The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-03-01

companion sat alone at another table,
Court adjourned at noon for din
ner.
OPENING OF TRIAL
Testimony tending to show that
Roland Henriounet fired five shots
from revolver at Oscar Nelson the
forenoon of November Is, at the cor
ner Of the Northern National bank,
and testimony showing that Nelson
died November 1S in St. Anthony's
hospital as the result of being struck
three times by bullets fired from the
revolver held in Henrionnet's hand,
was the beginning of the trial of
Henrionnet yesterday afternoon in
District court, the accused being
charged with murder.
Court Room Crowded.
The opening Of the trial was slow.
The jury was completed late yester-
day forenoon and at 1880 the first
witness was examined. States At
torney Graham M. Torrance repre-
sents the People of the State and
E. F.. Mcdonald is defending.
The court room was crowded to
it's capacity with relatives and
friends of the principals, and those
personally interested in the affair
and morbid curious. With his coun-
sci sat Henrionnet, as dapper as
ever, calmly facing the ordeal. In
the seats in front sat relatives of
the defendant. Brothers and other
relatives Of the slain young bank
teller sat with the rest of the spec
tators, they: coming from distant
points to be present
Revolver Exhibit a."
Before the trial had proceeded far,
County Attorney Torrance introduced
as exhibit "A" the blue steel reyol-
yer with which the crime was alleged
to have been committed. The empty
shells from the gun were introduced
as exhibit "B." The blue blood
stained coat worn by Nelson, show
ing the powder marks and two jag
ged bullet holes was exhibit &C"
and the vest was exhibit 3D."
Eyewitnesses of the shooting told
of the affair, stories agreeing in the
main.
The movements of Henrionnet were
traced from the Lake Julia Sanator-
ium the morning he left for Be-
midi, the murder occurring few
hours after his arrival. -a
Heard Henrionnet Phone.
Mrs. Charles Durand of Pup0sky.
whose husband conducts the general
store and postoffice in Puposky, told
Of overhearing Roland telephone to
his mother not to allow Ruth (Hen-
rionnet's Wife) to have the baby,
and he also mentioned a handker-
chief.
(The handkerchief mentioned is
believed to refer to one claimed to
have been owned by Nelson and later
found between mattresses in the
Markham hotel).
Frank Porter, who came down on
the same train from Puposky, fol-
lowed Mrs. Durand He saw Hen
riOnnet in the car and said he ap-
peared rational and not the least dis
turbed.
SLAYER BUYS Revolver.
N. E. Given, of the hardware firm
of Given Bros, testified to the pur-
chase of the revolver by Henrionnet
and identified the gun introduced as
exhibit "a" He narrated how Hen
rionnet had entered the store the
forenoon Of the tragedy and asked
to be shown a revolver as he said he
was required to take long walks
while at the sanatorium and that a
rifle was too heavy to carry. He also
further stated, according to testi-
mony, that Henrionnet said he de-
sired the revolver to shoot at birds
and other game as pastime. Two re-
volvers were shown, one a target gun
and the other a blue steel revolver.
The latter was selected and a box
of cartridges to fit. Henrionnet then
left the store.
Burch On Scene.
c. H. Burch and Andrew Rust each
gave direct testimony as witnesses
of the shooting. Mr.. Burch is an ex-
tensive live stock dealer, who is fire.
quently in Bemidji
Mr.. Burch testified that he was
standing directly in front of the
Northern National bank, close to the
entrance to the stairway, having just
stopped moment. He was alone at
the time and was standing compla-
Gently when he heard two shots in
the stairway entrance almost at his
elbow, He turned to ascertain what
it was about, when he says Nelson
dashed out of the stairway door,
followed by Henrionnet. He said it
was the first time he had ever seen
the defendant Henrionnet was close
behind Nelson, stated Mr. Burch, and
was carrying a revolver in one hand.
He described the revolver as being
blue steel identified gun intro
duced as similar If not the one in
question.) Henrionnet pointed the
revolver at Nelson and fired, the re-
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