The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-06-16
DEFENSE SEEKS
TO BREAK DOWN
STATES CASE
Lawyers Fight Over Interpreta-
ton of Dying Words of PO-
lonsky in Murder Trial
MENTALLY INCOMPETENT?
Wilton Murder Case Moves Rap
idly Toward Conclusion in
District Court


of having murdered Moses Polonsky,
Wilton business man on the morning
of March %, now has shifted to the
signed statement of Polonsky, before
he died, to the testimony of defense's
star witness that Polonsky shouted
a few hours before he died, ''Pm your
murderer, get out of here, get out OF
here" ,s
Whether this is an idiOmadical
statement literally translated into
English from the Jewish, or whether
it is the confused dying declaration
of man whom the defense is trying
to show was for the last few weeks
prior to his death mentally incompe-
tent, is one of the angles of the case
around which. quietly but very in
tensely the state and the defense are
fighting.
Council for the defense attempted
several times to get an admission
from both Of the witnesses for the de-
fense who were present when the
declaration was made, but so far the
state has effectively blocked any lead
ing admission
What POlonsky meant, with I'm
your murderer" and what he meant
to tell Jacob Kremenetzky and Issac
Bernstein, his best friends, who, it is
alleged. he asked to call at three
o'clock in the morning. in which it
was testified he inferred that wanted
to tell about the shooting, remain a
silent enigma which remains to be
answered either to convict or acquit
Meadow.
I'm your murderer. Get out Of
here. Get out of here" This, intangi-
bic and unrelated declaration com
posed the last words Of Moses Polon-
sky, merchant Of Wilton who died
at the Bismarck hospital from the ef-
fects of bullet wound, and for whose
death Morris Meadows is being tried.
Meadows is 27 years old.
That these were his last words is
the testimony of Isaac Bernstein, Il
farmer and best friend of the de-
ceased Moses Po.onsky and his fam
lily.
Main RebuttaI.
1t was evident that the lawyers for
the defense, headed by Attorney Mack
off, had planned this last dramatic
declaration by Polonsky, as the eli
max of their efforts to prove that
Morris Meadow, brother-in-law OF the
dead man, is not guilty Of the charge
of murder. preferred by the state.
The biggest surprise OF the legal
battle and the greatest aid to the de-
tense came unexpectedly from the
youngest witness for the state, Gather
inc. Ehnes. the 1S year old maid en-
ployed by the Polonsky family. Her
testimony shook the very fundament'
ais of the states efforts to prove that
the death of Polonsky was due to as
sassination bv Meadows.
Shortly after Catherine Ehnes tes-
titled that she heard Meadow in the
morning and saw him in the kitchen
combing his hair, and heard his steps
as he returned to. his room, and heard
the shot and then again heard his
hurried steps as he ran toward Pol
onsky's bed room, and so by inference
Meadows could not possibly have shot
Polonsky. the state rested it's case
and F. H. Register outlined the de-
lcllSC pldllo LII tAC .oStuibIe'A " -A~A
ris Meadow.
Sister Takes Stand.
The first witness for the defense
was Mrs. Tiilie Warshau widowed
sister of Moses Polonsky
She testified that Mr. and Mrs. Pol.
onsky both had requested that she
and Morris Meadow visit them In
North Dakota. Meadow was at the
home of his parents, in New York. and
Mrs Warshau was also in New YORK
She told the court that the last time
she saw her brother was 16 years ago
when he landed in this country. hav'
ing just come lover from the old
country.
Neighhors in Russia.
Over i'll Russia, the Polonsky's and
Meadows had been neighbors. Short
ly after both families had arrived in
this country. her brother and Tiliie
Meadows were married in New YORK
and a few months later removed tc
North Dakota. ..y-.
Mrs. Warshau stated on the witness
stand that Polonsky was jealous OF
his wife and was laboring under tbs
impression that she was untrue tC
(Continued on Page TwO)
BILL HAYWOOD'S .