The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-03-05
MILLER CLOSES
FOR THE STATE
Maintains That Sinkler's Ac.
cusations Are Without
Foundation.
MANY MURDERS
ARE UNAVENGED"
Because Of Nfonstrous Law OF "sea-
sonable Doubt Says .Attorncf Gen.
'eral-8cgins Analysis of Evidence
This Aftcrnooli-Charge late Today.

The final stage in the trial of Mat,
, Holum. alleged wife murderer, began
today when f. r. Sinkler, Holums at
torney, finished his plea to the jury,
and Attorney General Miller began the
final argument for the state.
The case will SO to the jury iatc
this afternoon after Judge kneeshaw
has delivered his charge.
In his argument today Mir. Sinkler
continued his analysis OF the evil
dence which has been introduced in
the trial. completing the links in the
chain which, he claims, shows that
Ilolum is innocent Of the charge
brought against him. He finished his
remarks with feryid appeal to the
jury to bring in a verdict of mot gull
). tN' as soon as possible.
y Attorney General Miller's opening
remarks were devoted to an effort ia
destroy the chain forged by Mr.. Sink
ier, and to cast ridicule on his attacks
on States Attorney Crimson.
States Theory Impossible.
In his remarks this morning Mr.,
Sinkler again took up the wounds on
Mrs. Holum's head. He declared that
II was impossible that they would have
been made by a hatchet in the manner
claimed by the state, and attempted
/ 10 demonstrate that if Mrs. Holum had
been Knocked down by the first blow
it would have been impossible for an
assailant to reach the other parts of
her head on which wounds were
found.
No Motive for Crime.
NO motive has been shown for the
crime. according, 70. MT. Sinkler. who
says that all Of the evidence introduc-
ed shows that for the last six months
Mr.. and Mrs. FIolum lived together
on terms OF the utmost friendliness
"Holums 8 whole demeanor, after flis
wife was injured, showed that he low
ed her." declared the attorney. "Re-
member the testimony of Matt Skrog-
stad, how Holum sat by the bedside of
his wife on the night Of her death, and
i. how finally, when the end came, and
he called Matt Skrogstad. the latter
found him standing beside the bed,
with the tears running down his face.
Think of him sitting by the side of
the dying woman all through the long
watches of the night. Could guilty
man have done that? Would he not
have seen hundred accusing fingers
pointing at him out of the darkness?
State Rakes He'll.
No, gentlemen, the state has raked
hell in the effort to- show that Matt
Ifolum had motive for killing his
wife, but has failed to find one.''
Taking up the stories of the wit
nesses who had told of trouble be-
tween the Holum's in past years, Mr..
Sinkler pointed out that there was no
evidence of any trouble since Christ
mas day, 1912, when Holum stopped
drinking.
Dramatic Conclusion.
Think of the long months Of inn
prisonment this man has suffered"
cried Mr.. Sinkler' in conclusion:
Think of how he has waited and
longed for this day, and of the
, anguish, and suffering he has UNDER
gone.
"All we ask is that you bring in a
verdict which will satisfy your con-
sciences towards yourselves and
towards your God, for this will mean
that you will declare Matt Holum to
be innocent of the terrible crime with
which he is charged.
s"only for Gods sake, gentlemen.