Weekly journal-miner., 1919-06-11

Debus on the Stand
 The first witness to be used in the morning session, and the second or the states list. was William Debus, about whom tine whole matter cen ters. Mr. Debus admitted that he was paralyzed He said he owned about $500 in local bank, and had some Sl30 in cash that he kept about his person. His testimony featured the statement that Thompson had been insisting on dosing him with medicine he didn't want to take, and that Dr. Linn, the home physician, had said he didn't need
 The Bear Stories
 Charles A. Rody and Mir. and Mrs Shea retailed the bear" stories Thompson circulated relative to the condition of Debus. According to the states theory of the case, Thompson sought to build up in the minds of all concerned, a pessimistic outlook for Debus, in order that a possible sudden taking off would not appear at all surprising.
 Dr. Linn told of Debus' condition and said he did not need medicine
 Dog Eaat Dog
 An impressive part of the trial was the examination, both direct and cross, of A. G. Baker, local prac- ticing attorney, who submitted to the fire of questions, instead of giving it, for the first time in his career Baker it was who was instructed by the state to draw up the bogus will un der direction of Dyer, and prepare everything for the trap expected to be sprung by the authorities. Baker had prepared himself with sufficient data to have tried the entire case, and with his brief file on his lap, he told his story without apparent fear that anything he said might be con troverted or even questioned. When | MT. O'Sullivan took charge, right after the noon recess, however, the 1 attorney found out what 1t felt like to be cross-examined.
 Counsel was highly interested in the financial feature of the matter He asked a number of questions that nettled the states attorneys into ig terruptions. Finally, Mir. O'Sullivan said he merely wanted to give Mir. Baker chance to exculpate himself, and Mr. Clark, with some indigna tion, declared that Baker not being on trial, had not even been incul- pated, and if he needed any exculpat ing, he would probably avail himself of other means. After this little play of lightning, the air cleared for a whole few minutes.
 Next came Raymond T. Belcher, witness to the will signing, who lirped to the stand, his ankles bound with tapes and his feel clad in moo casins. He was not entirely over she effects of a game of baseball he cs- sayed to play last Sunday. Mr. l. Bclcher said he had witnessed the will and it was the will marked as an exhibit in this case. He was not cross-examined.
 1t was at this juncture that the state sought to introduce Mrs. Peet. After this matter had been cleared, Undersheriff Ed Bowers was put on the stand. There had been some play made of the guns used in hold ing up Thompson, and Bowers ex- plained that he didn't care to take any chances with q man who was wearing one arm we'll concealed be- heath an overcoat Hence, he had brought his weapon to the notice or the defendant at the very beginning of their relations. It had not Oc- cured to him to do otherwise. He told of taking Thompson to the jail, where the defendant, although hand cufed, insisted on plungiug his hand into an overcoat pocket. Instead of l weapon, or the possible lethal dose that had been expected, Thompson merely extracted set of store teeth and inserted them in their intended place.
 The State Rests
 Bowers was the last witness. Fol lowing the announcement that tnc state would rest, MT. O'Sullivan moved for an instructed verdict in behalf the defendant. He urged all he grounds used in the demurrcr he fact the will was not delivered ,r used for any ulterior purpose, the I act that Dyer, Baker, Belcher and ( others had done all the will drawing q md. in fact, everything connected e with that will except marking cross f md the fact that one of these-Baker d had Instructed the defendant to 1 make that cross. and the fact that r he will was drawn without the , of the defendant and the ! act that the will was never ordered, h cad by or 10 the defendant. The C notion was denied. O
 Character Witnesses F. J. Trippel, former superintcnd- b mt of the Pioneer Home, was the fl irst witness for the defense. Tn or Ter to identify the witness i'll the fl minds of the jury, he was asked that b le state what and who he was and fl lad been. Mir. Trippel then began a ii