Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-10-02
PLAY IMPORTANT PART IN
HEARING OF GRBA CASE AT
MASON CITY.
WITNESS SAYS HE FOUND
ONE IN LEHloh POND
This Evidence Seeks TO Prove Story
OF Grba That He Threw Batteries
He Purchased Into Water While
Rynamitin0 Fi6h-Gaoe to Bio Con-
Guided Next Week.

Mason City, Oct efforts to
break down the evidence Of the state
based on the battery found by the
state in the Lehigh pond and the two
found in ditch near the Baldizar
garage were commenced by counsel
for Nick Grba, charged with the muir
der Of Mike Baldizar.
Edgar Bird ess. an employee Of the
Lehlgh plant took the stand and tea-
titled that he had found battery In
the Lehigh pond on Sept. II. He said
he would produce it,
The intention of Grba's attorneys,
obviously. is to show that dry cell
batteries such as were found by the
state are numerous In the vicinity
of the scene OF the murder and that
no weight can be attached to it.
Impeachment Effort Fails.
Another feature Of tho session was
the attempt of j. e. Sennefr, chief
attorney for the state. to impeach the
testimony OF ROXY Yezmar.. His con.
tention was that she had attempted
to prevent Anna Baldizar from testi-
Tying to anything that should incrini-
mate Nick GrbA, but questions on
the subject were objected to. and gus
tanned by Judge Kelly.
Babe In arms, the Charles City
woman told. thru an interpreter, of
noting q marked intimacy between
Charles Sinanko and Anna Baldizar
while he was home from his school
work at Davenport during the holi-
days last year. She said they rode
together frequently.
Sa~ Two With lanterns,
Mike finnish, another laborer at
the cement plant, living at Lehigh
cottage No 10. next to that occupied
by the Raldixars, said that on tho
night of the murder he was coming
downstairs. When he heard the
blast. he rushed out without stopping
to dress. and saw two persons just
outside the garage gate. both carry
Ing lanterns. One, he said, was con-
sideruby closer to the garage than
the other. 1t was SO dark he couldn't
recognize them. however, he said.
This testimony is in several par.
ueulars Trajectory with that OF
Srhanko, Foldesi and Radio.
The defense has indicated Charles
Smnnko will be grilled for his con-
nect'on with the Baldizar household. 1t
Is believed that the same set of cir
eumstances seemingly discriminating
Grba will be shifted in an endeavor
to make them fit the shoulders of
Smanko, the chiropractor.
Claims Grba Has Lied.
Smanko has denied any connection
with the murder. That Grba has
told untruths, is his contention. Mike
Was his best friend. he says. and it
has been his purpose to help the state
hound down his murderer. There Is a
possibility that the case will run ovr
er into next week and that the case
viii not go TO the jury until Monday
or Tuesday.
Immediately, after the afternoon
recess. Attorney Senneff contradicted
the testimony made by Grba short
ly following the afternoon recess.
The suspect told his attorney, from
the stand that he had informed
Smanko the dynamite and caps were
in she'd No. 4. Scnneff objected,
claiming that Grba previous to the
recess, had told him that he had not
mentioned the, location of the dyna-
mite and caps TO anyone. Senneff ac-
cused Grba Of talking to his attor-
neya during thet reeees. Williams OBJ
jected TO Sonncff'5 examination. but
was overruled.