Decorah public opinion., 1922-04-26


propounded by Atty. Murphy.
A number of character witnesses were
introduced by the defense for the
purpose of discrediting Geo. Moore.
They were Ben Fox, Roy Tatro, Ole
Kloster, all farmers in the vicinity
of CaStalia and Clermont. j. A.
Erickson, cashier of the Farmers
Savings Bank at Clermont, Frank
White, justice of the peace at Cler-
mont and Sheriff C. c. Wright, Of
West Union all testified as to the
characters of George Moore and Ell
mer Van Brocklin. They all stated
that George Moore's character and
reputation for the truth was bad,
while most of them could not say
that they knew of Elmer's character
being considered bad. All of these
witnesses were on the stand for but
five and ten minutes.
Miss Gail Swenson, daughter of
j. A. Swenson testified that she saw
Charley Van Brocklin deliver horse
TO her father on the day of the
murders in the morning and he was
in a great hurry to get back home.
Miss Lucille Cook, daughter of Will
Cook, was the next witness called.
She testified about Charley, Elmer
and Irene being up at their place
the morning of the murder. Charles
came and was talking with her IA
ther. They were at the barn, and
Elmer came down the road and talk
ed with her father and Charley. Ac-
cording to the witness Irene came TO
the door and asked where Charles
was, and she seemed to be in a
hurry and was excited.
Miss Cook testified that she told
Irene Charles was at the barn and
she ran down there. They left later,
Charles and Irene riding in cart
and Elmer walking ahead. She test
fled also that during the fall Charles
husked corn at their farm and she
saw Elmer there. Elmer had
shotg',n at ans her time she saw tfa
we yrothers talking at the seaLDl
house.
| Mrs. VIM. Cook also testified, and
the testimony was practically the
same as her daughters.
After Mrs. Cook and daughter
testified, VIM. Cook, farmer, who
operates the B. F. Kneeskern farm
was called to the stand. He testified
that Charley, Elmer and Irene were
at his place on the morning of the
18th of December. Atty. Cutting
asked him what Irene said when she
first arrived at his farm.
The state raised an objection to
this question. More or less heated
argument arose between the state
and defense on the question, but
Judge Taylor stated reasons that he
believed the objection should be over
ruled. Mr.. Cooks answer was that
Irene said Charley come right home,
Elmer has been over there
raising ned" and about them ap-
pearing against him to show that he
stole corn and sold it. He stated
Irene was crying and that she told
Elmer she would go to Decorah the
next day and have him arrested, if
she had to walk.
Cook became somewhat confused in
his cross examination, the state
bringing out the fact that the wit
ness had forgotten what he testified
TO at the inquest over the bodies Of
the murdered couple.
Mrs. Marion Burns, Mr.. Marion
Burns and Henry Burns, brother of
Marion all testified that they saw
Charley two or three days before
the murder. He came up to the
barn where the two men were and
tried to sell them a shot gun. He
had been looking at his traps, and
after remaining for about an hour
he went back toward his traps.
Some of the answers of Mrs. Burns
Il ,.tl, L., +hn
Mrs. Burns was testifying to the day
she saw Van Brocklin on their farm.
Said it must have been Thursday as
she done her baking Thursdays and
Saturdays and the fact of her daugh-
ter not being home on Saturday it
must have been Thursday. She had
answered Atty. Nelson that the day
was either Thursday or Friday, still
she seemed to think it Thursday be-
cause it was her baking day.
After Henry Burns testimony was
concluded the defense said they had
no more witnesses for the day, and
J court adjourned about three o'clock
until Monday morning.
Court reconvened Monday morning,
and it was 9:30 before the first wit
ness, for the defense Chas. Altfllisch
was called. His testimony completed
a description of the map with the
cabin, etc. on and gave the distances
between the different points more
clear.
Oliver Shaggrud, a farmer, who
lived a mile or two from the Van
Bocklin cabin testified he had a
conversation with Chas. Van Brock
lin a short while before the murder
and that Charley said Kneeskern> was
the best man he had ever worked
for.
The next two witnesses were Lyle
Wayne and Gilbert .Dahms, young
men who had helped VIM. Cook husk
corn last November. They both
testified they had seen Charley and
Elmer Van Brocklin talking at the
school house one day as they were
returning from the fields. They stat
ed that Elmer carried a gun at that
time.
Wayne further stated he saw
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