The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-05
INQUEST HELDOvER @
.. FIRST OF VICTIMS
Jury Finds Wealthy Farmer
Was Shot TO Death Bodies
TO South Dakota !.

the blood Of two fellow men rest.
ing on his head, Clarence White
slept peacefully throughout the
night which ushered the second
of his victims, r. S. Piatt, out OF
the world, and this A morning
seemed in good spirits. enjoying
a, hearty breakfast and talking
freely with Sheriff Meinhovet
and States Attorney Campbell
regarding the shooting. He was
not informed Of the death ;of
Piatt until mid-forenoon, when
White expressed regret, but no
consciousness of guilt.
The double-slayer made a full
frank statement Of the shooting
to States Attorney Campbell
last night, bearing out the facts
as presented in the Tribune on
Monday, He and Sloan, said
White; had been the closest Of
friends up to two months ago,
when Sloan. the slayer / claims,
made his first charges against
White Of intimacy with u Hazel
ton woman, These charges were
frequently repeated, said White;
and became mat tiers of commoi,
knowledge. Monday Sloan came
in, with the avowed tletermina-
tion OF. having q settlement with
White. He called White over to
his. automobile, and tie men ex-
changed perhaps 25 words when,
White alleges, Sloan called him
asvile name and declared his in
tention, Of: trampling him into
the ground. 81 knew that: with
one arm j would be.no match for
Charlie" said White, $50 | start
ed shooting. .-:s4&: .s,> .s,:>: 5.-
White does not explain how he
.ohanced to have a gun in his pocket
when he went out to meet Sloan. The
slayer isia southerner and is, said to
have made a practice. of going arm
ed. He contends that he acted clearly
In self-defense when he shot, Piatt.
,Piatt, q half-brother OF Sloan, wit
messed the latter's murder and imme.
I diately.-rushed to. the Piatt home and
returned with q gun, opening fire on
White into the Hazelton Mercantile
Co. and there exchanged more shots
with him. Piatts aim was wild, but
White, who is q well.known crack
shot. registered every one of the. six
bullets In his. revolver. .
!. White does not claim that he was
suffering. from a brain storm ,or
mental alteration or any unusual ex-
citement 1t the time OF the shooting.
III his own mind he Is quite clearly
convinced that he was justified In act
Ing as: he. did; that Sloan had given
him ample proyocation and that Id
the final analysis, he acted In self.
defense. -, =, ..t., EsS 3-s y:
ssss.'.!.lt probably will not be possible
to, give White hts preliminary exam
ination inside Of ten days" said Scott
! Cameron, states attorney for Emmons
county. this morning. ...I have other
work to do in the county which will
keep me fully. occupied for that length
30f time. Unless White demands an
earlier hearing, 1t will not be held be-
tore the middle of the month. Mr..
Whites statement to me is' very com.
splete. He claims that he acted In both.
instances In self-defense. The pris-
oner does not appear depressed. He
delivered himself up and he Is CIV
Ing the sheriff no trouble. No demon.
stration Of any kind was made when
we left Hazelton with White to bring
him to the county jail here" II
Neither Sheriff Meinhover nor
States Attorney Cameron is willing
to reveal the identity OF the women
IN the case.
Haxe!ton Divided.
White and Sloan. partisans In Offer.
ent Camps Today
Haselton, N, D., March 5. Hazel
toms sympathies have been divided
BY, Mondays tragedy. which IL hatar.
ally the one center Of all cDnversation
SXSov Nou,o ~ tho doatt ~ Do 4