Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-06
JURY HEARS STORY
OF AN EYEWITNESS
Jury Completed and Open
ing Statement Made by
Prosecuting Attorney,
Followed by Introduction
of Evidence by State.
Capital News Special Servtce.)

Emmett, Dec. 6.-w. ]. Shilling,
father of Mrs. Nick st. Clair, was the
principal witness today at the trial
of st. Clair on the charge of murder
in the first degree for the alleged kill
ing of his wife on Sept. 8.
JURY SWORN IN.
The jury was sworn last evening at
4:25 o'clock after the regular panel of
40 was exhausted and seven of the spe-
cial venire of is were examined. The
personnel of the jury is as follows: B.
B. Davis, Emmett, former druggist J.
B. Middleton. Emmett, farmer; Arthur
A. Richards, Emmett, fruit grower; A.
f. Pomeroy, Letha, dairyman; Frank ].
Edwards. Emmett, capitalist; K. Mich
OILS, Falk, farmer; John c. Jensen,
Pearl, farmer; Fred Baish, Emmett.
fruitgrower; Joseph 1. Guthrie, Emmett,
farmer; Boise Riggs ST., Emmett, farm
er; L. Dresser, Emmett. farmer; Louis
Obermeyer Emmett, farmer
OPENING STATEMENT.
]. P. Reed, prosecuting attorney of
Gem county, made the opening state
ment to the jury, declaring that the
state would show that ST. Clair mar
ried the wife he killed, in October 1912,
and from that time on the husband and
wife had frequent partings and recon-
citations up to the time of the tragedy,
and further that the state expected to
show that the defendant had developed
an intense hatred for his wife and
threatened to kill her.
He, announced the state would show a
child was born to them, a boy, now
aged three years, and that the last
separation occurred in Washington in
December 1915. After this st. Clair
threatened to come to Idaho and kill
his wife and father law II necessary
to get his child, it was stated.
Mr.. Reed told the jury that in August
1916 Mrs. st. Clair commenced suit for
divorce at Emmett and asked for abso-
ltue custody of the child. He then took
up the tragedy and told how on Sep
TENDER st. Clair had hired an auto
mobile at Boise to drive to Horseshoe
Bend in search of his wife and child,
and after long trip had met his wife
and baby boy and his father In law
on the road between Montour and
Sweet, drew the gun and stopped the
team, had 10-minute alteration with
his wife over the possession of the boy,
which Mrs. st. Clair had in her arms,
Anu upon nSr REFUSAL TO R1Ve UP the
child, the defendant shot his wife five
times.
ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE.
The prosecutor then told the jury how
st. Clair had attempted to prevent his
father-in-law from driving on, but how
he had whipped him off and drove with
his daughter to Sweet for medical aid.
He next informed the jury of st. Clair
attempt to escape, of his capture near
Payette, and of his making the state
ment In the presence of several wit
nesses that he was glad his wife had
fied.
PHYSICIAN ON STAND.
The case opened with testimony by
Or. M. Gadney of Sweet, in whose Of
fice Mrs. st. Clair died on the evening
of the tragedy, followed by Drs. Clark
and Reynolds of Emmett, all of whom
gave descriptions of the bullet wounds,
and testified that any of the three
which had entered the abdomen would
likely have proven fatal. Dr. Gadney
testified that Mrs. st. Clair, in his Of
tice, had said, MY husband shot me and
j am going to die" and Dr. Reynolds
testified he heard her say, II told you
my husband would kill me-" which
statement was made while there were
several in the room. The testimony of
the physicians was all to the effect