The Detroit times., 1915-04-24


bands. was led from the stand.
The prosecution then rested. and
Gagnier was called 20 the stand In
h,s own defense. he was nrst ask
cd about the statement he had Civ
en- the prosecutor. following his ar
rect and which was read into the
records by the prosecution
81 have nothing to add or take
from the statement" said Cashier
1T IL correct In every respect"
The kid was Just nig-nasgins me
all the time TO 90. and I don't know
what the devil made me take her
I Just didn't happen TO think what
was doing"
This was the explanation given by
Willard Gagnier. last February. 20
Assistant Prosecutor VOORHEES,. when
he was asked why he had taken
Elsie 10 Toronto. Ont
The explanation and other state
ments were read, Friday morning. 10
the Jury.
The Gagnier statement plays .
strange part In the trial. Both the
prosecution and defense rely upon
Il. In a great measure, TO suostan-
tIate their contentious. II was read
10 the jury by Walter Kreinerins.
stenographer in the prosecutors Of
Ace, who took the notes.
In IL Gagnier barred his life. from
the days OF his childhood He adj
miued he had been arrested when
be was a boy. for stealing another
lads bicycle, and that later he had
served a term In the Mansfield. o.
retormatory
He was asked by Mr.. VOORHEES,
whether his relstivss In Canada.
whom he visited with Elsie. did not
inquire about the identity OF the girl
His answer was:
NO. they didn't ask me anything
they knew l was IN trouble years
ago, with this other woman. so l
guess they thought II was my girl.
what did Elsie eal you was
another question.
-wIn or BILL" was Gagnier's an
sver
According 70 the statement. Gag
nier did not think for a moment
that be was guilty OF any crime.
when he took the child away. he
did not worry about what her par
ents might think until shortly oe-
fore his arrest Then he happened
to remember that she should have
been al school. He vigorously de-
MED that he had harmed the child
In any way, and closed his interviev
by saying thar he wanted TO make
the statement so that the people
would know he had done nothing
wrong
Several sharp Tits occurred In Fri
day mornings session The rrst
came when Deputy Sheriff Joseph Pr
larski. who brought Gagnier and the
girl from Toronto. was on the stand
Speaking in the vernacular OF
sleuths. Pilarski testified that Gag
nier sat with him on the way back.
and was -cuffed-
why do you say thac-cufed- =
shouted Attorney James A Robson
counsel for Gagnier. Are you proud
OF the fact that you had man cufrec
to your
Pflarski said II didn't instill Q
feeling Of great pride In his breast
to be manacied 10 prisoner. Judge
Van Zfle then suggested that the
cross-examination proceed. The
deputy sheriff was asked whether
Gagnier had a ticket TO Detroit.
when he was arrested
yea said Pilarski. he had Q
seeond-ciass ticket took II away.
got back the money for n. and
bought nrst-ciass passage. I gave
him back tho. IS he paid for IL" :
Didn't you realize" asked Robt
son. that you deprived this boy Of
q valuable piece Of evidence when
you returned that ticket"
Il didn't happen 20 think Of Il az
the time said Pflarskt
The oficer told OF q conversation
with his prisoner. In which Gagnier
admitted that he had erred In taking
the girl away. without permission OF
her parents. Cagnier frequently
asked about the penalty for con-
victed kidnapers. said PilaSkL