The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1921-05-12
STUDENT TRIED
FOR ''MURDER" )"
Adolph Kallestad Sentenced to Four
Years in High School for KILL
ing Father Time
JURY OUT BUT A SHORT TINE
Prisoners Defense Broken Down BY
Strong Circumstantial Evidence

noon, comrising practically all OF the
students of the high school, the eighth
grade and the seventh grade, attract
ed by the murder trial Of Adolph
Kallestad, accused of killing Father
Time. The trial was under the aus
pices Of the eighth grade civics class,
but charges Of prejudice were brought
against Judge Roberts of the eighth
grade, and a change Of venue was
granted. Judge Clarence Jacobs Of
the junior class Of the 0akes high
school presided over the trial. With
his numerous quotations from the
state constitution and the statute
books he at least gained the appear
ance Of being deeply versed in legal
lore, and no one had the temerity to
question any Of his decisions.
The selection Of tho jury took some
considerable time. Jurors were drawn
from the high school students, but
there had been 80 much discussion Of
the case before the trial that it was
found that a number Of the high
school students were prejudiced. Near
'ly AZ many were rejected a. were &C.
cepted.
After the opening formalities had
been finished up, Attorney Lovey
Gransalke opened up the prosecution
for the state. She stated that the
defendant had on Monday morning At
about 11:15 foully and with malice
aforethought killed one Father Time,
well known to everyone in Oakes. The
murder was committed with the use
Of several different instruments. The
accused had written several notes
when supposed to be studying, had
tried on an old hat in the hallway
while leaving the room, had held .
certain young lady's hand against the
owners will, all Of which were to be
proved by qualified witaes4es, * and
which acts did accomplish such blow
to the aged Father Time as to cause
him to pass away.
The witnesses were brought to the
stand, and one after another they
substantiated the accusations of the
prosecution. Attorney Oliver Handy
Of the defense demanded that unless
the notes alleged to have been written
by the defendant could be produced,
their testimony should be excluded
from the record. He did not deny
that notes had been written, but in
the absence Of proof to the contrary
insisted that the notes should be con-
sidered as essential to the success of
the defendant in the pursuit of his
studies.
Judge Jacobs nearly wore out his
gavel in bringing the court room to
order when Marian Wegner, one Of
the witnesses for the prosecution,
during her cross-examination gave the
date of her birth as 1917. Attorney
Handy Immediately seized upon this
slip in an effort to discredit her en-
tire testimony. This drew broad
side from Attorney Gransalke. About
the time that the debate became in
teresting, Judge Jacobs warned the
lawyers that if they did not proceed
with the case in short order they were
in danger Of facing the same charge
as the defendant.
1t developed that the defendant had
also, according to the testimony Of
the prosecution, killed time by writing
in books, and drawing pictures. At
torney Handy, in defense, argued that
drawing was one Of the subjects in the
curriculum, and that the prisoner
could not be accused Of killing time
when he was perfecting himself in
the knowledge and skill Of art. As to
the writing in the books, none Of the
witnesses could swear to having seen
the defendant do it. The state then
called in a handwriting expert, Mrs.
Denning, high school principal, being
called to the stand and sworn in. Up
on close examination Of the books, and
comparison Of the handwriting there
in with copies Of the admitted hand
writing Of the defendant, she gave as
her opinion that there was no ques-
tion but that the several writings
were all done by the same hand.
A thrill Of romance went through
the audience when the trial reached
the final stage, regarding the hand
holding by the defendant Of the here
tofore unnamed young lady Of the
eighth grade. The spectators were
well-nigh bursting with curiosity as
to the identity Of the victim. When
Lorna Stock was called to the stand.
and stated that she was the owner Of
the hand which the prisoner had
grasped and twisted around behind
her back while she was attempting to
study her lesson, there arose another