Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1923-01-24
kNEESKERN ON
WITNESS STAND
He Finished His Testimony on We'd
nesday Afternoon and Under
went a Severe Cross
Examination.
MRS. RICE RECALLED
TO THE STAND
Winneshiek Grand Jury on Stand to
Impeach Testimony of Mar
shall Burns Defense
Witness.

When court convened Wednesday
afternoon the defendant, Frank
Kneeskern again took the stand and
was crOss-exapined further by the
states chief prosecutor, Frank A.
O'ConnOr. He attempted 10 have
kneeskern explain more fully why
he did not enter the Van Brocklin
cabin when he knew there was troub-
lie there, calling attention to the fact
that kneeSkern was armed, but the
defendants only explanation was
that he thought that there was
family row in progress and he didn't
want 10 get mixed up in ii.
Kmeeskern left the stand at 2:30
o'clock.
u Mrs. Rice Recalled.
Mrs. Rachel Rice, who created
two sensations at the trial by col
lapsing on the witness stand, finally
succeeded in concluding her testi-
mony Wednesday afternoon. She went
into more details about quarrels she
had overheard between Elmer Van
Brocklin and Irene but said that she
never JIdsl eiIiy llOublS Will III
mer. She said, when quizzed by the
states attorney, that she had called
on Kneeskern when he was in Jail
at DEBORAH and that Kneesken's
wife was with her, but said that
Kneeskern refused TO tell her about
certain things she wanted to know
about the murders, telling her TO get
her information somewhere else.
She said that following the MUIR
ders she Wrote a letter TO Dan Van
Brocklin, Elner's father, in which
she asked him TO send Elmer TO see
her, but that Elmer never came. The
letter was produced and admitted
into the records, but was not read
to the jury.
She also told of a conversation
she had with George Moore in which
She charged Moore said that "he
idn't believe Kneeskern killed
Charlie and Irene" and that when
she (Mrs. Rice) said that she thought
the murderer was either Charlie
Moore or Elmer Van Brocklin that
George Moore turned white.
Character Assailed
Mrs. Rice's character was later
assailed by a number of witnesses
called by the state in rebuttal. Ihey
were w. J. Lathers, of Shoplere,
Wis, where Mrs. Rice lives, +. 5.
Boswick. Of Clinton Junction, j. w.
Shimnleil and r. X. Overton, OF
Rock county, Dan Spicer, of Beloit,
]. II. Hazleton. AL of them test1-
fed that Mrs. Rice's reputation for
truth and veracity' was bad. One
of the witnesses said that Mrs. Rice,
husband is SO years old. Mrs. Rlce Is
"a.
After a siege Of three hours and
thirty minutes on the witness stand
Tuesday afternoon, during which
time he told his side of the story OF
the murders Of Charles and Irene
Van Brockhn, Frank kneeskern
charged with the murders, resumed
the stand when court convened De
fore Judge c. H. Kelley at . O'Clock
Wednesday morning.
F. The defense announced at iVe
o'clock Tuesday afternoon that they
had concluded their direct eXamlna'
tion of the witness, but wednesday
morning Attorney William 5. Ham
Informed Judge Kelley that several
things had been overlooked and re-
m,eSted permission TO ask the wit
ness several more questions. His re-
quest was granted by me court
KneeskeIn then denied that ne sa"
Elmer Van Brockhn at any time OF
the Sunday afternoon the m9rueI,
were committed. He also oeille'
that ne talked TO Elmer at foot
bridge near the death cabin ana ina
he pointed a gun at Elmer ai't
threatened him. -, .,
"Ddd YOU kill Irene Van Brocklin =
Attorney Hart then asked the wat
ness. go,
swered. :. D.,
linz"
II did not" ..n
"Tell the jury if you have Hoi'
everything" l .r,
leaking directly at the jurors, Knees
Ley-n said: al told you everything
know. If / have overlooked anytime,
and it comes TO my memory VII
gladly tell II"
ATTORNEY Hart then turned Knees
kern over to the state Tor crosS-eA
animation.
O'Connor Opens Fire
Attorney Frank A. O'Connor. 0
Dubuque, opened fire on kneeskerl
for the sRate. While on direct eT
animation Kneeskern answered a a,
questions clearly and in a snapp,,
,,,a,,ner re was trife slower
renlviag TO Mr.. O'Connors que.
lions and there were times when M
memory appeared to be somewno
hay. - ;L
The states attorney set out rign
from the start to endeavor to pfoS
discrepancies in the story tola
Kneeskern ON the witness s'an
Tuesday afternoon as cohlp"i -,
with the testimony he gave at VI y,
nrelimiparv hearing of Elmer v"
Rrocklin at DEBORAH when Fine
was charged with Staying MS ON y,
brother and sister-in-law' The az