Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-11-08
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Is NOW ON TRIAL
Jury Has Been Secured And Witness.
es Are Being Examined i'm
In The Court At Logan

The trial of Attorney General ii.
M. Havner on the charge of oppres-
sion in office in connection with the
testimony of Mrs. Alice Willard a
witness before the grand jury at Red
Oak in the Villisca ax-murjer probe
began in the district court at Logan
yesterday. A jury had been empan-
eled, the opening statements of at
torneys made and one witness had
testified when court adjourned We'd
nesday night.
Nine farmers, one railroad man,
one painter and one bridge builder
will sit in the jury box and hear Mr..
Havner's case. But one of the twelve
men selected had formed an opinion
on the case, and he said he could
set his view aside before the evil
dence. Twenty veniremen were ex-
l.amined by the attorneys. Six of
these fell before pre-emptory chal-
ienges and two were excused for
cause.
After the jury for the case had
been sworn by Clerk Irwin, Judge
| Cullison excused the rest OF the
panel until Friday morning. How
ever. it is net expected that the trial
will be over by that time. The ctatc
will have but few witnesses accord
ing to Attorney Genung, but it is
understood that the defense will use
something like fifteen persons to
| furnish its testimony.
Opening Statements Made
Attorney Genung for the state in
his opening statement outlined to the
iury what he and his associate,
County Attorney Wenstrand, would
attempt to prove through their wit
nesses.
Evidence will show, according to
the attorney, that Att. General Hav-
ner told Mrs. willard that unless
she went back before the grand jury
which was investigating the Villisca
ax-murder and retract certain evil
dence she had given she would be
prosecuted for prejury, and reminded
her that perjury was a penitentiary
offense.
The incidents leading up to and
Immediately following the alleged
grilling which is said to have taken
place April 6, as we'll as what oc-
and Mrs. willard, will be shown tC
|
witnesses would swear, he said. that
Mrs. willard was called to Red OAK
nv a subpoena on this day, after she
had testified before the grand jury
six times, and that the attorney gen
eral had given orders to Sheriff Boil
/, Dunn to meet the woman at the de
not when she landed from Villiscf
and bring her before him without
letting her get in touch with an!
other person.
1t will be proven also, according
to the statement of Mr.. Genung, tina
after Sheriff Dunn had missed Mrs
willard at the train, he found he
, at the Johnson house and forcibl!
i brought her to the court house ant
before the attorney general and then
! at Mr.. Havner's orders, stood OUTSIDE
' the door, to keep out all persons
, The grilling inside is alleged to nav
. lasted from shortly after o'clocl
\ until in the evening. During thi
time Mr.. Genung, in his statement
y said. Mrs. willard was put through
Z an ordeal which resulted in her 60
ing into a faint, at which time h
saws Special Prosecutor +. F. Favill
and State Agent o. o. Rock, VIII
. were in a room nearby helped to re
. '. vive the witness, and then Withdrew
!. while the attorney general turtle
y questioned her.
r Deny Grilling
n Robert Healy of Fort Dodge
Il his opening statement for the defens
s. said evidence would be offered
n show that the alleged grilling di
5, not take place but that Mr.. Havnt
Il had Just run over the evidence give
d by Mrs. willard before the gran
n jury when she fell onto the floo
After she was revived by the assis
ance of Mr.. Faville and Mr.. Roc
she was taken back to the hotel
a Sheriff Dunn. Mr.. Healy said. TT
ar only evidence the state could furnis
w to the effect that such grilling d
n take place was that of Mrs. Willial
"a herself, and her reliability as a wi
ot ness would be proven to be We
re- small, the Fort Dodge attorney sta
m ed.
IN The one witness whose testimOl
d. was offered by the state was Sheri
r. Bob Dunn. He told of the subpOel
es for Mrs. willard and Of her arriv
he and trip before Mr.. Havner.
We denied. however. that he brOug
81 Mrs. willard forcibly from the hot
1t to the court house. She was WEI
de and he took her by the arm to asst
". her on the way, he said.