The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-03-04
'HENRI0NNET Gull TY;;
MURDER IN SECOND
. D'E;Gj!P!>zc;; {! VERDICT IS
|. QUICKLY. REACHED


jurors that it was for them to Judge
that point. He spoke of the rela-
ton OF the jury to the general pub
lie and the performance of their
duty as they alone should determine.
He cited the law in many instances
to substantiate' and amplify clearly
the various points of his instructions,
and when he had finished on every
hand were heard the highest COM
mendation for the ableness and fair
ness OF the charge to the jury.
SLAYER Sits Calmly.
Throughout the judges address to
the jury, Henrionnet sat beside his
counsel, two relatives sitting direct
ly behind. He rested his right elbow
on the table and his chin rested up-
on his hand. In this posture he sat
throughout Judge Stanton's charge
and was placid, at times glancing
from downcast eyes toward the
judge.
The court room held another large
crowd, women being much in evi-
dence, present to hear the charge to
the jury and witness the closing
scenes of the trial.
arguments TO jury.
In his address to the jury, County
Attorney Torrance thoroughly an
alyzed the entire affair, taking it
step by step to the jury He made
no attempt at verbal pyrotechnics
but held up the facts in the case
and the testimony Of witnesses for
the defense.
The county attorney branded as a
lie the story of the murder as given
by Henrionnet as we'll as the alleged
"frame-up" at the ,sanatorium.
Ridicules Prisoners Tale.
He ridiculed the tale Of Henrionnet
wherein he narrated his being showed
against the hallway wall, humping
his head, which left his mind blank
at the time of the shooting and af-
terward. Mr.. Torrance contended
that had such been the case it would
have been the natural thing for him
to have informed others about 1t
when the latter examined the &C
cused two hours later, after the
shooting.
AS it was, the defendant on the
stand stated that the first time he
gave. the story was to his attorney
in the latter's office.
1T is an insult to your intelli-
gence, gentlemen of the jury, to ask
you to believe the story related by
the defendant. Society must be pro-
tected," asserted the county attor-
ney.
As CARTRIDGES Left.
Here Is the coat and vest, powder
stained and blood stained, with the
bullet holes. Here is the revolver
with which Oscar Nelson was mur-
dered by Roland Henrionnet. Hero
are five empty shells. This box con-
tains As more loaded cartridges.
They are all his. He is the owner.
He says there are Others Will you
give him back his revolver and cart
ridges and turn him loose? Would
you be doing a kindness to the pub
lie? Is it safe to do so, gentlemen
of the jury?"
Mr.. Mcdonald for the defense took
the view that when Nelson showed
Henrionnet against the side of the
hallway and bumped his head (as
Henrionnet alone said) that his
mind became a blank and that he
did not know what transpired until
he reached the city hall after the ar
rest. He talked three hours and
also covered the case from start to
finish He contended that the state
introduced no evidence which estab-
lished that premeditated murder was
done He contended also that 1t was
no crime to restore ones family to
himself and re-establish his home.
ut is not every taking of life that
constitutes MURDER" contended Mr..
Mcdonald.
"In this case the evidence proved
the story told by the
that his reason left him
when his head struck the hall in the
stairway, and that he can not be held
for his eactions while his
mind is unbalanced"