Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 24, 1908, Page 1

N THE BEMIDJI DAILY . VOLUME 5. NUMBER 262. MINNESOTA HISTORICAL < SOCIETY ! IONEER. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 24, 1908. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH TRIAL IS RESUMED TODAY AND DEFENDANT TESTIFIES Godetts Gives Testimony in His Own Behalf.---Though Subject to Severe Cross Examination Tells Same Story.---Case Probably Close Tomorrow. Falls, Feb. 23.— Pioneer.) —The International (Special to the present term of court for Kooch- iching county which is being held in this village is a noteworthy one principally through the trial of James Godetts on the charge of murder in the first degree—the kill-| ing of Charles Williams, near Big]| Falls, on the evening of August 21, 1907. The holding of a term of court in International Falls is something of an innovation, as the county of Koochiching is an infant, being scarcely more than a yearling. How- ever, notwithstanding the extreme youth of Koochiching, the officials of the new county are all most efficient, for the most part being seasoned by puplic service in their former homes before coming to this county. When the adjourned term of court convened Tuesday morning, the trial of James Godetts for murder in ‘the first degree, was at once taken up, and the work of securing a jury began. The twelve “good men and true” were not secured uatil 105 venire- men had been examined, which occupied until 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon. At the beginning of the trial Judge Spooner appointed C. W. Scrutchin, the colored attorney of Bemidji, to act as counsel for Godetts. Mr. Scrutchin has asso- ciated with him in the case J. C. Chamberlain of this village. Sheriff P. A. Walsh is assisted in his official duties by T. W. Bailey, chief deputy; Harry Groves of Big | Falls; John Triska of Littlefork, | and Joseph Coughlin of Interna- tional Falls,the latter having charge of the jury. J. H. Drummond, clerk of court, is assisted by his efficient deputy, Minnie Doyle. C. W. Stanton, county attorney, is assisted in the prosecution by John E. Samuelson. The state rested on Saturday, much to the surprise of the defense, it being thought that Mr. Stanton would not cease in presenting his case at least before Saturday even- ing, and it was necessary for Mr. Scrutchin to ask for ‘adjournment of court until Monday morning which was granted by Judge Spooner. It is generally conceded that the case presented against Godetts, as it now stands, is a very strong one, and the defense is up against a difficult proposition to break down the direct confession which was made by Godetts, together with the undisputed evidence of the two physicians who conducted the autopsy on the Williams, and who swore that the fourth shot fired by Godetts (which was done while Williams lay helpless on the ground) was the fatal wound inflicted at the time of the homicide. The confession was illustrated by photos of Godetts, taken at the time he testified at the inquest, which was held at the scene of the killing, with the body lying where found, and with Godetts reproducing vividly every movement which he made on the fatal evening. It was also shown that there was ill feeling between the two men. It is judged that Mr. Scrutchin will make a strong fight to show that the killing of Williams was but an act of self-defense on the part of Godetts. During the entire examination, Mr. Scrutchin tried to break the force of the statement made by Godetts at the inquest, endeavoring to show to the jury that, through the officiousness of Sheriff Walsh, Godetts was in a measure forced to go through again his actions on the day of the killing, It is known that the "dz:fense has dead body of|. Williams made threats of bodily harm toward Godetts. Tust how strong the defense can go in the matter of proving that there was such feeling between Godetts and Williams as to have constituted fear on the part of Godetts of being killed by Williams is a matter of conjecture. Should the evidence along that line prove to be rather strong, it may have a tendency to weaken the force of the statement made by Godetts, but from present indications, there is believed to be but one outcome of the case—a charge from Judge Spooner for a verdict of either mur- der in the first degree or absolute acquittal. International Falls. Feb. 24— (Special to Daily Pioneer.)—The Godetts trial was resumed this morning at9 o,clock from the adjournment of Saturday forenoon, atwhich time County Atrorney C. W. Stanton rested his case for the state. There was the usual large crowd in attendence, and there was an air of expectancy evident all over the court room. = The members of the jury did not show any evidences of weariness be- cause of their tiresome duties. They had been given every opportunity to enjoy the fine weather of Sunday, Judge Spooner having instructed the baliffs (when court adjourned Saturday) to take the jurymen out, give them plenty of opportunity to enjoy the fine weather, but to let no onc converse with them relate to the case on trial, and to allow them to read no newspapers which con- tained accounts of the trial. Godetts entered the court room with head erect, his manner in every way indicating confidence in the favorable outcome of the case. He was accompanied by his three chil- dren, who have sat by his side in the court room ever since the trial be- gan. In fact,in view of the damaging evidence which has been given by the state, the nerve of Godetts is remarkable. C. W. Scrutchin, the Bemidji colored attorney who is defending Godetts, came in smiling as usual, and seemed well pleased with the situation. County Attorney Stanton wore his usual satisfied expression, and was evidently alert for every move that would be made by the defense. When the court reconvened At- torney Scrutchin arose tomake his address to the jury in opeming the case of the defense.: Much specula- tion has been indulged in as to what course the defense would pursue, and when Mr. Scrutchin started to talk, every eye in the court room was fixed on him. Mr. Scrutchin said: “May it please the court and gentlemen of the jury: “It is always customary, in a lawsuit of this kind, when the state has rested its case, for the defense to briefly outline the facts upon which it predicates its defense: “I want to say to you, my friends that the defense in this case will not be a fanciful or strained defense —not a defense of brain storm or temporary insanity; but we plant our defense upon a higher law—a law that God Almighty has installed in the breast of every human being, long before man made law— the law of self-preservation. And in urging that defense here today this defendant does not come be- fore you as a cringing sycophant begging for mercy; but he comes clothed in the rights of an Ameri- can citizen; in an American court of justice; before an American jury, demanding at your hands absolute justice. “The details of that unfortunate occurrence I shall not trespass upon your patience to go into, but the facts and circumstances that led up several witnesses who will swear that to that melancholy catastrophe I shall leave to be given to you from the lips of this defendant; and when he takes the stand I invite my learned friend who occupies a seat on the other side of the table to cross-examine him as severely as he may wish. “We expect to show - that this defendant was inveigled into sign- ing a contract by the deceased, who represented that he had proved up on his homestead; and that, in pursuance to that contract, the defendant went upon the lands and built camps and two miles of a logging road; that to raise money to carry on the logging work he mortgaged all his stock and his little home in Bemidji. “The evidence will show that as soon as he got the logging camps completed and the two miles-of log- ging road cut that Williams began to find fault, and wanted this de- fendant to throw up the contract; that this defendant said, ‘All right, pay me for the labor I have done and I will get out;’ and that Wil- liams refused to pay Jim or the men who had done the work on the camps and the logging roads. “We will also place upon the stand the attorney and confidential friend of the deceased, Aad Tone, who if he has bias in this case it is on the side of the state not ours. He will tell you, when he takes the stand, that as attorney for Will- iams he brought an injunction suit to restrain this defendant from carrying out his contract, and on the hearing of that injunction the noble and learned court who is to- day presiding over this case with such eminent fairness dissolved the injunction and told this defendant to go back and bank his logs where the contract called for. “We shall also place upon the stand E. N. French, a clean-cut, honorable young business man from Bemidji, who will tell you that Williams, on or about the\‘li)th of June, 1907, came “into his drug siore and bought strychnine, and we will show you that he scatter‘ed it around where Jim’s children would be liable to get it, and did poison two of Jim’s dogs. “In addition to that testimony we shall place upon the stand Eric Lindeen of Big Falls, a man who stands asa tower of respect and honor in the community where he lives; and he will tell you that as a justice ~of the peace he dismissed a case against this defendant, brought by Williams, charging Jim with having stolen a stove, for the simple reason that Williams failed to appear, after swearing out a warrant against this defendant. “We will also show you by numer- ous witnesses that Williams threat- ened to do this defendant great bodily harm, and that those threats were communicated to the defend- ant; and to one witness in particu- lar (Henry Sherman of the Town- ship of Henry) he said, ‘T am hav- ing some trouble with Godetts, and if the black don’t get off my place I am going to fill him full of bullets.” “Another witness will take the stand (an old Bohemian woman, Mrs. Mahipka) and while she may not be able to translate the soft lines of Horace or perchance solve deep problems in calculus, yet when she tells you, in her broken English, that Williams had told her that if Godetts did not get off his- place he would chop his head off, you will have just as much right to disbelieve your own wife as to say that she perjured herself. “So now, farmers (and I think I can address you as farmers without fear of any offense, as the early part of my life, as a slave boy, was spent upon my master’s plantation in Mississippi) when we have laid be- fore you all these facts and circum- stances, if there remains in your mind a reasonable doubt, I want to ask you that in accordance with your oaths, and in accordance with the profiise you' made me when I accepted you as jurors, that you will trace that poison to his house and | with Modern Machinery, Type Faces, and the Largest Stock of Flat Papers, Ruled Goods and Stationery of All Kirds in Northern Minnesota. We have the highest-salaried Printers in Beltrami coun'ty, and we are leaders not defile the record of this court Printing The- Pioneer Prirtery Is.Equipped Up-to-date in Commercial Printing. Try us; we'll Suit you. Pioneer Priniery with a verdict of guilty, but that, on the contrary, you will return a ver- dict of not guilty.” 1:30—After the address by Mr. Scrutchin - to the jury James Godetts was called to the stand and sworn as a witness in his own be- half. In his testimony he gave the history of his life from the time he was born until up to the time of the killing of Williams. He stated that he was born in Jamica in the year 1863. He told how he engaged in prize fighting for money and led up to the time of the killing of Williams at Big Falls last August. At this time the state objected to the narrative form of the testimony and Godetts was not allowed to tell of threats told him by other parties. Godetts gave a dramatic story of the killing and how it occurred, claiming that Williams fired the first shot and he followed with five shots from his revolver, at each time advancing towards Williams, and that at the time the last shot was fired by him Williams was trying to get up to get his shot gun. He also testified that when the last two shots were fired that Williams was on the ground on all fours. When cross-examined by County Attorney Stanton Godetts claimed he had been sick the night before the inquest was held at Williams’ place and did not remember any- thing which occurred at that time. Godett’s statements this morning were somewhat different from those given at the inquest. His tale this morning differs materially from the statement given at the inquest as Godetts now claims that Williams fired the first shot.’ Godetts is being given a severe | gruelling examination by Attorney Stanton and has been visibly ex- cited. He has twice retold how he killed Williams and the straight- forwardness with which he gives same has had good effect on the Continued on Last Page BEMIDJI SHOULD ADVERTISE TO GET SUMMER TOURISTS Senator S. D. Works Is Confident of the Future Growth of Bemidji.---Says Bemidji Should be Better Advertised as a Summer Resort. Senator S. D. Works of Mankato spent Saturday and Sunday in this city. The senator has considerable farm lands in this vicinity and his mission here was in connection with them. Senator Works predicts a bright future for Bemidji and thinks that the coming season will be one of the best for the city that it has ever known. In speaking of the city, Works said: “I have watched the growth of Bemidji for several years and notice that it has a steady, healthy growth. The growth of Bemidji is greater as compared with its size than Senator any other town that I know of in northern Minnesota. Bemidji is a natural commercial center and its citizens should work in harmony in the up-building of same and in the securing of any interest which tends to make it a distributing point for wholesale concerns. “Bemidji citizens should also see that the world knows of the beauti- ful lakes and natural outing grounds for summer resorters. In my trav- els the past year I have met a great many people who speak of i the natural advantages of Bemidji and express-themselves that they at some future time expect to spend the summer on the shores of Lake Bemidji.” John Rellis Dies at Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids, Feb. 24.—John Relli§, chairman of the Democratic central committee of Itasca county, died at 8 o,clock * Saturday evening of penumonia at his home in this city after an illness of 48 hours. Mr. Rellis was one of the best known politicians and business men of northeastern Minnesota and for 20 years had been allied with the Democratic party in this part of the state. He was active in commercial life and in recent years was inter- ested in several mining projects. He was one of the company which has alease on the Itasca county poorfarm, which is being drilled for iron ore. Mr. Rellis was unmarried and 45 years of age. He came to Grand Rapids 15 or 20 years ago and has been one of its leading citizens. He was a member of the Eagles and several other fraternal orders. Railway Mileage in Minnesota. According to a recent report of the railway commission, Minnesota has the following railway mileage: Miles. Chicago & Northwestern..... 650 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha.......... cevees 436 Chicago, Milwaukee & St.Paul 1,202 Chicago, Rock Island & Paci- Chicago Great Western. Great Northern......... Duluth & Northeastern...... Duluth & Northern Minnesota 77 Illinois Central.+«scveveena. 30 Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie 541 Minneapolis & St. Louis. . 379 Minnesota Transfer.... 64 Northern Pacificec«... Minnesota & International... 191 Tetal miles checked....... 7,500 Grand Lodge Elect Officers. ; The Grand Lodge A. O. U. W. of Minnesota have elected the follow- ing officers: ¥ Grand master workman, M. C. Tift, Long Prairie; grand foreman, W. L. Comstock, Mankato; grand recorder, Charles E. Larson, St. Paul; grand guide, J. A. Schumacher, Duluth; grand inside watchman, R. W. Richards, Moorhead; grand outside watchman, W. M. Barber, Long Prairie; grand trustees, William Harnisch, chairman, St. Paul; Alex Van Praag, Owatonna; W. L. Law- rence, Minneapolis; supreme repre- sentatives, M. C. Tift, Long Prairie; William B. Anderson, Minneapolis; Fred H, White, Duluth. Dedication Services. Appropriate dedication services of the new Catholic church were held at the church yesterday fore- noon, Bishop McGollrick of Duluth conducting the services. He was assisted by a number of priests from other places. The Pioneer expects to give a more extended write-up of the new church in the near future at which time we will have a nice half-tone cut of the new building. Local news on last page One of the Right Kind. A new picturesque, romantic comedy drama has been made from the . famous story of the ‘“Hidden Hand,” and will be seen at the City Opera House, Feb. 29. The announcement should arouse more than ordinary interest among patrons of the best classof plays, or people who like melodramas of the genuine kind, for all accounts agree that the author in this in- stance, a well known actor, has succeeded in adding to the stock of worthy American plays., Mrs. South- worth’s story of the mountainfolk of old Virginia will be seen in four picturesque acts full of life, incident, real characters. humor, superstition and romance. he author has avoided - the extremely sensational, but has retained the full charm and power of the story. Reduce Canadian Postage. About a year ago the Canadian government issued an order requir- ing postage of one cent per paper for all papers sent by publishers of the United States -to their sub- scribers in Canada. After giving same a fair trial the Canadian au- thorities have found that this order has worked to their disadvantage and not to that of the publishers of the United States, the publishers of the United States simply adding the amount of the postage to the subscription. A circular recently issued by the Canadian authorities states the with- drawn of this order and now papers may be sent to Canada as formerly without postage. Card ot Thanks. To the kind friends and neighbors who so willingly assisted us during the sickness and death of our beloved sister; Mrs. E. J. Jones, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks; and more especially do we thank the members of the Maccabee and Rebekah lodges, Dr. Morrison, Miss Blanche Paddock, Mr. and Mrs. McFarland and O’Leary and Bowser, and the employes in the store, and all friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted us. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Sanderson. Taken to Wisconsin for Burial. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Sanderson of Rusk, Wis., who were called here on account of the death of Mrs. E. J. Jones, a sister of Mr. Sanderson, left this morning, for Rusk, Wis. They took with them the body of Mrs. Jones, who will be buried in the Weston cemetery at that place. The funeral will be a double one, as they are holding the remains of Mrs. Jones’ mother for burial at the same time. & Civil Service Examination. S. A. Cutter of this city is in receipt of a circular from the civil service bureau in which it states that civil ‘service examinations for railway mail clerks will be held at the following - dates and places: Duluth, March 10; Grand Forks, March 19; Fargo, March 20, {Paul April 11. s