Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 21, 1908, Page 1

AN VOLUME 5. NUMBER 260. ‘A. N. Dare, state printer THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEEI] MINNESOTA BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1908. A SIX WEEK SUMMER SCHOOL FOR BEMIDJI School Will Commence June 22 .. Supt. J. H. Hay of Thief River Falls to Be Conductor. County Superintendent W. B. Stewart today received a letter from State Superintendent of Public In- struction J. W. Olson announcing that he has assigned a six-weeks teachers’ training school to be held at Bemidji commencing June 22. The following faculty has been assigned for same: Conductor, J.| H. Hay of Thief River Falls; In-| structors, John E. Palmer of Clinton, Bell Richards of Duluth, Mrs. Emo- gene Lectra of Duluth and Prof. L.P. Harrington of the state Agricultural School of Crookston. Conductor J. H. Hay is well known and liked by the teachers of Beltrami county, having taught in the summer school here last season. Miss Bell Richards was also teacher here last summer and her return for another season is but giv- ing her hearty indorsement for the work she did while here last season. Prof. L. P. Harrington, of the Agricultural college of Crookston, will be in attendence at the summer school for one week to conduct lessons in agricultural. This isa new department and no doubt will be very popular as well as instructive to the teachers. ! Bemidji is the center of a large territory in northern Minnesota and State Superintendent Olson | has. certainly chosen the right; course for the teachers in this sec- tion of the country in giving them| a six week’s term with an able | corps of instructors. The equipments and accomoda- tions are as good as any town in the state and as at this time there will be a number of conventions and summer outings to be held, the teachers will be given the special opportunity not found or to be had by teachers attending summer school in other parts of the state. County Superintendent Stewart expects to have enrolled a number of teachers from the surrounding counties, especially Koochiching, Cass and northern Hubbard coun- ties. No pains will be spared to make this one of the best and most up-to-date schools to be held this season. MANY INQUIRIES FOR AMOUNT OF LAND TAXES { Numerous Inquiriers Fail to Give Des- cription of Land.---Causes Extra Work and Delay. The matter of tax payments is quite a problem and requires con- siderable work in the office of the county treasurer. Parties wishing to know the amount of their taxes by mail, especially real estate, should be particular in giving descriptions of the lands or lots. County Treasurer G. H. French has a tremendous amount of this work to take care of and improper descriptions, or no description at all, make it almost impractical for him to give inquiring parties the information for which they ask. For instance, when a party writes and says, “How much are the taxes on my land? Yours truly, J. N. Smith, Foy, Minn.,” he might just as well write in for the figures on a comet or some other out-of-the-way planet, so far as the intelligence of his letter is concerned. The county treasurer and his deputies want to be obliging and always try to trace down the land by the lots had been bought on con- tract and were not in her name as yet. Such instances are of almost daily occurrences during the present season of tax collecting. Ten or twelve such occurrences a week take up considerable of the county treasurer’s time. Parties writing for the amount of their taxes on real estate should | bear in mind that it is the land, and not the owners, thatis taxed. You should describe the land, giving the lot or block in villages or cities, and the town, range and section of the unplated lands. This method will facilitate mat- ters considerably and make it easy | for you to get the information from the county treasurer. For Sale. One good heater, center table, bed complete and sewing machine will offer at snap prices for cash. Mrs. G. E. Moyer, 907 Irvine Ave. WORK ON INTERNATIONAL FALLS DAM THIS SPRING The International Falls Echo . Tells of Plans for Developing the Immense Waterpower. International Falls Ecko: While no positive statement has been made by Mr. Backus or any member of the company, those who are in position to keep tab on things feel quite certain that early spring will see work resumed on the dam. It is generally known that Mr. Backus is working hard to shape matters up to that end, as the success of the many interests of himself and associates in this vicinity all hinge upon the development of the power. With the splendid railroad facili- ties which we now have, the re- duction in the wages of labor that has recently taken place,and changes in conditions local and otherwise that have occurred during the past year, the company will now be in position to complete the work much more advantageously and economi- cally than could have been done before. They fully realize all this and that fact is responsible for the extra effort which Mr. Backus is making to get things moving. With work progressing on the dam; with freight rates lowered and the cost of building and living de- creased; with the employment which will be given large numbers of laborers who are either skilled or possesses of brawn; and with our town so easy of access as it now is by reason of having the advan- tages of three railroads, Interna- tional Falls ought to early next season become one of the liveliest and most prosperous towns in the northwest. Along this line we might add that Capt. H" J. F. Sissons. the well known lawyer of Fort Francis, was recently in Toronto on business and on his return home was quoted by the Fort Francis Times in part as follows: “In regard to the water-power and its early development the govern- ment, said Capt.Sissons. has granted Mr. Backus and his associates three months to April 1st to begin de- velopment and show their good faith bythe early completion of the water-power. Failing in this the entire concession and right to develop will revert back to the crown when development along other lines will be undertaken. The government has no wish to place any obstacle in Mr. Backus’ way, but they will insist on the early completion of the contract. In re- gard to the erection of a mill here by Mr. Backus it is now altogether likely that it will be a plup mill, as the government has given their assurance to Mr. Backus that when party’s name; such methods take ap|his mill is built they will give him a considerable time of the office, and are not successful in case the land happens to be in someone else’s name. The other day a lady living at Solway wrote just such a request to the county treasurer. They checked over the books for the writer’s name for nearly an hour. Thelots could not be found and correspondence at once taken up. It developed that chance to secure all the pulp material he requires on the same conditions as those granted to others. This is done to carry out the promise made here last summer to the town council by Hon. Mr. Cochrane that a pulp limit would be reserved for the town. This is good news to the people here as a pulp mill with no - available plap would mean nothing, not evea a mill.” FORTY CENTS PER MONTH John Steffer, Black River. International Falls, Feb. 21.— (Special to Pioneer.)—Whether the killing of Charles H. Williams at Big Falls on the 21stof August, 1907, at the hands of James Godatte, was murder in the first degree will be determined by the jury which was finally completed at a late hour yesterday afternoon for the trial of Godatte, - who was indicted on that charge by the recent grand jury of this county. The real trialof Godatte was commenced yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock, at which hour the twelfth juror was secured, after a “skirmish” between County Attorney Stanton and C. W’ Scrutchin of Bemidji (the latter acting as Godatte’s attorney) which lasted from an early hour Tuesday forenoon until yesterday afternoon, 106 veniremen having been examined and three special venires issued in the attempt to se- cure the “good .menand true.” Godatte is bearing up wonderfully well, and hardly looks like a man who was being tried on a charge where his life hangs in the balance as the outcome. He is clean shaven, very well dressed, and his manner is such as to indicate every confidence that he will not be convicted of the grave charge lodged against him— the most serious in the criminal calendar. Beside him during the trial has sat his three children: Doris, aged 11 years; James A., J., aged 9; and Nioma, aged 6. The childien are also cheerful, and dis- play great affection for the accused man. When the twelfth juror had been secured yesterday afternoon, eight names still remained on the last special venire of fifteen which had been issued earlier in the day. These eight were excused from further duty. It was a noticeable feature of the trial that the last seven of the jurors who were examined were excused because of their con- scientious scruples relative to impos- ing the death penalty in case of con- viction on the charge of murder in the first degree—they did not believe in capital punishment. After a recess of five minutes, the actual trial of Godatte was com- menced. C. W. Stanton, county attorney of Koochiching county, ~opened the case on behalf of the state, and his address to the jury is pronounced by all who heard it as having been one of the most fair, able and impartial statements of a case that has been heard in the judicial district. Mr. Stanton stated that it was not without reluctance that he took part in the trial of this case. Never but { once before had he taken partin a case where human life was at stake; and the statements brought out in securing the jury indicated that none of the members of that body had ever participated in a trial for a human life. However, he would try and reach fair and impartial re- sults. It was the duty of the judge, of the jurors and the county attor- ney toarrive at the exact facts and see that justice was administered. He desired to assure the jurors that as against Godatte as an individual he bad no prejudice whatever; he wanted him to have a fair trial for his life. He desired Godatte’s to be declared innocent if he was not "guilty, and that thropghout the trial Benjamin W. Bacon, International Falls. Ed. Eck, International Falls. H. W. Mannery, Littlefork. R. Christenson, Black River. Olaf Rathe, International Falls. | COMPLETE JURY IN GODATTE CASE. A. B, Paul, MUCH INTEREST SHOWN IN GODATTE'S MURDER TRIAL County Attorney Stanton Gives Outli_fne of Case to Jury.---Wit- nesses for State Being Examined Introduction of Testimony as to Confessions. ---Defense Objects to Thomas White, International Falls. Littlefork. Carl Murray, Black River. Lon Powell, Black River. CHARLES W. SCRUTCHIN, Attorney for the Defendant. his efforts would be exerted to that end; he wanted no innocent man convicted of so grave a charge as murder- in the first degree. The grand jury had indicted Godatte on the charge of murder ‘in - the first! degree; the court would charge the jurors as to what the law was. The statutes extend the strong arm of the law to a man accused of crime. Outlining the case briefly, Mr. Stanton stated that he intended to prove that Charles Williams (colored) citizen of Grand Falls township, was killed at his homestead on August 21, 1907. He would prove that the defendant (James Godatte) came in three miles from his homestead, and stated that Williams was dead and that he (Godatte) had killed him; that Godatte surrendered the revolver with which he claimed he had shot Williams, and was then taken in custody by an officer; that seven people visited the Williams home- stead and viewed the body of Williams, that same evening; that it was found that there were four thirty- eight calibre bullets in the body. He would show that two days after- wards Godatte made statements as to how the tragedy occurred. He would show that Godatte and Wil- liams were in the same door yard, and that they became involved in an altercation. Williams threw an ax at Godatte, which went about twenty feet and fell within eighteen feet of the latter; that Williams went to his cabin afterward (all this from Godatte’s own statements). Mr. Stanton said he would prove by Godatte’s statement that he (Godatte) rushed to the corner of William’s cabin and - watched Williams, who was inside, going to the opposite side as Williams emerged from the cabin; that Williams went away from the cabin and away from the scene of the altercation, when Godatte says he (Godatte) jumped out from behind the building crying*Here I am,” and then fired a shot from a revolver into Williams’ body. Godatte surmises he shot first, as he states that Williams had a shotgun and fired about the time hedid. Another shot was fired into Williams’ body and again Godatte advanced and shot Williams while the latter was down on his hands and knees, fol- lowing with still another shot as Williams sank to rise no more. Mr. Stanton said he was prepared to show by evidence that the last shot fired into Williams’ body was really the shot that caused death. N. P. Nelson, Waterous. John Hazzard, International Falls. Mr. Stanton, continuing, said the shooting took place on Williams’ homestead in the presence of - no one. The lips of the dead man were sealed forever. However, he had the | statement of Godatte, made forty- eight hours later Neither the wife or the children of Godatte actually saw the shooting. He would show that there had been much ill feeling between Williams and Godatte, The state intended to introduce photographs of the scene of the tragedy, and would produce wit- nesses to show that Godatte had threatened Williams. Only facts would be produced, and he hoped an impartial verdict would be rendered as a result. Dr. J. J. Ratcliffe, William Higby and Dennis Maher of Big Falls, were called by the state. Dr. Ratcliffe testified to having visited the Williams homne, the even- ing of the killing of Williams; that he examined the body, finding two bullet wounds, without disturbing the body where it lay; the wounds were in plain sight. Mr. Higby, who is justice at Big Falls, testified as to Godatte giving himself up and surrendering the revolver with which he said he had killed Williams, He said’ that Godatte at first simply said he had killed Williams. Later he said he had killed Williams in self-defense and that he could not help it. Mabher testified to having taken Godatte in charge and taking the revolver from him. Godatte told witness that he had killed Williams, and practically repeated what Mr. Stanton stated in his opening ad- dress would be proven asto how the tragedy occurred. Maher ad- mitted that Godatte afterwards told him he had shot Williams in self- defense. Court adjourned until this morn- ing at 9 o’clock. 1:30 p. m.—The trial of Godatte was resumed this morning, court convening at 10 o’clock. Long before the time for the con- vening of court the room was crowded not even standing room left for those who arrived at 10, Godatte seems cool and collected and apparently cheerful. He ‘was accompanied by his children. Mrs. Alexandria of St. Paul, a daughter of Williams, the man killed by Godatte, is present at the trial. At the opening of the court this morning Sherif P. A. Walsh of Koochiching county was the first witness placed upon the stand. He testified to the taking of the revolver which was handed to him on the night of the killing of Williams by the police of Big Falls. He further testified that a short time after this he gave the revolver to County attorney Stanton. As soon after the killing as notified he went to the home of Williams (the scene of the shooting) and made a thorough ex- amination of the body and also the grounds and surroundings. He tes- tified that the body had not been ot o) M i s et Continued on Last Rage. MRS. E. J. JONES DIES AFTER 5 WEEKS’ ILLNESS Death Caused by Severe Attack of Pneumonia.---Remains Will Be Taken to Rusk, Wis. Died, at her home in this city this morning at 10:35, Mrs. E. J. Jones, aged 50 years. To most of her friends and ac- quaintances in this city, the news of her death comes as a shock, as but few knew that she was dangetously ill. Mrs, Jones has been sick for the past few weeks with pneumonia and the past few days she seemed somewhat better though not out of danger. Death being caused by pneumonia and heart failure. The death of Mrs Jones comes as a double bereavement to her rela- tives as her mother died Wednesday evening and is being buried at Rusk, Wis., this afternoon. Mrs. Jones came to Bemidji about 2 year ago and is well known here, having conducted 2 millinery store at O’Leary & Bowsers. Mr. Jones died three years ago. She leaves to mourn her death an only brother, Mr. Sanderson of Rusk, Wis. The remains will be shipped to Rusk, Wis. for burial. Her brother, Mr. Sanderson, will arrive some time tomorrow and will take charge of the remains. Mrs. Jones was a member of the Rebekah and Maccabee lodges. Dwellings For Sale. For sale, cheap, if taken at once— Seven room modern house, with hot water heating plant, situated on a 50ft. lot, fronting east. 1019 Be midji Ave. i Three room cottage on 50ft. lot, 1008 Doud Ave. Two lots with buildings, Corner Irvine Ave. and Fifth St. Inquire of J. P. Lahr. Local news on last page Printing Suit you. Pioneer Printery The Pioneer Printery Is Equipped with Modern Machinery, Up-to-date Type Faces, and the Largest Stock of Flat Papers, Ruled Goods and Stationery of All Kinds in {Northern Minnesota. We have the’ highest-salaried Printers ~ in Beltrami county, and we are leaders in Commercial Printing. Try us; we'll i i