The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-12-04
on
Stand IL
Vajgrt Case
Excitement Prevails as Cons
table Tells of His Visit
to Scene Of
Murder.
Testimony | s. Blocked

leSulnOny / s. DlOCKeO
Seward, Neb., Dec. 3.-Adolph
vajgrt was present at the straw shed
before Anton Lana met his death,
and took part | nthe latter half of
the struggle that had been precipi-
tated by his wife and daughter in
the early morning of October 8, Con-
stable George Runty of Milford. star
witness for the state. testified late
this afternoon. The three Vajgrts
! are now being tried In the district
court here for the murder of Lana.
Runty's appearance on the stand,
which has long been expected. caused
ripple of excitement to run over
the crowded courtroom and there was
a spontaneous forward movement in
the crowd as he stepped up to be
sworn. Even Vajgrt, who listened
stolidly to the testimony given earlier
in the day. leaned eagerly forward
that he might not miss a word of
the testimony upon which his case,
in a large measure. rests.
Had Talk With Vajgrf.
The Milford constable, on examina-
ton by County Attorney l.. II. Nc
killip, testified that he had been cali
ed to the Vajgrt farm four days after
Lana's death. going there in company
with two of Lana's cousins, Frank
vishnefski and Louis Vanous of
Belleville. Kan. and A. G.. Volland.
Milford undertaken.
What did you do after you got
ther," McKillip asked. II saw Adolph
and persuaded him to go with me to
the straw shed where Lana died" the
witness answered.
"Tell the jury what you found after
you got there the county attorney
ordered.
well / found a sort of hollow
was dead and pitchfork lying in the
straw" Runty replied.
What did you do then"
81 picked up the pitchfork and
started sticking 1t into the straw on
the floor. The first thing 1 knew
struck a board and whom / lifted the
fork up the board came with it and
saw a hole In the floor Of the shed, :"
the witness continued.
There was some moist dirt around
the hole and l asked Adolph what 1t
was. He said he didn't know any
thing about 1t and that Tony probably
had dug 1t to keep his muskrat hides
in, because he trapped out OF season
and didn't want TO get caught with
them"
'All right. tell the jury what you
did next" McKilIip said.
We'll. l went and got the sheriff
who was there and told him he had
better look at the hole. that 1t looked
to me like 1t might have been dug to
bury the body in. He came and we
examined It together.
asked Vajgrt IL he had dug it to
put Lana in and he didn't answer me.
Then j said TO him. 'Adolph why
don't you tell us the truth about this
business. Lana's cousins are here
now and they ought to know He
hesitated a while and then he told me
that he would have told the facts at
the coroner's inquest but his wife
had told him what he should say"
Confession Is Claimed.
"Just a minute" J. J. Thomas, de-
fense chief counsel. interposed, was
Sheriff Scott there them"
mo, sir, he had gone off with his
driver after telling me that he'd talk
to the county attorney about what
we d found In the. straw she'd"
After Vajgrt told you he would tell
you the truth. what did he say?" Nc
Killip asked.
"He said that he was down by the
barn doing chores and he heard n
shot and some one cry for help. He
ran down to the straw shed and just
as he got there Lana ran out with his
face covered with blood. He picked
up q big plank and with his wife
knocked Lana back Into the shed.
said to him then. Did you kill hm?'
and Adolph said 4 guess ] did, | hit
HIM"
Runty's statement tailed closely
with the testimony OF vishnefski and
Volland, who had been on the stand
earlier in the afternoon. They also
agreed that Vajgrt said he had moi
4
had Lana arrested after he discov
cred Alby's condition. for which Lana
IL alleged to be responsible. because
his wife declared the farm hand would
kill them IL he did
Asked IL he had heard Vajgrt speak
of a fight between him and Lana, he
eaid that he had heard him mention
one that had taken place week be
fore the tragedy.
i Quarrel Related.
"Tell the jury about It," MckilliI
said
"He told me that they were nj
supper and Mrs. Vajgrt had cooked
some eggs because he could not ea'
fish. which was what the rest OF thu
family were eating. He put the eggi
on some cottage cheese and then for
got about II. and when he went tt
eat II said. who tried TO fool meY ant
spit II out on the table. Al the sams
time he hit the table with his hand.
"Vaigrt said he couldn't do that ir
his house. and he threw Lana on
doors. lie went over TO n neighbor's
land said he was going to Kill th,
lvajgrts. But they made peace"
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