The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-05-23

The sole question is,t did Clarenc
manner charged by the state ?"
Self Defense Advanced
MIR. Burke's defense was that
White shot Sloan in lf-defense.
He hinted at q family scandal,
which was a major portion of
Whites story told late Wednes-
day afternoon. .ss5
The whole tragedy, Mr.. Burke
said, rested upon Sloan's account
Of alleged ilnpro oper relations be-
tween Mrs. Piatt and the def fend-
ant: ...
He went. to Piatt and said
that he has seen Mrs. Piatt sit
ting. on Whites lap. This is not
what he saw. He merely. saw
Mrs. Piatt wiping TIE tears from
Whites cheek. White was in
consolable because Of the loss Of
his arm" ss tS "A M
Judge CEaYSAgd charged the
Jury shortly the dinner
hour. ggs III Z
Inc widows Of the two mur-:
dered -nsenusat through the argu-'
ments1iof the attorneys, follow.
ing the recital Of the testimony
closely.
'.Piatt told me on Sunday, the day
before the shooting, that If + denied
Sl0an's charges that had been i'm.
properly friendly with Mrs. 'Piatt,
he (Sl0an) would kill me- testified
Clarence White, who on March 4
shot and killed Charles D. Sloan and
r. s. Plat at .Hazelt0n.
White was the only witness called
to the stand in his own behalf He
traced the beginning of i'll feeling
between himself and Sloan, his former
employer and benefactor, to one day
in, early spring. White testified that
Sloan had brought in a load of hogs
to Hazelton and that he, the defendant
had sought to assist him in building
a pen for them. When he, (White)
discovered that he could not drive
a nail with his one remaining hand,
he for the first time realized the ex-
tent Of his loss when his left hand
was torn off in corn shredder last
fall. He broke down, and went into
the house, crying. He had been liv.
ing with the Piatt's while recuperat-
ing from his injury. Mrs. Piatt, in a
sympathetic mood, seated herself ON
a couch beside White and rested one
hand on his shoulder. Sloan, coming
in suddenly, discovered Mrs. Piatt
and White in this attitude, and, White
testified. Immediately charged them
with improper conduct. Both Mrs.
Piatt and White entered energetic de.
nial, but Sloan would not be convinc-
ed. and two days later before the
killing, White testified, Sloan inform
ed Piatt that his young wife and
White were lovers.
Piatt, wild with rage, accused his
wife and White on Sunday, May 3,|
one day prior to the killing. White
and Mrs. Piatt reiterated their de-,
malls. Piatt demanded that they face
Sloan with him and before Sloan deny
the charges "Sl0an says if you do
not confess and tell the truth he will
kill you, White" was the defendants
testimony.
It was then, said White. that he
bought gun. The following morn
ing White testified he was walking
down the street when Sloan, who had
driven up In an automobile. accosted
him and called him over. There was
. hot exchange of words, and, White
testified, Sloan started toward him.
Then, fearing for his life, said the
witness, he drew his gun and fired
Mrs. Piatt Not Called.
Mrs. Piatt, a young and quite at
tractive woman, was in the court room
during Whites testimony, but the
state did not call her in rebuttal.
The prosecution permitted to stand
Whites testimony that Piatt had told
him that Sloan would kill him II he
id not admit improper relations with
Mrs. Piatt.
The defense rested early this morn
ing, and States Attorney Scott Cam
eron of EmmOns county began his
opening argument to the jury. He
declared White southerner, with the
southerner's code of ethics, which per-
mitted the drawing. Of . gun on. any
man ut any time for any fancied in