Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-10
Counsel Vanderveer Ac-
cuses Commercial Club
With Conspiring to In
cite Battle on Trial.
Brother of One Victim
Said to Have Advised
Against Attack; First
Testimony Is Heard.

Montcsano, Wash. Feb. 9-The
American legion was completely exoner-
ated for any part in the planning of an
alleged plot to raid the |. w. w. hall
at Centralia by Attorney George y.
Nanderyeer, counsel for the II |. w. w.
defendants on trial here for their lives
for the Centralia armistiee day shoot
ings.
In an opening statement TO the jury,
in which he outlined what the deferSe
will offer during the trial. Eanderveer
charged that the American legion mem
bers who might have participated in
what he alleged was a prearranged af-
fair, were catspawS of commercial or
ganizations of Centralia
II exonerate, now. and forever after
the American legion as an organization.
on the |. W. ". hall Vaaderveer SAID
in putting forth the defense's claim that
the hall was attacked before a shot was
fired from the hall. .Those members Of
the American legion who did participate
in this raid were catspaWs. without
their knowledge and consent he added.
Plotted at EIks' Room, He Says.
Eandervecr outlined what the defense
will offer to prove. alleging that COM
mercial organizations in Centraia had
planned to raid the hall, and cited
previous destruction of q former /.
w. w. hall III Centralia. He declared
the matter was discussed at meetings
Of the Commercial club, held in tae
rooms Of the Elks' club, and that the
plans Of the raid were decided upon
despite the fact that the county attor-
ney and the city attorney. a brother
Of Warren .. Grimm. for whose murder
the II defendants are on trial. had adj
vised that the l. w w were not doing
anything wrong,
Arrst Suspicious Plan.
During the morning, sheriff's deputies
arrested Paul Lindholm, and John FL
lander. I. w. w. found acting suspi-
ciouslY in a corridor Of the court house.
according to deputies they will be chare-
ed with syndicalism, it was said ! w
w. cards having been found in their
possessions. The II defendants were in
their vicinity when the arrests were
made.
Introduction Of evidence by the state
began today. Edward c. Dohm. state
field engineer Of the state of Washing
ton. was the first witness TO take the
stand.
Map to Show Bullets Source.
His testimony included explanations
Of a large map offered as exhibit "A.
by the prosecution, in which he outlined
the buildings in the vicinity of the
shootings. pointing out bullet holes and
drawing convergjng lines showing that
they came from the Avalon hotel.
Arnold hotel. Seminary bill. and other
points east and southeast. Of the l. w
W. hall. Dohm testified that the bullet
holes, when he examined them two days
after the shooting. We're recent Bull
lets !. >. } andJ. he said. undoubtedly
were fired from the Avalon hotel. No. 4
came from Seminary hill. All Of these
struck a building at the northwest
corner Of Tower avenue and Second
street. about 90 feet south Of the l. w.
w. hall. Other bullets, on other build
ings, his testimony indicated, came from
the hill, 1.lS4 feet east of Tower
avenue.
Blocks Shown in Miniature.
Nearly three blocks Of buildings Of
the city Of Centralia are exhibited in
miniature at the trial. The exhibit shows
two full blocks of Centraia, including
every structure that may later on be-
come = factor in the guilt or innocence
Of the defendants.
The states exhibit of the scene Of
the shooting attracted almost as much
attention as did the the exhibit of SIX