The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-04
TRY APPLAUSE
Of WITNESSES;
COURT CLEARED


cleared yesterday anu SpSStdboiS
who had gathered for the conciu-
sion OF testimony were ushered to
the exits by the bailiffs, Robert Lit
tie and his assistants.
The demonstration occurred dur
ing the REORGANIZATION of Chris
King, a farmer of South Moline,
who was summoned as q rebuttal
witness by the state. c. z. Dietz,
attorney for the Weayers, was seek
ing to discredit statement OF King
that he had noticed teeth missing
from William Viewers mouth
three years ago on an occasion at
Kings home.
Isn't it a fact that William
Weaver has not been on your farm
or in your house for six or seven
years?" Dietz asked.
The witness was silent. He init
mated he had not heard the ques-
ton and it was read to him by the
Court reporter.
do you mean William" King
asked.
"Yes, that's who you are talking
about. isn't il, or is it John?" Dietz
queried.
The witness seemed to weigh the
question carefully before he an
swered: well. if that is the case
you know more about my business
than | do"
Someone clapped and then ap-
plause and enthusiasm seemed to
enguIf the entire room. Bailiff Lit
1le, jumping to his feet. pounded for
order. At the same time Judge
Church arose and with hand uplift-
cd commanded silence. The ex-
eitement seemed to subside as
quickly as it took hold and the
Judge ordered the courtroom
cleared.
The crowd was probably the larg-
est of any day of the trial. The
court has been filed each after
noon, but yesterday standing room
was at premium. The hustle at
lending the exodus produced con-
gestion at the doors and it was
sometime before everyone, many of
whom were reluctant to leave, was
out.
First Time of Ban.
Relatives of the defendants and
of Harry Mueller, for whose death
the Weavers are being tried, were
permitted to return but others who
tried to slip hack when the trial re-
sumed, were promptly. escorted out
again. Judge Church said the or
DER would not apply today, provid-
= ing, of course, the spectators con-
Auol any further inclination to-
enthusiasm.
~ In the memory of George w
Gamble, circuit clerk more than
thirty years, this is the first in
stance in the history of the court
that all spectators have been Or
dered from a trial. There have
been instances in which the presid-
ing Judge had barred one or more
individuals for disturbances.
When examination of King con-
tinued, the question was repeated
and he answered, 81 can't state the
time exactly"
We'll, it might have been that
long ago." DietZ querried.
s'I couldn't tell you"
Were there any loose teeth in
his MOUTH"
81 couldn't tell you"
William Weaver testified that
, four teeth were knocked loose in
his mouth by a blow from Harry
Mueller during the fight Jan. 20
1921, at the Mary Weaver farm, and
that two, held only by skin were
pulled out by himself and dentist
extracted the other loose ones and
replaced them with false teeth,
soon after the day of the fight.
On direct examination, King, who
is a brother of Charles King, a pre-
vious witness in the trial, said he
had seen William Weaver prior to
Jan. 20, and 1T appeared he had a
couple of teeth missing in the
front part of his month" He said
il was three years ago he noticed
this condition of Bills mouth first
On cross-examination he said the
occasion was shredding time on his
farm. 1t was customary, he said
for neighbors 10 exchange their Ia
Dor at such times, and it was at
the dinner table that he noticed
teeth missing from Bills mouth
He couldn't recall anyone else who
was seated at the table at the time
in question, and neither could he
recall from which jaw the teeth
were missing. He said he didn't
pay close enough attention to de-
termine that
Noticed 1t Frequently.
Then came the question and re-
ply that led to the demonstration
of spectators Examination OF
King was concluded with question
as to whether or not that was the
last time he remembered seeing the
condition of Weaver's teeth, an6
King said no" He said he no
ticed it every time he talked to
Bill. Asked when the last time
was that he talked to Bill, he said
81 couldn't tell you. didn't keep
track of it" States Attorney Bell
taking up the questioning again
put a final query if it wasn't last
fall when you talked to Bill last,
and he said, yes"
Hazel Weaver, aged IS, daughter
of John Weaver, one of the defen-
dants, was the final witness in the
case She was put on the stand by
the defense and testified her uncle,
William Weaver had no teeth out
prior to the saleA
Close Case Today.
The closing arguments were be-
gun by the attorneys at O'Clock
this morning. The case will go to
the jurors on the eve of their fourth
Sunday. The case has been in pro-
Eress nearly a month. Taking of
evidence began Jan. IL