Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-19

when they got back to the cabin.
Elmer admitted he started the talk
with Charlie.
They also talked and quarreled
over $50 that had been overdrawn
| from b. +. Kneeskern for chopping
wood. Charley had evidently over
drawn the $50 and Elmer had taken
the blame Of it. The checks that
had been paid to Charley, Elmer
and their father were presented and
placed on file as exhibits No. 6, z
and s.
Elmer was asked if these were
the same checks and answered that
he thought they were.
The testimony then changed over
to a similar description of Elmer
leaving the Charley Moore place and
going to the cabin in the afternoon.
1t also gave the conversation between
KneeskeIn and Elmer Van BrOcklin
which took place at the cabin on
the afternoon Of the murder.
Elmer testified that on Dec. IL,
1921, he went to DEBORAH accom-
panied by George Moore. They went
in Moore's Ford. He said they pass
ed the sheriff, but didn't know it
until they had passed by.
The witness was asked numerous
question about his experience with
shot guns, whether he had ever own
ed one, shot any, etc. Most Of
these questions were objected to by
County Attorney Nelson, and were
sustained by Judge Taylor.
Ns%pn-u u-lyal sc ~ yF-o-ro't
true that he had shot off a shot gun
a good many times during the month
prior to Dec. II, 1921. Answer,
yes sir.
Asked what was the size of the
gun and the answer was twelve
guage.
What kind of a shot gun, was the
next question? Answer, a Win
chester.
Witness was asked if it was
magazine gun and answer yes.
Asked where the gun was and the
answer was out at George Moore's.
Did you ever at any time bring
that gun from George Moore's to
Charley Moore's, he was asked, and
his reply was yes sir.
The next few minutes were spent
in describing Kneeskern and his APP
came toward the cabin on the after
noon of Dec. II, 1921.
The testimony then shifted to Ell
mer and George Moore returning
from DEBORAH the evening of Dec.
II, 1921. Witness told where they
and answered that as far
as he knew they didn't ask to use
the telephone any place enroute from
DEBORAH to Charley Moore's.
Atty. Cutting was evidently trying
to prove that they had asked to use
or had used a telephone some place
where they had stopped.
Elmer stated that he had been at
the cabin twice since the first of
the year.
He was there on the Saturday he
saw Sam Waters and on the Monday
previous. On the Monday his father
was with him.
He was questioned as to the num-
Der of times he had seen Charley
Van Brocklin and the number of
times he had been at Charley Moore's
during the month of November. Also
the number of times George Moore
had come with him during that |
month which Elmer stated as being |
only once.
Witness was asked how many shot |
guns were at George Moore's. Atty. |
Nelson objected to this question and
it was sustained by Judge Taylor.
Elmer Van Brocklin was still on
the stand under cross examination by |
the defense at the adjournment of
court Tuesday evening.
At the opening Of court this We'd
nesdav morning the jurors and wit
nesses were withheld from the court
room while Atty. Cutting offered to
prove by the witness, Elmer Van
Brockl.u that Charley and Irene Van
Brocklin had told that Elmer had
told them that he had stolen corn at
Charley Moore's request and sold i'll
to Charley for a dollar a sack. That
Harry Swenson wrote a letter de-
mandiug payment for the corn and
asserting thai he was going TO nave
both Charley Moore and Elmer Van
Brock'in rested and prosecuted in
this court. On hearing this Charley
Moore called Elmer at George
Moore's place and told him to bring