The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-27
LAWYERS spar
!. OVER TESTIMONY
IN h0LUM TRIAL
Defense Trys to Show In
consistencies in Sol
= berg's Evidence.
FARM BOY PLACED
ON STAND TODAY
sinkler Asks S:atc's Attorney For
Record of Conversation at lIolun,
Farm OH Saturday Night Following
Death OF Wonan-I'roccctls Slowly

Frequent wrangles between the op-
posing attorneys regarding the ques-
tions asked by f.. Il. Sinklcr, attor-
ney for the defense in his cross ex-
animation of George Solberg, witness
for the state. marked the morning
session Of the Matt Holum murder
trial in the district court today.
Mr.. Sinkler endeavOred to prove by
the transcript of the evidence given
by Solbcrg AT the coroners inquest
held shortly after Mrs. Holum's death
that his statements today regarding
q conversation which he held with
Holum on the Saturday morning fol-
lowing the tragedy were inconsistant
with his testimony at that time.
All of his questions along this line.
however. were objected to by the de-
fense, and the objections sustained by
Judge Kneeshaw.
Cattle in Bloody Stall.
The chief point elected from the
witness during the cross examination
was the fact that on the Saturday
morning following the tragedy he and
in the barn Of the Holum farm. These
cows while being milked occupied the
two south stalls in the stable. 1t was
In one of these stalls that the bloody
finger marks and drops Of blood on
the cell partition and manger were
SdNCl ulSCONCIcu.
Solberg, whose testimony began
late Thursday afternoon, continued to
occupy the stand during the greater
part of the morning session. On di-
rect examination he stated that he
had at various times heard loud talk
across the road from his farm and
supposed that Mr.. and Mrs. Holum
We're quarreling.
sinkler Cross Examines.
When cross examined by Attorney
Sinkler. Solberg stated that he did
Iiolum had hauled any straw to his
farm previous to the day on which
Mrs. Holum was injured, but that he
had never seen any straw hauled
He. said that he. had snot .4bsenM II at 1t
jury. having left his farm the. night
before, not returning till evening on
20 to tie Hoiam farm aSns; untti III satSrdsy ta ns
morning. "a
Holum Read Paper.
On Saturday he said that he went
to Holum's house. He found Holum
sitting in the kitchen reading a news
paper. Holum remarked that there
were several stories in the paper
about women being killed by horses.
iolum also told Solberg that when
barn. he had run to the fence to call
for help from the Solberg place. but
had seen that the house was closed
up and so had decided that no one
was at home.
The witness said that there had
and Holnm regarding the position Of
Mrs. Holum's body when Holum
found her. At this point Mr.. Sinkler
attempted to show an Inconsistency
IN his present testimony as compared
, with that given at the coroner's in
quest, but was overruled after a brisk
tilt with tho counsel for the state.
Solberg said that when he had as
sisted Holum in breaking the horse
Barney" two years ago he had con-
sldered him a gentle animal. He ad-
mitted. however, that on the Satur-
Hoium had showed him q mark on
the wall which he claimed had been
made by Barney,s hoofs.
Prisoner Makes Suggestions.
AZ this point Holum appeared to
take a great interest in the testimony
and made number Of whispered sue-
gestions to his counsel.
cross examined regarding the loud
talk which had been heard from the
Holum farm. Solberg said that he had
Deen able to hear only few words
at a time. and could not tell what the
actually seen the disputants
hoy Tcstities.
John Stewart, aged 16, who was
employed by Holum for a few days
anT,ms t.1,na I'll the 81, summer Of 1912, was then
Holum had left the place during a
rain storm one day during august Of
that year, as previously described b,.
Solberg. He said that Holum at tbs
time had expressed wish that his
wife would never come back
lie also testified that there had
been a dispute between Hoium and
MS Wife. OH at least one occasion
during his stay at the farm. The
quarrel took place he said in the Kit
chen. Holum was sitting in q chair
and smoking at the time, while Mrs.
Hoium was pursuing her household
tasks. The conversation. was in Nor
Wegian. according to the boy, and he
did not know what was said.
MRS. HOlum returned to the farm
the morning after her departure, ac-
cording to the boy, and resumed her
tasks as usual. 80: -
Sinkier Wants Record.
shorty before the noon adjourn
ment states Attorney Crimson was
recalled to the stand by Mr.. Sinkler.
and asked II he had in his possession
.ne steno9raphic record of what took
pace during the visit of the officials
70 the Holum farm on the Saturday
nlEht following the death OF Mrs
Holunl. "s
MIR. Crimson replied in the aa,rma.
tive, and Mr.. sinkler then asked to be
The states attorney said that he
could have one this afternoon.
Hinted at Murder,
Ihat fioium on one occasion said
that he hated to go home TO his wife
and. the ''the only way to get rid ~
her was to kill her." was the testi. m ~
inony Of John solbers. one Of IIoium:s
Ieighbors who was called a a wit
I ness for the state Thursday after.
noon. = ] 4
Holum made this remark accorA.
ing to Solberg. some four years sro.
The pair were in Milton at the time.
and SolberE admitted that Holmm
was under the influence Of liuuor.
The witness also told OF q conver..i
satioH which he had with Holum IN
u Milton during December. 1918, The
two had = few drinks together. ana
Holum raid. according to Soiberr.;
that he had been to LAngdon Is Tot
q divorces from hts wife. gsl :5ZH ss
continusd o. RaSas 4,