Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 25, 1908, Page 1

“ THE BEMIDJI Histotical Society. #1138 DAILY PION HISTORICAL KINNESOTA SOCIETY, VOLUME 5. NUMBER 263. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1908. THREE PERSONS PERISH IN BAD FIRE AT HINES Wells Johnson, Vina Doyle a Lives in Early Mornia nd Rodney Owens Lose Their ¢ Fire at Hines.---Four Other Persons Injured. One of the most destructive fires to occur in this part of the country, was the fire that occurred at Hines this morning, rendering homeless the family of V. M. Owen and burn- ing to death three human beings. The dead being Wells Johnson, brother of Mrs. V. M. Owen and who was clerking in the store for them at that time; Vina Doyle, a domestic in the Owens family, and Rodney Owen, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Owens and but eight months of age. As was his usual custom Mr. Owen staid in the store until a late| hour, retiring at about 11:45 p. m,, everything at that time seeming apparently all right. Shortly after 12:30 a. m. the whole family were aroused by the crackling of the flames and noticed their means of escape was all shut off, leaving the only means of escaping from the burning building that of jumping from the window. Upon the first discovery of the fire all thought was for the saving of the infant child and the other chil- dren. The child was asleep in it’s crib over the kitchen at the outbreak of the fire, and Wells Johnson, the first one to notice the child’s danger, made a heoric effort to save the little one from the flames, but perished as he was lifting the little one out of it’s crib. Miss Vina Doyle, the young lady who was working for the Owen’s, slept in a room over the kitchen, and all escape for her was barred by the flames and she perished without any chance of escape. Frank Owen, did heroic work in the saving of lives and he and Les-; ter Johnson and V. M. Owen suc- ceeded in rescuing the two little girls of V. M. Owen, Mrs, Frank Owen and Mrs. V. M. Owens. The means of escape being all cut off, except by jumping from the window. several of the parties caught in the fire trap were hurt . while ]jnmping from the window or trying tosave each other. Mr. V. M. Owens was severely bnrned about the hands, Mrs. V. M. Owens was terribly bnrned about her hands, arms and head, she re- ceiving her injuries while she was making a last attempt to save her baby. Little Millicen Owens had her head quite badly cut by falling on fabarrel corner when thrown from the burning building. Several parties who assisted the family in their peril were slightly bruised. The results of the fire has caused an unusually sad gloom to come over the unfortunate families, and Mrs. V. M. Owen can hardly be consoled in her sad bereavement. Immediately after the rescuing of the family, Mr. Owen accompanied by Charles Carter, procured the hand-car and made their way as quickly as possible to Blackduck, and procured a doctor who immedi- ately went to Hines and dressed the wounds of the injured. Mr. Owen was so completely exhausted that he remained at the Blackduck hos- pital. The lower part of the building was occupied by Mr. Owen as a general merchandise store, the upper part being used as living rooms. Hines isa small station a few miles north of Bemidji and has no fire protections at all. The building and stock are a total loss with no insurance, Mr. Owen not being able to save even his ac- count books. All that kind friends and neigh- bors can do is being done for the unfortunate people. Those who re- ceived injuries will recover as none of the injuries are considered fatal. Senater Swedback in California. The Pioneer is in receipt of a postal card from E. J. Swedback, who is now enjoying the balmy breezes of California, which would | indicate that the senator and his folks are in the midst of very pleas- ant surroundings. The scene on the card was taken at Mount Lowe, California at a point known as the Great Incline. A rail- way takes a car up the mountain- side, which is nearly perpendicular, and the senator wrote on the card: “Here’s where you go straight up; a 62 per cent in places. This 1s a grand country to live in, espe- cially at this time of the year. Plenty of oranges and vegetables of all kinds, every day; raised out of doors.” Band Concert. The next concert and dance to be given by the band will be given in the city hall on Friday evening, February 28. Subscribers to the band fund will be admitted to the councert free. After the concert a dance will be given, Additional local matter will be found on fourth page. Long Silk Gloves Remember the trouble you had last season in securing long silk Gloves? The indications are-that they will be scarce again this we have a good black, white, tan $2.50 a pair. season. At present assortment---colors and mode---$1.50 to (0’Leary & Bowser Bemidji, Minn. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH County of Koochiching, V8. JAMES GODETTS, International Falls, Feb. 25. 1:30 p. m.—(Special to Pioneer.)—The jury in the case of the state against James Godetts returned their ver- dict this forenoon. which in sub- stance is that James Godetts will- fully and premeditatedly murdered Charles Williams at the latter’s homestead near Big Falls on the 21 of August, 1907. The jury came to the court room at 10 o’clock this morning and brought in the above verdict. It is said that they arrived at the verdict this morning at one o’clack, but decided to sleep until morning before mak- ing their return. Godetts was cool and collected when he entered the court room to listen to the verdict and when the fatal word of “guilty” was read he never flinched, but set his jaw and gazed defiantly at the jury and the court. The verdict was something of a surprise to some biased residents of the village who could not digest the strong evidence presented by County Attorney Stanton. The court room was crowded to its utmost capacity by the expectant crowd when the verdict was an-| nounced and read. When the verdict was read, Mrs. Godetts and the children, who were present, broke down and sobbed| violently and had to be removed from the room. The prisoner could plainly hear the sobs of his family but did not flinch. g Judge Spooner commended the jury on their verdict as coinciding with his views of deliberate murder on the part of Godetts. Before being taken to the cell Go- detts was handcuffed and he bears up wonderfully well under the strain. A stay of sentence was granted until this afternoon at the request of Mr. Scrutchin. There is some diversity of opinion as to the verdict but to those who have digested the evidence -it is hardly apparant that the jury could have decided any otherwise than that of guilty. With their verdict the jury recom= mended the prisioner to the mercy of the court. 3:30 p. m.—When court re-assem- bled this afternoon at 2:30 a large and expectant crowd was in readi- ness to listen to the sentence as Tudge Spooner: would pronounce same upon the defendant, James Go- detts; and after a few remarks direct- ed to the prisoner, Judge Spooner pronounced the following sentence: “Itis therefore hereby certified of record that after due considera- tion it is the opinion of this court that, by reason of the circumstances and the recommendations of the jury, this is a case in which the death penalty will not be imposed; and as a punishment for the crime of mur- der in the first degree, of which you have been found guilty, be and you are hereby sentenced to con- finement and hard labor in the state prison at Stillwater for and during the full term of your natural life. International Ealls, Feb. 25— Defendant, STATE OF MINNESOTA, S8. SraTE OF MINNESOTA, Plaintiff, GODETTS WILL NOT HANG FOR MURDER OF WILLIAMS Judge Spooner, at 2:30 This Afternoon, and upon the Recom- mendation of the Jury, Sentenced Godetts to Life Imprisonment for Murder of Williams. District Court, Fifteenth Judicial District. Accused of the Crime of Murder in the First Degree. We, the jury, empaneled and sworn to try the guilt or innocence of the above named defendant, find said defendant,; James Godetts, -guilty as charged in the in- dictment, and recommend the prisoner. to the mercy of the court. THOMAS WHITE, Foreman. Dated this 25th day of February, A. D. 1908. hours of the Godetts trial, yesterday afternoon, was marked by intense interest on the part of the large crowds that packed the court room. which was shared also by the jury, the court offidials and the defendant and his counsel. When adjotiriment was taken for noon, the defense had introduced the evidence of several witnesses to the effect that Williams had made threats to kill Godetts, and the statements had evidently been thoroughly digested by the mem- bers of the jury, as the state made 'mo particular effort to have this evidence rejected. When court reconvened in the afternoon, r. Scrutchin endeav- ored to_ intnl);uce evidence showing that Williams \instituted an action wherein he sought an_injunction to enjoin Godetts from taking the logs from Williams’ place to the railroad. Judge Spooner decided that this evidence was entirely inadmissable, as he failed to see how the merits of that controversy could enter into the question as to who was the aggressor at the time Williams was killed. The defense called a witness to prove that Godetts was very ill the day he gave the statement to the coroner’s jury, and the witness stated that Godetts was given medicine. * Mr. Scrutchin attempted to intro- duce evidence by E. N. French of Bemidji as to filling a prescription of strychnine for Williams, but Mr. French was not permitted to testify, when the defense rested. The state played a trump card, when in rebuttal, Mr. Stanton called witnesses who had heard the fatal| shots fired the evening of August 21, | all of whom stated positively that there were four reports from a re- volver or other small firearm, followed by a heavy report from a gun of larger caliber, evidently a shotgun or rifle. 2 No amount of cross-examination could shake the positive statements of these witnesses that the lighter reports were heard first, with the heavy reports following about a minute afterwards, and that the shots were heard at about 7 o’clock on the .evening' of August 21, 1907, which has been the time fixed as when Godetts killed Wil- liams. The intent of this evidence was for the purpose of breaking down the statement made by Godetts, earlier in the day, to the effect that Williams fired the shotgun first, he following with shots from his revolver. This evidence was followed by statements from two witnesses to the effect that fresh wads from a shotgun were found at some dis- tance from the body of William$ and also from where the shotgun lay when Williams’ body was first found. The state closed its case by evi- dence from Mrs. Alexander, a daughter of Williams, and also G. P.. Watson of Big Falls, fully es- tablishing ' the fact that Williams was left-handed, the point being (Special to. Pioneer.)—The closing made for use in arguing the case A A A A A A A A ) on behalf of the state, later. At 3:30 court was adjourned until 7:30 p. m., when Ccunty Attorney Stanton, for the state, and Mr. Scrutchin, for the defense, would make their pleas. When court re-convened in the evening a larger® crowd than had yet been at the trial was assembled in the court room, every seat being taken, and tke aisles and along the wall were filled with people. Mr. Stanton, in behalf of the state, addressed the jury in his closing plea, and the address was listened to with marked atten- tion. Mr. Stanton stated that he was completely impressed with the case of the stite as being convincing and’ clear, while -that of the de- fense was weak and evasive. He stated that he believed that the defense as well as the state had {Williams had been murdered by COUNTERFEITERS NABBED FOR PASSING BAD BILLS Coney Miller and Thomas Kennedy Arrested by Deputy Sheriff J. N. Bailey for Passing Counterfeit Ten Dollar Bills. Deputy Sheriff J. N. Bailey re- turned this morning from Funkley, where he went last night to serve warrants on Coney -Miller ‘and Thomas Kennedy, two hangers-on at that place, bringing them with]| him to Bemidji this morning. The warrants were sworn out by Louis Lateral, charging them with having passed counterfeit ten-dol- lar gold certificates. In the charge Mr. Lat@ral says that Kennedy passed oneof these at his place of business on last Saturday and that Monday another was passed by Miller, Miller giving the counterfeit certificate to another man to have changed for him. Mr. Lateral saw this transaction, took the ten-dollar bill and requested the men to keep away from the prisoners until he could get to Bemidji and have the proper papers made out. Upon examination of the certifi- cates it is said that the counterfeit is a crude piece of work, though a person in giving change for them and not examining them closely, would take them for the genuine ten-dollar gold certificate. The defendants will be givena | hearing before a justice of peace here and will no doubt be bound over to await the action of the grand Jury. ——— o every confidence in the fairness ofz the jury and believed the gentle- men would arrive at a just and fair verdict. The speaker believed that he had | proved all and more than he had | claimed in his opening address. Mr. Stanton, in referring to the killing of Williams, asserted that Godetts, with a coldness and delib- erateness of intent and planning that surpassed understanding. Godetts had killed an old man, probably over 60 years of age, a man who did not have a bad character. Godetts had presumed that all he had to do was to go to Big Falls and give himself up, which he had done, and claim that he had to kill Williams in s:lf- defense. People had gone out to find the dead body of the old man, which was lying face downward, with wounds visible to anyone. The testimony showed that Go- detts had two days afterwards made a confession, with his own free will, after having been told that he need not do so if he did not so desire. According to the statement of Godetts an old man of 60 years had come out of his cabin and thrown an ax at Godetts, a champion pugilist. He would not have dared to have thrown an ax at a champion prize fighter who, according te his own statement, had never been knocked out. Mr. Stanton reviewed the state- ment of Godetts as to having “eased around the house” and shot Williams not once, but four times, in so-called self-defense, two shots having been fired after Williams had been ren- dered helpless by two previous shots. The speaker ridiculed the idea of fear on ‘the part of Godetts, who had a loaded revolver in his pocket. Mr. Stanton called attention as to Continued on Last Page Good Clothes and Nothing Else bar striped pleated styles, rino hose, worth 25¢, special NEW (908 LION SHIRTS Certainly some great ideas in exclusive jacquards, box pleat corded madras, greys and blues with ombre stripes, all new, $1, $1.50, $2 and $2.50 BOYS’ HOSE Special this week, “Iron Clad” Me- 180 @3re09. 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