The Alaska daily empire., 1922-10-24
JACKSON CLAIMS
WILL ESTABLISH
ALIbI IN TRIAL
Counsel Says Will Show Was
at Home Says Evidence
Will Reveal Slayer.

Indian. charged with the murder OF
Peter Lott, better known as Capt.
H. c. Lott, on July 25th, last, was
indicated in the opening statement
of counsel for Jackson when the
trial of the case opened before Judge
T. M. Reed in the U. S. District
Court today.
In his opening statement outlin-
ing the Governments case, United
States Attorney A. G. Shoup said
it would be proved that Jackson
visited the murdered nam's cabin
on the evening of July gath in COM
pany with four other Indians where
they bought some beer; that Jack
son later got Willie Hansen, another
Indian, and returned to the cabin
about midnight and killed Lott; that
Jackson left Juneau early on the
morning of July 25th to go back to
the scene of the murder and was
seen coming up the Channel from
that direction about $50 O'Clock of
that day.
Ue1enSc TO PROVE huUl.
In a short opening statement for
the defense, w. l.. Paul declared
that the defense would establish an
alibi. The evidence in this case
will show the jury who commi tied
the murder and that Willie Jackson
was not the man" he declared.
Willie Jackson was not at the scene
of the murder later than the after
noon of July oath and was at his
home at the time the crime Is
charged to have been committed.
We will prove this by his wife, his
sister mother-in-law and brother-in-
law" he concluded.
First Trip Is Proven.
The jury trying the case was COM
pleted yesterday afternoon. Wit
nesses called today established the
first visit of Jackson with others
Mike Hudson was the Government s
opening witness and was followed
by James Miller, Alfred James ant
Bessie Miller, Indians, all Of whom
testified regarding the first trip t.
Lofts cabin.
Mr.. Hudson said Willie Jackson
and four other Indians came to Ne
vada Creek where he was working
about ID. m. Monday, July 24th
on the gasboat Taku. This boat il
owned by the defendant. They re
NAMED there but a short time ant
headed across the Channel TOWARD
the old Taku village. Later, h'
said, it turned back along the main
land shore and stopped at SOM
point between Capt. Lofts cabir
and DupOnt's.
James Miller, who followed Hud
con on the stand, testified that h.
in company with Jackson, Bessie
Miller, Alfred James and Sammie
Yarquan made trip down the
Channel on July Gath on Jackson's
boat, stopping first at Neveda Creek
later crossing to the mainland side
and stopping along the shore to
shoot groundhogs and enroute home
touching at Capt. Lofts cabin. Lott,
he said, gave them bottle of beer
and that before leaving he purchas-
ed three more bottles which they
drank after leaving Lofts place for
Juneau.
Jackson Not Drunk.
He said the beer was new and
had no kick" He said he could
feel no effects from it and that
Jackson did not appear to be drunk.
He fixed the time of the party's re-
turn to Juneau as being after 9:15
p. m. When the Taku was opposite
the Standard Oil dock, he testified,
his wife, Bessie Miller, looked at
her watch and it was 9:15 O'Clock.
He did not know the exact time of
their arrival here. He did not see
Jackson again that day after leav-
ing the Taku at the Northern Can
merry dock.
Story Is Confirmed.
Alfred James, who followed Miller
on the stand, told virtually the same
story of the first of the three al
legged visits OF Jackson to the Lott
place. The party returned to town
between 3 and 10 p. m. he said.
Bessie Miller, wife OF James Mill
er, also told a similar story. She
though II was around 10 p. m,
when the party got home.
Edward McLendon. of Thane. who
with a man named Mcdonald, il
believed to have been among ths
last persons to have seen Capt Lott
alive, testified that he and Melon
aid visited Lofts place about p. m
On the evening OF July Gath. They
talked with Lott short time on the
beach and later went to the cabin
and had a bottle OF beer after which
they returned to Thane. On eros:
examination. he said. it might have
been as late as $3.50 p. m. wher
they were at the cabin, he was un
certain as to the time.
Tell of Finding Body.
b. L. Holbrook and N. ]. Beaudin
both Thane employees. testified t.
finding the body on the evening D
July 26th. Holbrook made the dis
covery and summoned his compan