Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1923-01-24

show that Elmer could have seen
Kneeskern.
Testimony was offered to the eff
feet that Altfillisch and Waters took
the measurements, that Graf stood
in the doorway of the cabin, ana
that Mullaney stood where Elmer
said he was standing when he saw
Kneeskern in the doorway. Long
street stood by Mullaney and snap
ped several pictures which show
ed Graf standing in the doorway. The
charts and photographs were placed
in evidence by the state.
Character Witnesses
That the character of Frank
Kneeskern in and around Csstalia,
where he has lived all his life, was
mot good" was testified to by Henry
Blumhagen, Willism Beckum, w. j.
Wagner, Henry Brightspecker and
F. S. Moore, of Castalia, and An
drew DIESEL and William Mullaney,
of Ossian. The witnesses were not
Gro examined by the defense.
Morning Session
Testimony in rebuttal, introduced,
for the purpose of impeaching testl-
money of defense witnesses was offered
by witnesses for the state Thursday
morning at the Kneesken murder
trial.
Grand Jury On Stand
Testimony given by Marshall Burns
that he heard either Moore or Elmer
VanBrocklin declare we've got to
swear damn straight and stick to it"
was denied by Moore while seven
members, that indicted Kneeske1n
denied that Burns had testified be-
fore them to the statement.
The seven members testifying were
Paul Egge, of DEBORAH, foreman;
Prank Luzum, Calmar; ]. j. Hovden,
DEBORAH; John Jordahl, Decorah
Chris Walhus, Spring Grove; Ed
Espeth, DEBORAH; and F. w. Dahms'
Castalia. Ruby Ness, who acted as
clerk of the grand jury session, also
gave testimony in refutaton OF
Burns statement.
Kneeskern COntradicted
Sam Waters, farmer-surveyor ana
impo rtant states witness, again told
of a conversation he had with Knees
kern in the court house at Decoraii
while Elmer Van Brocklln's nearing
was in progress. Kneeskern, whiie
on the witness stand at his trial
here, denied making several state
ments accredited to him by Waters
This morning Waters again repeat
ed the conversation he had with the
defendant. ~.
Testimony aimed to impeach the
Testimony of Harry Swenson was
given in rebuttal by DR.. }. a. Juen
of Ossian and Attorney Frank Sayre
of DEBORAH. Both referred to con-
versations with Swenson in which
thew alleged he told them Elmer van
Brocklin did not go to the cabin un-
til ten or fifteen minutes after Cnar'
lie Van Brocklin left the Swensor
home for his cabin.
Five witnesses were called to tes'
tify that Swenson's character was
not Of the best. They were y. )
Olson. William Evingood, William
Kemp and w. P. Fleister of Post
Vile and Theodore Dryer, of Bloom
field township.
Hide Dealer Testifies
7 Geskin, Ossian furrier, told of
conversation with Elmer Van BROCK
lin a few days before the murder II
4 which Van Brecklin told him of some
furs he had to sell. These were tax
an to DEBORAH on the day of thu
murder and the defense has con
tended he would not go Is, miles u
market them.
Ed Grimsted, marshall of Ossian
denied a statement made by Knees
kern on the witness stand. Knees
kern testified that he asked Grlm
sted what he was going to do wit
a coffee pot and some other article
used as exhibits in the case, on tn
NIGHT of the murders and tina
Grimsted replied "that he was go
ING TO give them to Kneeskerm's at
toanevs." Kneeskem then testlfle'
that he said to Grimsted Hell,
haven't cot any attorneys, Ed" Tn
Ossian marshal said that Kneesker
made no such remark. -.
Another witness was, Charli
Tatro, who said he was in Knees
kern's office on the morning OF tn
day of the murders and that h
had talked to Kneeskern.
Elmer Makes Denial
Elmer Van Brockhn was recalle
to the stand shortly before noon. II
denied a story told on the witnes
stand by Mrs. Rachel Rice, mothe
of Irene VanBrocklin to the effet
that he dragged Irene out of a bugg
near the Van Brocklin cabin an
tore her clothing. He said that nc
thing like that had ever happened.