The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-09-14
Wife SLAYER HELD FOR
TRIAL
Preliminary Hearing Results in
Nick st. Clair Being Held
for Murder.

Nick st. Clair must answer for tn
murder of his wife at the next term O
the district court, which will be hel,
next month in this city. That wa
the verdict at the conclusion of tn,
preliminary hearing yesterday before
Judge D. NJ. Stokesbery. He wa!
committed to the Canyon county jai
without BAIL The state was repre-
sented by Prosecuting Attorney ]. P
Reed, assisted by Judge Vadney,- anC
Wood, Driscoll G. Wood appeared fol
the prisoner.
The first witness was Dr. Emman-
uel Vadney of Sweet, who testified
that the victim of the tragedy was
brought to his office at 11:3O Friday
morning, suffering with six wounds
three in the left side above the
hip, two in the knees of the left leg
and one in the chin. He believed
two of the wounds in the body were
made by one shot. Assisted by DR..
Reynolds and Clark an operation was
performed at 4 in the afternoon. The
woman died at $50.
Mr.. Skillings, father of Mrs. St.
Clair. told the story of the tragedy.
He said he was driving a team hitch
ed to wagon the morning of the
tragedy. With him were Mrs. st.
Clair and her baby, nearly 4 years
old. Nick st. Clair met them in an
auto, jumped out with gun in hand
and ordered them to stop, catching
hold of the horses bits at the same
time. He wanted to know if she Mrs.
st. Clair) was going to give him the
baby. He asked St. Clair to let the
law decide who should have the child
He refused, and jumped on the wagon
wheel to get the baby. He then step
ped off wagon wheel, drew his gun,
and stepping on wagon wheel again,
held gun close to his wife and COM
menced shooting. Emptied gun.
Skillings then whipped horses and
started off at rapid pace. st. Clair
ran alongside wagon in an attempt
to stop horses. 81 struck him with
the whip several times and he finally
stopped. l went up raise (hill and
saw st. Clair running down road.
ran horses two miles to Sweet. Called /
doctor Carried Mrs. st. Clair to his /
office. During the trouble Mr.. Beach,
stage driver between Montour and
Ola, came upon scene. Skillings call
ed upon him to stop, which he did.
On cross questioning, Mr.. Skillings
stated that his daughter and st. Clair
had known each other five years; were
married in Salt Lakefour years ago
in October. St. Clair had contract on
Idaho Northern; camped on Skillings'
place: resided in Salt Lake until the
next June She left him the following
spring. He came to Montour. They
went to Boise and ne worked on In
railroad construction
work. Lived on homestead near Mon
tour after leaving Boise. Separated
Difficulty over child since
July, 1915. Child put in Children's
Home in Boise and kept there until
when they made up. He !
would not support her; choked and 4
beat her. Didn't stop team until St.
Clair grabbed horses. He wanted q
'aby. Was very angry. Shot without Il
no threats. When he asked y
or baby, Mrs. st. Clair replied, Il .
would rather see baby dead first" 'I'll u
axe it anyway" he said. Used whip u
n him for first time when he tried *
o stop horses after shooting. He u
eld gun close to Mrs. st. Clair; her :"
lothes were burned by powder. u
A. w. Beach, stage driver, testified
hat st. Clair shot four times while al
tanding on wagon wheel, jumped off, to
hen got on again and shot two times sf
lore. be
Ray Ramsay, of Boise, who drove N'
t, Clair in car from Boise, stated that
ley left Boise at $3.50 Friday morn
Ig and drove eight miles above
orseshoe Bend. st. Clair said ne 81
as going to see baby. Then went TO pa
ome of Harry Roth's, eight miles su
lst of Sweet. Asked for baby. Was er
Id it had not been there for two to
eeks. Went to house of friend nc
Id stayed about As minutes. When he no
ct the wagon he shouted, III you
mt stop I'll kill you BOTH" WI
Harry Roth, told of ST. Clair's Wis pls
to his place. He asked for baby, res
d when told it wasn't there doubted
. statement and asked to see the ma
'th baby. Request granted. Mrs. FIR
'th is sister of the dead woman. Ia
Earl Venable, editor of the Payette Wi
lterprise, told of his interview with ro,