The Bismarck tribune., 1924-12-04
R,SH0RTRIDGE
TAKES WITNESS
STAND FOR SELF
Details Circumstances Sur
rounding Death of Freda
Made, HOlta
STATE RESTS ITS CASE
Presents It's Testimony To
The Jury in Dickinson
Quickly
STATE RESTS ITS CASE
Especial to The Tribune)
Case Soon to Jury

Especial to The Tribune)
Case Soon to Jury
Dickinson, n. D.. Dec. 4.--Be-
fore the shades Of evening fall
the fate of DR.. w. Il. Short
ridge, accused Of second degree
murder in connection with the
death Of Freda Nadler Holta,
Bismarck girl, will rest with the
jury. The defense rested it's
case at noon today after Angela
Holta had been recalled by the
prosecution for brief moment
and the state announced that it
had concluded. Arguments to
jury began Immediately after
the noon recess.
With the opening of the morn
ing session the defense called
G. j. Albright, Flasher hotel
keeper, to the stand. The wit,
ness testified that the dead girl
had registered at his hotel eve
ming of February %. He knew
her by sight for several years
as Freda Nadler. She stayed
only few minutes after being
shown to her room, then left
the hotel and later returned and
checked out. The witness admit
ted that he had peddlcd booze
and cashed bad checks. Claimed
wife made the discovery about
the girl. This part of testimony
not admitted as evidence. Mrs.
G.. J. Albright corroborated the
testimony of her husband. Be-
sides Shortridge these were only
two witnesses for the defense.
Holta and DR.. f. +. Bell, recall
ed by state during morning, were
asked only to further explain
points Of direct testimony.
Dickinson, N. d., Dec. 4.-Dr. v
r. Shortridge took the witness stan
yesterday afternoon and told tn
jury in the Stark county distri
court his story of the course (
events that led up to the tragic er
Of the unfortunate Freda Nadler Ho
Ia, the wild ride across the prairies
The dead of the night and the fin;
disposition of the body. Whether hi
version of tragedy will be sour
enough and strong enough to tul
the tide Of evidence rolled up again
him by the state remains for the jul
to decide. Professional and calm I
sat in the witness chair through tt
long afternoon and discussed the ca:
in all its gruesome detail frankl
Even the whitening sarcasm of State
L. II. Connolly for Il
during cross examinatio
regarding an escapade at Fort Yat'
in which the defendant was allcge
to have figured, left him unperturl
ed.
State Rested Abruptly
The state rested abruptly aft
the morning hours had been occupit
with the final testimony of Holta t,
gether with that Of Henry Engelte
New Salem undertaken, w. +. PER-
Bismarck undertaken; Emil Bob
by Perry; Henry Dit
driver for Shortridge; DR.. E. F. Bel
at the university of Mil
nesota, DR.. +. B. Strauss of Bismart
and Chester Parks, Bismarck ta
driver.
Shortridge took the stand in h
own defense Immediately after tt
noon recess. He told the jury tn,
he was 81 years Of age and that ft
the past 18 years had lived at Flasl
err where he practiced medicine ar
operated hospital in connectio
with his professional duties. Witne:
said that he was graduate Of I'll
Keokuk, Iowa Medical college an
was licensed to practice in this stat
in 1906. He is married and has tw
children.
Witness said that he had know
Frcda since 1917 or 1918 when 81
came to Flasher to work as a tell
phone girl. About o'clock on til
evening Of February 25, 1924, sh
came to his hospital in Flashe
sought his consultation and sobbe
out her story.
Her tale ended with a pitiful pie
for medical aid to assuage her phi.
steal pain and the mental tortul
from her condition. Tw
hours later, the witness said, he mac
a thorough physical examination an
made her as comfortable as he coul
for the night. Early the next morl
ing he saw her again and spent a
hour or more in the room observin
her case. At the time she appeare
much relieved bodily although 81
great alarm concerning HI
Once again as the veal
forenoon wore away he called agai
and administered treatment.
During the afternoon he spel
much time at her bedside. In tt
early evening he observed an alarm
ing change in her condition and a
though he worked frantically in q
effort to save her life she gradual
Death came at II o'cloc
the night of February 26, the witnes
said. Much Of the defendants test
mony was unprintable.
Diagnosed As Influenza
When questioned as to his expe