Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-19
ELMER VAN BROCKLIN ON STAND
SINCE 4:35 MONDAY AFTERNOON
Nine Witnesses Have Been Called BY The State Since The
Trial Opened Pat Fitzpatrick Called At 11:15, And He
Was Followed By Marshal Grmstad Of Ossan At II As
Fftytwo Witnesses Have Been Summoned by the State
Trial Will Perhaps Several Weeks Marshal Grim
stad Is On The Stand Now.

70 IHe jury JuuSe louSh Nain@u
from $3.50 until a quarter of five.
He was then followed by Attorney
Murphy, who spoke for fifteen min
utes, when court adjourned. He
concluded his argument on Friday
morning speaking ten minutes. AT
the conclusion of Attorney Murphy's
argument, the states first witness
was called, Sheriff o. o. Ellingson,
who took the stand at 9:10.
Atty. Murphy did not divulge the
nature of the testimony to be offer
ed in the defense of Kneeskern,
stating that it would all be brought
out during the trial, and that every
allegation made by the state connect
ing Kneeskern with the Van Brock
lin murders would be met, explained
and thoroughly cleared by the state.
He urged each and every juror to
bear in mind the fact that Kneeskern
must be considered innocent and
1.-THE the burden of proof as to his
alleged guilt rests entirely upon the
state.
Opening statements of the attor-
,neys will be found on page 9.
| Objection to Attorney Houck and
Sayre assisting County Attorney
Nelson in the prosecution of Knees
kern because they defended Elmer
Van Brocklin at preliminary hear
ing after he had been arrested on
suspicion of being the slayer of Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Van Brocklin, Was
made by Attorney Murphy. The
objection was not sustained by Judge
Taylor.
The jurors have two large rooms
on the west side of the third floor
of the court house. One room con-
tains II cots and the other large
room tables and chairs The balitts
sleep in the hall outside of the jury
room doors.
The state has summons for 52 wit
nesses, but of course they might no
all be called to testify.
The court room has been fillet
! more or less each day since cour
! opened. Saturdays crowd was no
. large, but Monday and Tuesda.
;, standing room in the court was a
= a premium. Many women are Il
= the audience.
Kneeskem has been confined i
the Winneshiek county Jail sine
!. Feb. 25, when the indictments wer
- brought in against him. He is
young man 80 years of age, smoot
:. shaven, and keeps up happy de
meanor at all times. His wife SIT
, next to him in the court room, II
v side the railing reserved for tn
attorneys and court officials. The
- have one child, son five years olC
=, The accused mans father, Joh
-, Kneeskern, is also present at a
- sessions of the court.
- The defendant, Kneeskern, holo
that unconcerned attitude and is
- his best spirits at all times. II
- wife sits near him and often time
-. during the day he will tell her som'
~ thing, which both spile or laugh
~ little at. However, during most
the day, the defendants eyes al
fixed upon the witnesses, hstenir
'N attentively to every answer.
"S Some predict the trial vii la
"u four to six weeks, others think
~ will be over in a little more ths
two weeks.
'' County Attorney Nelson is co
. Iducting the case in good shape, al
"' he has left nothing unturned to s.
&c that Justice is brought out.
10 The attorneys on both sides a
Us prepared for and are putting up
stiff legal battle, which will WI
IN warmer as the case goes on.
'er The first witness called by t
NIX state was Sheriff o. o. Ellingso
on Friday morning at 9:08. He te:
VS.. ;find 10 having been informed OF Z
a fndinp of the dead bodies OF Z
VanBTocklins at about o'clock
the afternoon of Sunday, Dec;
ma He reached the scene at about o:s
de- He told of the location of the cab
nts rave a description OF the interior