The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-02-21
MR.. WATSON PRAISED
His Arguments in the seeberIIe Murder
Tnal BROUGHT Compliment from Press

by our fellow townsman. Chas. II.
Watson. both during the conduct OF the
trial of the Eve men accused of the
Seebervilla murder and in his address
to the jury at the close OF the trial.
The following account OF Mr.. Wat
son 8 address is taken from the Calu-
met News and is In part as follows:
Charles a. Watson of Crystal rails,
associate counsel with w. ]. Galbraith
of Calumet in the defense of the five
deputies, charged with the murder OF
Steve Putrich. a striker. at Seeberville,
August IA. occupied the entire morn
ing session In the circuit court with
his closing argument on behalf of the
respondents
Mr.. Watson made thoughtful and
clear cut analysis of the evidence.
which had been reviewed in detail on
the previous day by his associate. His
address was forceful and eloquent and
was listened with close attention by
the twelve jurymen as well as by the
large audience.
The attorney for the defense first
asked the jury to attend to his review
OF the connection OF John Stimach
with the case. John Stimach. he
said, "took 30 prominent part in the
tragedy that he might almost he said
to occupy the position OF leading man
in the dramatis personae. he went
through the entire series Of transac-
tions. was present at the FIRST instant
and was the last 10 leave the story.
"John Stimach has been placed by
the prosecusion in modest position.
He has been described as the frighten-
ed. timid fellow. But his conduct has
been far different. At Quick's post
was he the frightened fellow tnereH He
said Quick threatened TO kill him and
Kollan If they went by. But they
went by. They say about five minutes
elapsed in this quarrel with Quick. yet
Stimsch says he was there quietly and
modestly and did not take part he
says that he and Kollan did not even
turn around But you will recall the
testimony of the boy, Anton Beis-
winger, who saw them turn around
and shake their fists at Quick.
"Under tine showing made by Quick.
you must decide on the probable action
of men who had drunk more beer than
was good tor any man to drink on an
empty stomach. II would be natural
for men in that condition to make the
threat Witnessed by the bov.
The respondents have taken the
stand in their own behalf. went on
the counsel for the defense "YOu
must treat their testimony oy the same
standards as you test other witnesses
mberIng also that the presumption
of innocense Is with them There
are differences in the language quoted
in their stories there are differences in
detail and / would not believe the
stories bore the earmarks of truth IL
this were not so. Defendant James
differs from the others in that he
thinks Cooper fired the first shot. He
is not fighting man and did not show
any particular fighting spirit in this
instance. But he saw Cooper hit with
club and he jumped TO his assistance.
Is it not possible that in that excite
ment he might not have heard shot
hred at the same instanceG"
Mr.. Watson directed somewhat
violent attack at Prosecuting Attorney
Lucas. implying that Mr.. Lucas was
making a more powerful effort TO con-
vict the "Waddell' men among the
five defendants than the local deputies,
polkinghorne ana James He referred
TO the prosecutors production of a
statement made by the men imme-
diately after the shooting. the next
day. The defendants had denied the
accuracy of the statemnet Mr.. Watson
asked "Why has not the prosecution
produced the man who took those
notesR"
He characterized Mr.. Lucas refer.
ence to "Waddell gunmen" In his
argument. as 81 iece of cheap iu-
situation. which showed the prose-
cutor's bias against three Of the de-
PENDANTS when the duty of the prose-
cution was to regard these men ia
the same lighl, whether they were
"waddell gunmen' or members of the
lY M O. A.
This Is not the case. of ANTHONY
Lucas, prosecuting attorney of Hough
ton county against Waddel gunmen.
he thundered ~ is the case Of the
people against live of their number.
MIR. Watson closed his argument at
l;30 o'clock after an example of for
ensIc oratory seldom equaIIed In the
Houghton county court house. he
drew beautiful picture Of liberty, OF