Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-06
INSANITY WILL
Be THE PLEA OF
HERMAN J. ROSS|
Presence of Alienists in the
Court Room at Wallace
Indicates the Line of the
Defense.
Capital News Special service)

|
| Wallace, Oct. 6.-Good progress was
made today in the work of securing a
Jury for the trial of Herman j. Rossi
for the murder of Gabe Dahlquist.
The presence of several we'll known
alienists from Portland and Seattle is
generally accepted as indicating that
the Rossi defense will be temporary in
sanity. Taking of evidence will prob
ably begin Monday.
! More interest has been manifested
locally in the trial of Herman ]. Rossi,
charged with the murder Of Gabe Dahl
quist on juno 80, than any other MUIR
der trial in the history of Shoshone
county. This is due to the prominence
of both the dead man and his slayer
! That the selection of a jury will take
! several days is acknowledged by both
sides. Mr.. Rossi is said to have the
largest personal acquaintance of any
man in the Occur d Alenes. He came
here in the early sos. His father start
ed a real estate business which Her
man Rossi soon acquired. Eventually
the business became the largest of it's
kind in the Occur d'Alenes.
Mr.. Rossi also became interested in
mining. At present he is interested in
&c mining companies, either as presi-
dent or as director
| His acquaintanceship has extended
throughout the state. He has been aft
filiated with the Republican party for
years Several times he was selected
as chairman of the local central COM
mittee. He also headed many delega-
tons to state conventions. In 1912 he
led the fight at the Lewiston Republi-
can convention to instruct the dele
| cation to the national convention for
| Tart. In 1913 he was named a mem
! Der OF the state board of education
by Governor Haines. He was once
mayor of Wallace.
Mr.. Rossi took much interest in the
workings of the educational board He
| became president of the board in
March, 1915, holding this office until
retiring from the board in March this
year.
AS usual, Mr.. Rossi was named a
member of the Shoshone county dele
cation of the platform convention of his
! party in Boise last June. He took
very prominent part in its sessions
TRAGEDY IN HOTEL.
He returned to Wallace on the noon
train June 80. After spending a short
time at his office. he went to his resi-
| dence, which is one of the finest in
| Wallace. just what happened there
has never been made public.
Mr.. Rossi came up town In a very
excited condition. About o'clock he
entered the Samuels hotel. This is the
] leading hotel in the Occur d'Alenes.
| Dahlquist and two of his friends were
! lounging in one corner of the room
According to the testimony at the coro-
ners inquest, Rossi first hit Dahl
quist over the head with a gun. Dahl
quist got up. started to run away.
Rossi then fired two shots. He ordered
| Dahlquist to leave town. Dahlquist
| said he would. A woman standing
at the counter prevailed on Rossi not
| to shoot any more.
Rossi then went to former State Sen
ator Walter Hansens office. Dahlquist
was rushed to a hospital, Rossi was
arrested at Attorney Hansens Office
He was later released on $4,000 bail
Dahlquist died the next day. Rossi
was rc-arrested and released again on
$4,000 bail his bail being signed by
some of the most prominent men of
the Occur d'Alenes. After the coroner's
inquest he was arraigned, being ordered
to Jail without bond.
Gabe Dahlquist was one of the prom
inent men about town. BY profession
he was musician. While he seldom
made much money, he was always
prominent in crowds of we'll to- do
young men, He was said to be a
great friend of Mrs. Rossi.
MRS. ROSsI DISAPPEARED.
Mrs. Rossi, said to be the cause of
the killing, disappeared shortly after
the shooting. 1t is said that she has
gone to California.
Ross Is represented in court by
John P. Gray OF Occur d'Alene, one
Of the leading attorneys of north
Idaho former Senator Walter H. Han
sen, personal friend of long dura-
ton, and John Wourms. who is we'll
known throughout the state in Demo-
cratic political circles.
Prosecuting Attorney H. J. Hull was
a member of the last session of the
legislature from Kootenai county, He
was appointed to his present posi-
ton by the comfy commissioners to
succeed ]. Fl. Wixom, who was forced
to resign. He Is to be assisted by G.
II. Potts of Occur dAlene. formerly
prosecutor of that county and known
as the prosecutor who has never lost