Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-03-04
Court Will Not Permit
Testimony on Alleged
Centralia Plot Until
Grimm Is Linked to 1t.
Jury Sent Out While
Vanderveer Tells How
He Intends to Prove
Reds Were Protecting
Hall.

Montesano. Wash. March 3.-AlthougE
testimony appertaining to an alleged
conspiracy on the part of business in
terests of Centralia to raid the l. w. w
hall in that city. was held to be not
admissible by Judge Wilson. presiding
at the trial here of ten alleged /. W. w
for the murder of Warren Q. Grimm
victim Of shootings which followed q
patriotic parade last Armistice Day. de
tense counsel was permitted by the
court to place in the record it's offer
Of evidence to this effect
Court held that defense counsel so
Warrn Q. Grimm committed an
overt act on the day he lost his life. 1t
has failed to show that Grimm was n
party to any alleged conspiracy to raid
the |. w. W. hall in Centralia.
This was the conclusion of Judge
John M. Wilson. presiding at the trial.
today. His ruling came at the close Of
the morning session of court, Judge
Wilson holding that the evidence tfius
far produced by the defense had fallen
far short of showing an overt act on
the part of Grimm. The court also held
that the defense had failed to show
preconcert and presence on the part of
the deceased in anv alleged conspiracy.
Were GeneraIities. Says Court.
Judge Wilson declared that, in his
opinion, only generalities relating to an
alleged conspiracy thus far have been
brought out by the defense Evidence
"f what may have occurred at meetings
OF Centralia commercial interests, at
which it IS alleged raid on the hall was
discussed, cannot be offered the court
rulea. until Grimm's knowledge Of. or
presence at. such meetings is shown
DSensc counsel. citing statutes and
court decisions declared the men charg-
ed with killing Grimm during an alleged
rad on he /. ". W hall, had a right to
defend heir property, not only from
the hall itself, but from other points
1t was a'gued that the right of self
defense licludes the right to protect
even neFbbor's property.
Elks Club Talk Barred.
After the entire morning had been
consumed by.arguments on the admis-
sibility of tb testimony in question.
George F. Vnderveer, defense attor
ney, at the fternoon session again
called William punning, who had been
on the stand tuesday, and questioned
him relative to N alleged conversation
he had had withGrimm. Objection to
this by the state as sustained and Van
derveer then calle to the stand Finer
+. kirkland, w. ! ODay, ROYAL Fu-
banks. J. Z. DixoIand A. g. Hopkins,
all Of Centralia. I'D questioned them
relative to meeting held in the Elk's
club in Centralia, Gtober 20. 1919 AT
which it is alleged Mans to drive the
J. W. w. out of tha city were discus
sed.
Objection was mad to every attemnt
to question the witrsses about what
occurred at this msing. snd after
Hopkins had been ex,sed. Eandervear
then offered for the record. to state
what he wished to pr.e bv the testi-
mony of these witness. This was
permitted, the jury beiI kept from the
court room While ne Rs making his
statement.
Nanderveer, in his offe said he would
prove by the witnesses TT alleged con-
templatcd raids had bee discussed at
this meeting.
BY Hopkins he offeredp prove that
on June q. last year. at meeting of
employers of Centralia, atrhich George
+. Russell, manager Of t Employers
ASSOCIATION Of ashlngton. ad been the
principal speaker, strong talks we're
made against the l. ". and that
the meeting resulted in Il formation
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