The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1923-12-13

didn't say he wouldn't testify for
any negro as against white man
which Tibbetts denied having said
who started the conversation about
negroes?" asked Mr.. Faulkner. You
did, you asked for ii wouldn't
testify as a character witness for
Lott" replied Tibbetts mo. I
didn't retorted the attorney. The
reply of Mr.. Faulkner was ordered
stricken from the records and he
was cautioned by the Court.
Mr.. Faulkner gave notice that he
would call Mr.. Tibbests and a num-
Der of the Governments other main
witnesses to testify for the defense.
First Evidence introduced.
Seven Witnesses. six Of them pres
ent at the time Prentice was shei
by Lott, were called 10 The stand
by u. S. Attorney ahonp YESTERDAY
afternoon, as the Government he
gan its effort to SHOW to The jalyi
that the slain man was the victim
of an unprovoked assault OH The
part of the negro barber. The first
witness called was Raymond Crete
local engineer, who had prepared y
detailed sketch of the restaurant
in which the shooting took place j
showing the various fixtures, etc.
On this drawing of the room. the
other six witnesses drew as eraphi-
cally the scene of the killing as II
was enacted before them July 1.
last. These witnesses were Mrs.
T. J. Amber. who was in the
kitchen washing dishes when the
trouble occurred. Roy Nolan super
intendent of the juneau & Douglas
Telephone Co, who was at the
lunch counter: Edward Moffatt. coqk
at the restaurant; Winnie Swanbeig
who said she had been living with
Prentice as his wife for 1S months
prior to his death and Mrs. Ifhl
Manley and the two women were
members of party of eight IN |
cluding. Prentice. William Strong,
Esther Harper. Walter Bindseil. = :
woman named Ethel, Prentice being
the host.
Shots First Warning
The testimony of the six eye
main substantially the same. It
seemingly established that no one
saw or heard what passed between |
the two men Immediately prior TO /
the shooting. Two of them testi-
fled they heard Prentice call Lott
a foul name and that two shots i'm
mediately followed, so closely that
they had been fired before either
witness could turn and see the men.
The other four eye witnessed testi
flying denied hearing the epthet
and said they heard nothing before
the first shots which attracted their
notice.
Winnie Swanberg testified that
Lott had pulled gun during an
argument with Prentice several
months prior to the shooting, in an
apartment in which they formerly
resided, and that Prentice took 1t
away from him at that time, return
ing 1t later the same evening. She
also declared that on still later
occasion, Lott visited her apartment
one Sunday during the absence OF
Prentice and had pulled gun there
None of the witnesses saw or heard
a blow struck prior to the shooting.
All of them testified, however. they
we're not paying any attention to the
two men at that time.
Had Been Drinking
hn fruf of a m
portant witnesses called by Mr.. Shonp
ON cross examination, said while
the party was not bolsterous, she
thought one or two of them had
been drinking. Winnie Swanberg
and Mrs. Uhl both testified that
they had one or two drinks with
Prentice before coming to the res
taurant. Nolan said that Prentice
talked more than usual but he could
smell no liquor on him although
he had. stood within two feet OF him.
Both Mrs. Amber and Nolan
testified they heard Prentice call Lott
Lying son of bitch" None OF
the other witnesses admitted hearing
this.
Mrs. Amber said when she heard
the words, she looked out, the shots
coming Immediately. Prentice was
facing the kitchen where she was
working while Lott, with his face
toward the street entrance, had his
hack turned toward her. Prentice
had fallen forward against the negro
As she looked more shots were tired
she saw someone's arms raised ana
a man. which she said must nave
been Prentice, fall forward. Sne
ran into a cooling room and re
manned there for several minutes
When she returned to the front.
Prentice was lying on the floor ano
Lott had gone. She said she bent
,a ,,or apd eyamined