The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1945-09-25
Hearing


the tavern.
Although examination was
completed insofar as the state S
case is concerned. by Prosecutor
Wilbur F. Held, Justice jean
nette established precedent
when he adjourned the matter
until Oct. 2 in order to permit
the defendants TO secure legal
counsel for cross-examination
purposes.
Police Chief Arthur I. Rosso,
who is believed TO have
been in consultation on the mat
ter with Sheriff Ensign, said
that for several days groups
Of soldiers and former service
men are known TO have gather
cd near the jail and to have
voiced threats TO seize Presson
and Gregory
PLAY SAFE
Neither Chief Rosso nor the
sheriff expressed deep concern
but both pointed out that every
possible precaution has been
taken to protect the prisoners
from possible hot-headed action.
We're just playing it safe,
the sheriff said in pointing out
that these men and all others
passing through our hands are
entitled to our protection and to
trial by property constitute
courts Of law"
The adjournment had been
requested by Attorney George
w. John prior to the examina-
ton but Held protested and JUS
tice Jeanette ruled that since
the witnesses were subpOenaed
to appear the examination
would be held as scheduled.
John H. Fahy, key witness,
told how he had been looking
out of the window of his office
across the street from the tav-
ern and saw the two men, whom
he pointed out as Presson and
Gregory, leave the tavern.
A third person followed al
most on their heels, Fahy said
and he told the court that the
third man was Wellhausen and
that 1.-The little fellow Gregory"
hit Wellhausen against the win
dow of the tavern.
VICTIM FALLS
Wellhausen then started to
fail his hands in an effort to
hit back, the witness said but
Presson cracked him one with
his fist on the side of the head
and Wellhausen turned and
slumped to the ground.
On examination of DR.. Philip
T. Mulligan, who performed an
autopsy on Wellhausen at St.
Joseph's hospital it was brought
out that the discharged soldier
had died of a cerebral hemor-
rhage. He also testified that he
found several bruises and
knife wound in his abdomen.
Lawrence Rice of the Matter
hotel testified that he was in the
Little Tavern at the time the
two cabbies were there but that
he did not notice them until
they started TO leave. He said
that Presson had stopped at the
door and turned and said, Il can
whip any in the house."
He omitted a word because he
told the court it was obscene.
PINNED AGAINST WALL
He said that he next noticed
the two men when they had
Wellhausen against the building
and when he went out the ex-
serviceman was lying on the
ground, propped between the
curb and the taxi He said that
he put Wellhausen on the side.
walk as the two men drove
away and that he died before
the ambulance arrived.
How the two men were refus-
ed drinks by Thomas Frederick
was related by the bartender
who said that he thought the
men had too much to drink. He
refused them a drink and they
left the tavern, Frederick said.
Prior TO the start of the ex-
animation George John, who
has been retained as counsel for
Gregory asked the court for an
adjournment of the case to give
him time to become acquainted
with it. He said that he was
contacted only last night and
did not have chance to study
the facts.
Presson who did not have a
counsel at the examination also
asked the court for a continu-
ance saying that he did not have
money to retain a counsel. Ivan
A. Johnston later, however, told
the court that he would appear
as attorney for Presson.
HELD PROTESTS DELAY
The motion for a continuance