Valdez daily prospector. (Valdez, Alaska) 1905-1918, 1917-01-16

young man nad called TO see kanitz
claiming he had left a suit of clothes
and some money with the prisoner;
Kanitz at this time stated three Of
the trunks belonged to him; prisoner
was informed that IL the other trunks
belonged to other persons the Mar
shall would take charge of them and
owners could find them at court
house. Went to residence of Mrs.
Kanitz after trunks; she claimed
three in house; said he would take
the other three in clubhouse; she
then claimed them all; said had been
i'll last August. and expected to go to
states; trunks had been packed then
and never been unpacked; took all
six trunks to courthouse; three were
opened in presence of Janitor Flor
ence of courthouse, Guard VIM. Do
Ian and two attorneys E. E. Richie,
John Lyons and District Attorney
Spence. He took out articles and
called them off while the list was
kept by Mr.. Florence. Trunks were
all neatly and closely packed, show
ing no signs of haste; would take ex-
pert to get things taken out back in
trunks.
A. L. Florence was called and
testified as to his presence when
trunks were unpacked; took list of
articles therein; Mossman called out
the articles and he wrote them down !;
read list of articles; showed con-
tanned store bills and receipts dated
November and December; Receipt
for Frank Hudson for rent December
IA.
At this point prosecution rested
and the defendant was informed OF
his right to make a statement. His
attorneys asked until 10 o'clock this
morning to consider whether or not
prisoner would make statement.
Court then adjourned until 10 O'Clock
this morning.
On the opening of court this morn
ing the first witness for the Govern
ment was Frank Cavanaugh. He said
Ne came to Alaska in 1910, going
first to Nome, then to Fairbanks and
then to Valdez; arrived here 1914,
remained here for several months
and then went to Ellamar in 1915.
While in Valdez worked for P. S.
Hunt, the photographer. Was we'll
acquainted with Kanitz and was
around his place great deal. He
was asked if Kanitz ever made a
criminal proposition to him. Object
ed to by counsel for defense. Objec-
ton overruled. Witness said that in
the spring of 1915, in the barber
shop, Kanitz had asked him to go
into fire racket. Said Kanitz wanted
to get building insured and then des-
troy, but would not start fire in his
own place; fire would be started in
Exchange building and buildings
across the street. Did not want wit
ness to start fire, but If he (kanitZ)
was suspected and taken into Gus
,tody Cavanaugh was to disable fire
apparatus and then start another
fire to divert suspicion from kanltz;
refused to have anything to do with
the scheme; said Kanitz promised
him a good piece of money to go in
with him. On his return from Ella
mar in February, 1915, Kanitz had
twice renewed attempts to interest
witness in proposition; witness cut
him short and told Kanitz if he did
mot let up on that stuff he would
have to give it away. On cross ex-
animation denied that he had been
put out of Kanitz hotel for non-pay-
ment of rent.
7 H. B. Cooper was called by the
government; said he knew where
III. E. Ellis slept in the Ellis block
when his brother was here, but was
not certain which room he occu-
pied when in town at present.
Government closed it's case and
stated that as the testimony in the
other cases had already been put in
it would offer no more evidence.
Counsel for defense stated that if the
government dld not put in evidence
in the other cases it would give them
no opportunity to determine whether
or not to offer evidence in rebuttal.
The court held that in one case at
least no direct evidence had been in
ltroduced to show the building had
been destroyed.
The defendant waived statement in
case No. 41O, in which arson was
charged in respect to burning OF the
Postoffice building and had no evil
dence to submit