Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-18
Coles First
Objection
Sustained
Alleged Murderer, Conduct.
ing Own Defense. Scores
Point on County
Attorney.
Hints at Mystery Past

"iour honor. ! object! Any sllu-
sion 10 any other crime alleged to
have been committed by ne has no
bearing on this ease"
Thus did Otto Cole. who has as.
ionished the bench and bar OF the
city by insisting on defending hint
self against the charge OF murder,
interrupt County Attorney Shotwe.l
IN the middle OF Sho,wel's opening
address TO the jury.
He stood. a short. sturdy figure.
his bushy gray hair disheyled and
his ill-ii,,ing suit wrinkled abou, the
collar. before Disiric, Judge Leslie.
as he made the objection.
Cole Springs to Feet.
Shotwell, having reviewed the
shooting OF Harry Hahn. proprietor
OF secondhand store at +l4 South
Tcn,h street, was touching on Coles
past record when Cole sprang TO his
feet. Judge Leslie ruled that Mr..
Shotwell might eliminate tina, in the
opening statement, but could go into
Coles past record later"
There was silence in the court
room as Cole rose TO make his open
ing speech 10 the jury A groua
OF attorneys aud another Judge had
entered to listen to Cole in action.
May il please the court and gen
tlcmen OF the jury" began Cole. II
expect 10 show. mostly by the states
own witnesses. that theory OF the
prosecuting attorney. or rather his
claims. are built on theory: that
whatever evidence is produced here
is merely the result OF a guess and
nothing moro than that.
That is ALL"
Sits Down in Silence.
The silence continued after Cole
sat down. He had made one OF the
shortest opening addresses on rec
ord in the criminal court OF Doug
las county.
Then it was whispered about the
courtroom that after all Cole must
at some time have been a lawyer.
But no; for County Attorney Shot
well had found it necessary to in
struct Cole on the method OF chal-
longing jurors.
Cole would make no statement re-
earding his possible legal training
-fIe hintcd mysteriously that he had
some good reason for wishing to act
as his own lawyer; also that his
true name is not Cole.
During the afternoon recess Cole
inquired casually. and without ap-
parent concern whether "a rope or
chair is used in Nebraska" ac-
cording to Deputy Sheriff Charles
Johnson. He also told Of marrying
a young girl in Chicago to save her
from her stepfather. johnson said.
Death Penalty Indicated.
County Attorney Shotwell indicat-
CT he would ask the death penalty,
in his examination OF jurors. Cole
was calm while questioning the
Jurors, and frequently pvt. the ques-
ton, DO you realize that my guilt
must be shown beyond reasonable
doubt; not on theory or guess"
OllSt, uuliuS tHC ditSiiooii, wv
showed a flash OF humor, while
questioning a juror who told Of hav-
Jug served on jury called to try
l'quor cases,
You didn't get chance TO SAM
pie any OF the evidence. did your"
inquired this man who is conduct
ing fight for his life, with smile.
No replied the prospective juror,
also grinning.
Three times during the ilnpaneling
Of the Jury Shotwcll eliminated
Jurors who expressed prejudice
against the defendant More than
"a dozen prospective jurors were
eliminated because they announced
an antipatlv to the death penalty.
Says Eye Witness Found.
The state will cali at least one
witness who saw Cole shoot Hahn,
r.. rcl,.