The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-05
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would prove him guilty Of the crime Of
wife-murder, the man who concealed
his feelings even when the attorney
for the state turned upon him, in the
course Of an eloquent address in out
lining the states case and declared
him to be "the brute responsible for
the death of Betsey Holum'', wept. with
bowed head, his form trembling from
convulsive sobs he did not attempt to
conceal.
Matt Holum could stand the accusa-
tons of neighbors and attorneys, the
gruesome evidence Of blood stained
garments, worn by his wife on that
fatal June day, could hear his family
aafirs exploited, perhaps warped in
their presentation by this or that wit
ness, II never wink al eye. But,
when the tide turned, when he heard
the voice of his lawyer, in stentorian
tones, declaring him innocent, painting
him as a man who had been wronged
and unjustly accused, when his home
life, the daily duties Of himself and
his wife, their pleasant relations with
friends and relatives, the homely, So
cial events of the neighborhood in
which they, participated together, were
related in a friendly manner, Holum
broke down. Matt Holum is a puzzle;
ask any student Of human nature, Of
facial expression, Of physiogomy and
they u say the same thing.
Reviews Details.
Atty. E. L. Sinkler for the defense
occupied the entire day with a review
Of the, testimony which has been j.
~troduced by the state. To his mind,
this testimony goes to prove the in
nocence of Holum, rather than his
guilt. 1t was an eloquent, earnest
plea. Mr. Sinkler states that he is
defending this man Holum because he
is confident that he is the creature Of
even though the evidence may seem
damaging. 81 have my whole heart
and soul in this case, forssI believe
Holum to be an innocent man." he
said in private yesterday. "Holum
himself has no fears of the outcome
he says he Is innocent and I believe
him. .-.
"Put Yourself There"
Gentlemen of the jury. said the
attorney, Il have no desire to with
hold or conceal n thing in conneo-
ton with this case. The states at
torneys have accused me of desiring,
by bitter, arrangement of this or that
witness and his testimony, to detract
your minds from the issues. This is
not the case; we want them all, the
1">IS, VIC ohl' YOU " nave lI1SIl
and l have no fears of the outcome"
As Defense Views It,. -..,
He outlined the scene of the trag-
edy, as the defense views it. Holum.
went after a load of straw on Fri
day morning, the day of the tragedy,
at about 10 o'clock. His wife, having
completed her daily duties. feeding
the calves, milking the COWS and do
ing he housework, had followed the
course of most women, namely, tidied
herself up. was combing her hair in
the kitchen when he left, as he drove
by the house. This is the story Holum
mas told, according to a number who
testified to- that effect.
Holum returns, drives his load Of
straw to the barn, unhitches the
horses and the animals pas in. It is
then that he discovers the form or
his wife on the barn floor, back Of
the horse, Barney. He rushes to her,
Betsy, Betsy and drags her
inanimate form back from the heels
Of the horse.
Then he rushes to a neighbours for
help and returning, lifts the form of
Holum in his arms. attempting to
carry her to the house. She is a heavy
woman, Holum a small man, and he
stumbles with her near the spot where
WY bAoou MAINS dIe1 HOL1ceQ on the
post. He let's her recline for a mo-
lnent, placing his bloody hand on the
post n making the marks the state
has based so much upon Again, he
picks UP the form of his wife and she
Is carried to the house, the physician
and neigEbors arrive, and everything
can be done to save her is done,
Holum helping al best he could.
Scores Gibson.
That the prosecution was the result
the Investigation conducted by
small minds, seeking 1otoriety, and
Coroner Gibson was the most re-
sponsille for it.. was the direct charge
OF the attorney in referring to the in
vcstigation following the tragedy.
He showed plats of the barn, the no.
sition supposed to have been occupied
by the horse Barney, as explained by
the state, and to the position Mrs,
Holum was supposed to have been
found, as Mrs. Johnson the day pre-
yious had stated. reclining on her side.
Blood Spots.
The defense contends that the won-
an. in q STOPPING posture as she drove
out one OF the calves which had gotten
loose, passed by the horse and that h
animal kicked her a glancing blow,
she fell, the horse continued Kicking
her and sfe&lay, perhaps for q timea
unconscious. That she placed her
hands to her head ard that g,e blood
oil lirs, siirt came there .as she DROP
ped them again to her side.
The blncd spots on the barn All the
south egid. through which IToIun1 is
claimed by the defense to have carried
her, are accounted for BY the state
ment that hs fell and her arms, hang
ing limp over his head and coyer,sd
With her oWn l~ife-blood. swurs up
ward 4 back, small spots of blood
being spatfered on the side OF the barn,
the W small pieces Of shale ana