the beginning
OF the morning session.
Ncigl.bor First Witness.
'" q. Mcbride. Il neighbor of Iiol-
um was the first witness. called. He
appears to have been called by Holum
after the tragedy. aud
was at the Holum farm during a great
part of the Two days following. His
testimony related mainly to the blood
marks found in the Holum barn. on
winch the prosecution appears 10
place much reliance.
Aged Mother in Court.
The aged mother IT the prisoner ap-
peared in court for the first time this
morning. She was supported to u
place near her son. and remained
there during the greater part OF the
morning session.
Many Women Throng Courtroom.
Many women were included in the
throng what packed the court room
almost TO suffocation. Many who de-
sired To hear the case were turned
away from the doors by the sheriff's
officers on account Of lack OF room.
The. jury having been completed
late Wednesday, afternoon, the session
this morning began witt, the opening
addreas OF State.s -ttsoraey tiritlH.,1.,
sWlh0 first read the complaintsfn the
case To the jury.
Tic stated that the prosecution ex-
pected to prove that on June 20, last.
H"lum called up one OF his neighbors
anu stated that his Wife had been
badly hurt ny kick from a vicious
horse. and that he mad carried her in
TO the house. and summoned doc
tor. They would also show he stated,
that the woman had died the follow
ing day. as the result of wounds on
the head. and that OH investigation a
number of stains of blood had been
found in various parts of the barn.
Violent Quarrels.
Testimony OF various neighbors of
Holum would alec be introduced ac-
cording to Mr.. Crimson. to show that
the couple had uuarrelled violently
the night before the crime. Or acci-
dent. occurred and that in fact their
entire life had been one continuous
series of Quarrels.
Holum had expressed wish to get
rid Of his wife, and had said that
death would probably be the only way.
to do this.
w. G. Mcbride, was then called a.
the first witness. He testified that he
lived about mile and half from the
Holum farm. and that on the after
noon Of June 20, he had been called
TO the telephone by Holuln.
Lying in Barn.
Holum had told him he stated. that
he had just returned from a trip aft
er some straw. and had found his
wife lying in the barn in a badly in
jured condition, as the result of the
kick Of u horse. He asked Mcbride to
notify Mrs. Holum's sister of the ac-
cident
Mcbride says that he did So. and
then fastened to the Holum farm. ar
irving there shortly before o'clock
in the afternoon. Holum met him
that his wife had had bad luck with
horse from which he had warned
her to keep away during his absence
He said that Holurn had stated that
on returning from his trip after the
load OF straw. he had found his wife
lying at the end Of the stall of the
horse in question. her feet being al
most underneath those Of the horse.
Awaited Doctor.
She appeared to be badly hurt.
Holum said, and he had carried her
into ha nd no
doctor. He had then he said. at
tempted to wash the blood. and dirt
from her face but had decided to de-
fer the operation until the coming Of
the doctor.
Mcbride then went into the house.
He found Mrs. Holum lying on
couch covered over with quilt. She
badly hurt. Her false teeth, which
Holum said he had found i'll the barn,
lay on a bureal nearby. They were
covered with dirt.
Mcbride says that he remained un.
til the doctor came, and helped him
to make the woman as comfortable
as possible. and then went home but
was summoned to the Holum farm
again the next day by Holum who
On this occasion the witness stated
that Holum showed him the stable.
and the exact spot in which he said
his wife had lain. He said that Hcl.
UNI also mentioned that he had left
his shirt in the barn after carrying
his wife to the house, but had given
no explanation Of why he had done
SO. beyond saying that he was cop-
excited at the time.
Scratch on Holum's Cheek.
ATCRrida alRo noticed ho mid -
scratch on Holum's cheek, but paid
no special attention to It at the time.
McBride's next visit to. the Holum
farm occurred Sunday morning. On
this occasion he says that he found
the states attorney. coroner ana OH.
ers present, :, and that thorough
search was made Of the barn. !.
Bloosl Fool on FS0oe. q
Blood marks were fOnnd. he stated.
ON the slate door near the south doOr
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