Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1886)
"f f 8 TIIB OMAHA DAILY BEE , FH1DAY , MARCH 12 , 1833. ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE , The Taking of Testimony in the Great Kinder Case Commenced. THE COURT ROOM CROWDED. A TliroiiR of Sticulntors Watch the Progress of the Trial Latter Cool find Calm Xlic Kvl- clcucc Scenes nutl Incidents. a ho I/nttcr Trial. Instead of abating , the Interest in the Lnucr case Is increasing with every day of llio trial. As early as 8 o'clock yesterday morning people began to arrive at tlio court house and take their scats i\s \ near llio bench ns possible. The sheriff was bcsctgcd with applications for admission to tlio Inside of the railing. Every excuse that it was possible to invent was urged ns ti reason why they should be favored with rcscived seats. At 0 o'clock tlio room wns Illicit , but tlio throngs contin ued to pour in all llio forenoon until thorn was a triple row of people stand ing up around three sides of the room. There was a look of eager cxime- laney on thulr faces , which were turned towards the door through which Lauor usually makes his advent to the room. It was a fuw minutes before 0:00 : o'clock ' when tlio prisoner appeared. Ho was accompanied by his step-mother and Ids two sisters. He seemed to bo deeply Impressed by the largo number of spec tators nml ho took his accustomed scat and stared fixedly at the scroll work up on the judge's bench. Ho seemed lost in n rovery , from which ho wis : only aroused by the entrance of Judge Savage , who came up and clasped him warmly by the hand. A few moments later , Mr. Tlmrs- ton ciuiio in and , drawing his colleague to a seat in the vacant jury box , hold a consultation with him. At 11:10 : o'clock Judge Neville took his place upon tlio bench and ordered the jury to be summoned. "Call Henry Voss" said tlio district attorney - tornoy , after the jury had been polled. Mr. Voss was shown the plat of tlio Latter house which ho had mtulo tlio day after the shooting. Ho stated that Mr. Lauer was present when ho was making the plan , which only represented two rooms , the parlor ami bed-room. 13 ] "Did you talk with Mr. Lauer ? " K "i'es sir , ho told mo that the position of l < tlio furniture was the same ns when the shooting occured. " The district attorney then examined witness in regard to the dimensions of the room and brought out the fact that the foot-board of the bed was thrco feet two inches high and that it was eighteen inches from the Hour to the top of the mattress. The witness then discnbed the steve in which there was a lire at the time of the shooting. He said there was n large window in the sitting-room and a bow-window in the bed-room. "Did you have any conversation with Mr. Laucr in regard to the death of Mrs. Lauorf" "lie asked moyhat the general talk was about the ufl'air in town. I told him " "Wo object to that ; it is irrelevant , " interposed Mr. Thurston. The objection was not sustained , and the witness was allowed to proceed. "I told him J didn't take much interest in it and knew little about it. Ho said something about the newspapers , mid and " "Go on , " said Mr. Estclloj "givo his exact language. " "Well , ho said that news paper men were to ulamo for the public feeling , or something of that kind. " The next witness called by the prosecu tion was John G. Leo. Mr. Leo is a white haired man , father-in-law of John A. McSlmno. He gave his evidence in n very positive manner. Ho used to sleep in Mr. McSlmno's house , which is just south of the scene of the tragedy. On the night of the shooting ho had been out with sonic friends and did not return home until near midnight. "Did you go directly to bed on your < re- turn ? " asked the district attorney. "You bet your lifo I did , " responded the witness with emphasis , to the amuse- men. of the spectators. "Now , " continued Mr. Estellc , "tell tlio Jury what you hoard and saw on the night of the shooting. " "J was aroused about 2 o'clock in the morning by hearing a woman's screams. The sound seemed to como from the front of the house and I heard the naino of Mr. or Mrs. Leo. I jumped out of bed. ran to the door ami looked out. 1 could see no one so I went back and got some of my clothes. I then went out on the porch , boots in hand. I was just pulling on ono of my boots when" Miss Lauor came running up. She exclaimed : 'Oh , Mr. Leo , como over to our house at once ; something terrible has happened1 ! 1 at once went over to the house and found Mr. Lauor in the front hall. lie was walking to and Ire , hollering and saying. 'Oh , Lord ! Oh , Lord ! ' all tfio time. " "Wlmtdid ho say to 3-011 ? " "I don't think ho said anything but 'Lord , Lord , Lord. ' I rushed into tlio sitting room , and saw Mrs. Latior's body lying upon I ho lloor , " "What was the first thing you saw in the room ? " "I think the first thing I saw was the stoyo. It was n base burner and there wasullttlo lire in it. I don't remember much ubout it. J was too scared to think of anything. From the sitting room I went into the bed room wlicro Mrs. Lnuor'fi body was lying. " "What kind of ligfit was there that enabled you to see thu body ? " "Now you've got me. i don't remem ber. The body was lying upon the lloor yith ( ho head about eighteen inches from the bed and the feet upon thu threshold of the room. " "In what position was Mrs. Lnucr's body ? " "She was lying upon her back with her head drooping to the right so that her nose almost touched the lloor. The nook was not at all rigid , so Hint this posture did not alU-et the position of the body. I could not see the wound , which was on the right side of the faco. I saw ut once that MIU was dead. " "Had Lauur snld nnythlng to you up to this Union" " 1 asked him wluU the matter was. and got no i espouse beyond "Oh , Lord ! Oh , Lord1" ! "How was ho dressed when you came "I don't remember , but I know ho was partially dressed. 1 didn't ' take any par ticular notice of his clothes. " "Did you see any spots upon them ? " "No , sir ; I can't say that I did. I looked at his hands anil they were free from nil imuks or spots as whit omul clean as usual. In a lew mimitns Matt Cuiiliin ciimu in and wo went to the sit- tin" room together. " "I haw Gahlun got the revolver on something in the north part of the bed room. Lauor was then hollering over the body. " "What did Gahlan do with the rovol. vorJ" "Ho put it in his pocket. I then went out in the raid to keep- the women folks from ocmui" In. Mr MiSlmnu came in ubout two minutes after 1 did" "Whero wns Lauer ? " MHo was going round hollering as usual. Air. CalKigucr was the ilc.\t per- on to arrive , nnd ho hold n conversation with McSlmno and Lauer in the room where the body lay. I went back to my house and put on my clothes. When I went back 1 think Mr. McShano was still in the house , and Lnucr was still holler ing. " hUl hat was the conversation between Mr. Latter and Mr. McShanc ? " asked Mr. Estello "Ho was tolling how it happened , and ho said that ho woke sudden and thought hi ; heard voices. He saw something nnd llrcd. He then reached over his hand , found his wife was gone. He jumped out of bed and found his wife wns shot. " "What did ho say then ? " "lie said ho turned her body over. " "Did ho say where the first saw the ob ject ? " " 1 don't think ho did. Ho snld ho wns in bed when ho llrst saw it. 1 think ho said ho was lying down when ho shot. He didn't say where ho got his revolver. "Did lie say anything else after ho turn ed the body over ? " "No , ho simply said he turned her over those were Ins exact words When Coroner Droxcl came the body was on the lloor in tlio same position. Tim cor oner raised the body part way up. There was blood upon the lloor. I didn't notice her face. I went out again and caution ed the women against coming in the house. " Atlhis pointOcn.Cowin and Mr. Kstelle had a short conversation and the district attorney began to ask the witness in re gard to what Lauor said about hearing' the voices. "Did he say ho listened to hear what they were ? " 'No , he simply said ho grabbed the revolver and shot. " Mr. Lee wns then subjected to n cross- examination by Mr. Thurston. He said that Lnucr was apparently terribly shocked. "Did he say'My ' God.l'vc shot Sally' ? " "Yes. sir , ho did. Ami 1 asked if she was dead. I then went up to where she was lying ami found she wns lifeless. At time the limbs were not rigid. The right side of her face was resting in n pool of blood. The brightest light was in the bedroom. I could see that there was n lire in the stove. There might have been little coming through the stove , but it was very faint. " Mr. Lee was then shown the plat of the house nnd explained the position of the body. "How did you happen to sec the revolver ver ? " asked Mr Thurston. "Somebody told mo that the revolver ought to bo taken from Latter or ho would kill himself. I went into the room nnd took it from n stand and placed it un der the sofa. " Mr. Lee was next cxnmined in regard to the condition of the bed , which ho said looked as if two persons had been sleep ing in it. "After Mr. Gallagher came in didn't Mr. Lauer want to take his wife's body oil1 the lloor ? " "I don't rcmomuor that ho said any thing about it. Afterwards 1 heard .some body say that the coroner ought to be sent for. " Mr. Leo's redirect examination was conducted by Gen. Cowin , who ques tioned him vorv closely about the light in the stove. No now facts were brought to light , however. Dr. George IJ. Ayrcs was the next wit ness. He said that he did not know cither Mr. or Mrs. Lattcrt but he was called to the house the morning after the shooting. "I examined Mrs. Lauer's head , " ho continued , "and found a small spot at the right of the nostril. The bul let had passed directly through the head and wns wedged in the bone in the bnok of the skull. The bullet passed through both the larger and the smaller brain. The wound was necessarily fatal. " "Have you the bullet which inflicted the wound ? " "I have , " replied the doctor , and ho drew a small piece of lead from his pocket. The bullet was passed over to the table at which Latter was sittingand was examined by the lawyers. The de fendant did not move n muscle , but con tinued to gaze straight nhcad , carefully avoiding the sight ot the bullot. On cross-examination the doctor said that the nature of the Wound was such as would cnnso instant death. Ho said that the course of the bullet was to the left and slightly upward. He was shown the plan of the room , nnd stntcd that this was the direction it would naturally take if the shot was lircd from the bed at a person standing up. "What bruises did you find on the body ? " "I found n slight bruise on tlio right elbow and scratches on the other arm. " "Was the bruise such as might have been caused by fulling ? " "Yes. or striking the elbow against some object. " On redirect examination the doctor said that the way a person fell when shot depended upon the line of gravity. "If .1 person were walking backwanfs , then , " continued Gen. Cowin , "tho body would fall on its back. " "Yes , sir , it might. " "I'd like to know , " said Mr. Thurston , "how many lawyers the prosecution is going to use to examine cneh witness. " "Only two , " remarked Gen. Cowin , with a laugh. "I was waiting for the defense to ob ject , " said the court ; "only ono of you can question the witness. " Matt Gnhlan's name was then called , but ho was not in the room , and the court adjourned till 2 o'clock. IN TUT. AFTUKNOO.V. The nppcaranco of the court room in the aftcinoon was brightened by the pres ence of a largo number ot ladies , sonic of whom were witnesses while others were attracted by the deep interest which they felt in the proceedings , hvon before the court convened there were at least 000 people in the room. Every scat was taken , and a line of people extended out into the corridors. Lauer cnnio in at 3 o'clock carrying a neat , ivory handled umbrella. lie was joined by his mother nndfaistyrs who look their customary posi tions by his side. They were all deeply occupied with their own thoughts and scorned to uo indifferent to the events which wore transpiring about them. The hont in the room was oppressive , which made their ordeal still moro dilHoult to endure , lioyoml an oc casional shade of weariness which possess their countenances they "ivo no sign of their sullering , At exactly 3 o'clock the jury Hied into the room and took their places in llio box and in few minutes Judgci Novillp called the court to order. The lirst witness placed upon the stand wns Matt Gahlan , John A. MeShnno's coachman. "On the night of the shoot ing , " said ho , "I was aroused by Miss Laucr , who was out on tlio lawn. 1 at once got up , and , hearing Miss Lauor speak again. I wont out and crossed over to Mr. Lauur's house. When I went around the barn I mot Mr. McShano and Mr. Leo. That was about li\e minutes n'ter 1 heard Miss Lauor. 1 then walked on and met Miss Laner and helped her over the fence be tween the Lauer and Gallagher lots. I wont to the Lauor hoiuo and wont in the front. It was a proity bright night , though I could sco no moon. When 1 went into the house there was no ono them From the hall I wont Into the din ing room. Mr. Leo was the first person I saw in that room. I nlso saw Mr , Lauer , who was in the bed-room , at the foot of the bed. 1 think ho way kneeling upon ono knee. " 'What was the first object you saw in the dining room ? " asked Slv. Eitcllo. "Mw , Latior's feet. " "Did you sou nothing before that * " "Yes , sir , I saw the stovo. Mrs. Lauer was lying upon the lloor. Her head was about two feet from tlio foot of the bed. Shu was lying upon her back with her body ' perhaps inclined n little to the riglit. ' ' W1.nlna the condition of the stove ? " "The isinglass was perfectly clcnu , nnd the coal had burned out of the feeder , leaving nothing on top of the lire to hide its light. There wns a pretty gov ' lire in the stove , although there were > . few nshc's. 1 wouldn't say that the lire was low. However , the bedroom was the lightest room , there being a lamp upon the dressing case. There was no light except from the lamp and the stovo. I looked at Mr. Lnucr's watch nnd snv/ that it wns 2ir : > o'clock. " 'Did you secany weapon in the room ? " "Yes , sir. 1 saw a pistol in Mr. Lee's hands which ho placed under the sofa In the dining room. 1 took it awny from there. " "What wns the conversation between Mr. Laucr and Mr. Gallagher ? " "Tho first tiling I heard Latter say wns : 'I didn't henr her get out of bed end didn't know she wns out of bed. I thought I heard somebody on the outside nnd I put my hand under the p llowpulled my gun and blamed away. " Another time ho slid that ho 'got his revolver and fired. ' Ho did not say what ho shot at. " "Was there any light at any time you were there except from the steve ? " "No sir , except in the kitchen. " "What was the condition of Mrs. Lauer's hair ? " "It was hanging down and fell about a foot behind her head. When Mr. Drexel cnme Mr. Lnucr held up her hair while the coroner was cleaning it. I got a bucket of water and wo put the hair in it. " "Wero there any windows in the room ? " "I saw ono in the bod-room , but did not notice any others. " "Did Mr. Lauor say anything about Mrs. Lauer's getting up ? " "He said that it was the lirst time she had over gotten up without his knowing it , and he didn't sco how on earth it could have happened. " "Take tlio witness , " laconically said the district attorney , turning to Mr. Thurston. During the cross-examination Gahlnn stnted that when ho went into the room where Mrs. Lauor's body was lying blood was oo//mgfrom the woundt and that she was covered by a quilt , which had evi dently been taken Ire in the bed. "Now , " said Mr. Tlmrston , "you testi fied at the policecourtthat when you lirst saw Latter he wns moaning over Mrs. Lauer's body. " "Yes , sir , that was so. Ho wns , I think , kneeling down by her head and Saying 'My God , Sallio. ' Ho was appar ently sullering intense grief , at least to nil natural nppcaranco. " The witness then went on to state that Latter said that ho saw a form approaching - ing his bed. From the looks of tiic bed Gahlan thought that two people must have slept in"it. The clothes were rolled back and the pillows rumpled. One of the pillows was placed under Mrs. Lauer's head while she was lying on the iloor. Her clothes wore on a chair at the foot of the bed. This ended the cross- examination. On redirect examination ho ( Gnhlan ) said that Lauer was dressed and that his hands were perfectly clean until ho com menced to help the coroner remove the blood from Mrs. Lnuer's faco. "Now Air. Gahlan , in answering a question of Mr , Thurston's. you said that Lauer stated that ho thought ho saw a burglar. Is that right ? " "That is what 1 understood him to . i > say. say."Did you notice Lauer's shoes' " "Yes ; ho wore laced shoes which scorned to bo completely laced up. " In answer to a question by Mr. Thurs ton Gahlan said that "Laucr had his coat , trousers and vest over his night shirt. Ho wore 119 collar or cravat. " At this point ho was shown the revolver with which the shooting was done. Ho identified the weapon , which was after wards passed to Judge Stenborg. "It's loaded , " said Mr. Estelle , as Judge Ston- berg held it carelessly in his haniK "Hold on now , " interjected Sir. Thurston , "You'd better unload it before it ts intro duced into evidence. 1 don't like to fool with n loaded revolver. " The witness took the pistol nml started to spring up the barrel so that ho could take out the cartridges. "Don't do that"ordered JudsroNeville , ns ho glanced down nnd saw the muzzle of the weapon pointed directly towards him. "J5e carotid. Take it into my pri vate room nnd unload it thero. " His in structions were followed nnd the weapon was returned to the lawyers' table after the charges had been drawn. John A. McShano was the next witness. Ho testified that he was awakened about 2 o'clock on tlio morning of tlio shooting by hearing a scream on the outside of his house. " 1 went to the Lnucr house , " continued Mr. McShano , "nnd entering the front door went to the bed room where I found Mr. Lauei and Gahlan. " ' It what position was Mrs. Laucr ? " asked tlio district attorney. "She was lying on the lloor on hoi- back , reclining slightly to the light , and was covered with a comforter. Mr. Laucr wns kneeling down bv the side of his wife and Gahlan was in the bed room. I stayed there but a mintito and wont out in the yard. When I eamo back I talked to Lauer , nnd proposed to telephone to Mr. Her and Coroner Drexel. Ho re quested me to telephone his wife's mother , also. In explaining the circum stances of the shooting , he stated that ho heard something in the dining room which awakened him. Ho reached for his pistol , and as ho did so ho saw a form coming toward him and fired. Ho said ho heard fcomo noises , his impression be ing that morn than one person was in the loom. From what ho said I judged that ho waited for the other person to como up , then reached for his wito , found that she was gone , and got up , 1 at once went to my house , telephoned Her and asked him to .send for Mrs , Goetschins , 1 tele phoned for Drexol. " "Did ho say what ho did after ho got out of bed ? " D"I think not. I don't remember. " "How long did it take you to g t over to the house ? " "Not moro than five minutes , as I didn't wait to dress completely. I stayed there the lirst time about fifteen or twenty minutes. Her came up in an hour. 1 remained till ho came , being in and out of the house four or live times , I didn't notice whether the hall was lighted or dark. " On the erosvoxaininntionMr. Thurston asked how Lauer was dressed , "Ho wore a pair of trousers and coat but ho didn't have his vest on , his coat being drawn on over his night shirt. When I went in Lauor was kneeling by his wife with his arm thrown over her. Ho was saying 'Great ' God,1 As far as appearance. ' } went ho scorned to bo mourn ing nnd used expressions both of grief and endearment. " "When did ho say she heard ho voices ; was it before or after the shooting ? " "Uoforo. Ho heard the voices and thought that some ono clso was coming , so ho waited for a few seconds before ho looted for his wife. " Mr. McSlmno then slated that ho did not touch the stove while ho was in the house , although it was Mated at the pre liminary examination that ho hud shaken it down. M. O. Maul was then called to the stand. Ha said that ho was called up about 2:00 : o'clock by Mr. McShano , who ttskcd for the coroner. The coroner went up to Lauer's l.oitso in a cab which ho afterwards sent back with a summons for him. When ho reached the house ho saw Mr. Droxcl washing the blood from Mrs. Liuiur'd hair. Mr. Lauer was kneel ing by the body helping the coroner cleaning tip the blood and made himself useful in gistUng rags and towels. "I us- Eu-led Mr. Drexel , " said ho"to wash the hair , which took nearly nn hour. After wards wo placed Mrs. Lauer on a board nnd took her in the front room , " "How tall was Mrs. Lnuer ? " "Sho wns 5 feet ! inches tnll and weighed 12ii pounds. She hnd n heavv hcnd of long , wnvy hair. She hnd on nothing but n night gown nnd some bed ding which wns thrown ever her. When I entered the room I said to my partner , Mr. Droxcl , 'John what 1ms happened ? ' Lauer thought I wns addressing him nnd ho replied that ho hnd n pain In his face nnd hadn't slept well for toiuo time until that night. Ho said that ho woke up about midnight , heard voices in the next room and saw nn object moving towards him , when ho reached for Ids revolver nnd fired. Then ho reached for his wife nnd when ho found she wns not In bed lip knew that ho must have shot her. Ho didn't say anything about the nature of the voices , but ho thought they cnmo from the adjoining room. " "Did ho say what ho aimed at ? " "Ho said ho saw an object move nnd ho aimed and fired. " The cross-oxaminntiDit brought out the fact that Latter showed Mr. Drexel the sore on his fnco caused by the boil. P. E. Her , the next witness , said that ho went to the Lauer house about ! ) o'clock on the morning of the shooting. Ho was awakened by a telephone message from Mr. MeShmio. who wanted him to bring Mrs. Goetscluus. Ho said that ho was slopped before entering the house by Mr. Lee , who did not want Mrs. Gootschlus to see her daughter until the coroner had prepared tlio body. Mrs. Lauor was lying on the cooling board and Lauer was seated on the bed when ho entered. " 1 asked Mr. Lnuer , " continued he , "how it could happen. Lauor's reply was that he took his wife for a burglar and shot her accidentally. Wo afterwards had an hour's conversation about the matter , when I said it looked almost impossible that .such a thing could occur. " "Did you state why you thought so ? " " 1 said that the light from the steve nlono ought to have made light enough to distinguished his wife from n burglar. Mr. McShano and Mr. Gallagher both said they thought it was an accident and that if there had been no previous trouble there would bo no question about its behi an accident , Lauer afterwards said that ho thought that two people were in the room , nut when he found it was his wife ho thought she might have been talking to the bird , as the cage was on the table. " "Did you observe the stove ? " "Yes , sir ; it was a largo bnso burner , and had two rows of isinglass. The isinglass was very clean more so than usual The fire in the steve wns very bright. I kept In' ' king a good deal , rattier insisting it looked almost impos sible that the affair could happen in that way. Lauer explained matters by telling about the boil which only had broken the day before. lie said ho was afraid of burglars , and when the image approached near enough to see it ho lired. Ho reached over , and the thought nt once struck him that ho had shot ids wife. " 'What , did Latter say about the steve ? " "I nskcd him how tiio burglar who had entered the house before was dressed. Ho said that he wore a slouch hat. Ho came very near hitting < him , but he dodged back of the casing. 1 asked him how he could mistnko'her ' for a burglar when the room was so light. Ho ex plained that he was nervous , and was naif asleep and half awake so that ho hardly knew what he was doing. " "Did ho say what position he was in when he lired ? " "Ho didn't say. I told him that in his condition he ought not to have a re volver , as anybody coming at night to see him would bo in clangor of being shot. 'Yes , ' said he , 'thoy would. ' " "Did ho say where ho found his wife's body ? " "He said ho'found ' her , on the floor , and I asked why he didn't send for a doctor. He rejoined that she wns dead , nnd there was no doubt that ho killed her. Ho thought there was no need of a doctor , but that ho ought to have the coroner. Ho told mo ho believed his wife was killed instantly. Ho thought at first she was breathing , but ho called to her and getting no answer ho knew She was dead. 1 asked why the body was lolt in the blood so long , and some ono said , 'Why , it's to wait for the coroner. ' " Mr. Estellc then began to question the witness about the marital relations that existed between Mr. and Mrs. Laucr im mediately after their marriage. Mr. Thurslon objected to such testimony on the ground that it was irrelevant and im material. The court overruled the ob- iection , and his ruling wns excepted to by the counsel for the defense. "Note the exception , " said Judge Savage ; "wo object to every bit of testimony on this matter. " Mr. Her then proe.ecded to answer the questions propounded by the district at torney. "Tho first time I ever talked to Mr. Lauer about the trouble between himself and his wife was inthcspringof 1881. The conversation was caused by the fact that Mrs. Lauer was brought to my house in a carriage the morning before at about 10 o'clock , She was nervous , pale and crying. She said " "Hold on , " ejaculated Mr. Thurston , "it makes no dill'erenco what she said ; you can only mention the conversation which took place between yourself and Mr. Lauer. " "That is so. " remarked tlio court , "un less Mrs. Lnucr made a dving statement , in which case I should of course admit it as evidence. " "Well , " continued Mr. Her , "Lauor telephoned to mo that he would like to meet Mr. Creighton. John A. MeShnno and C.I ) , Woolwortn in my ollico , as ho thought ho could explain the trouble be tween his wife and liiinself in a satisfac tory manner. The mooting took place at our olliee and I asked him if the reports in the newspapers were true , lie as- sorteil that they were ratherexaggerated , Ho s.iid ho was sorry for the trouble , but that his passion was such that at times ho could not control it. lie declared that ho was too much in love with her ami was jealous when anybody looked at her. " "How did she act wncn she was in your house ? " "She was weak and prostrated , nnd was confined to her bed for a weelc. She was crying most of the lirno and appar ently felt that the circulation of a report that she couldn't ' live with her husband was terrible. The doetorr did not allow any ono to sco her. Laucr came down ono day and wanted to sco his wife. Ho said he began to realize what a wife ho had and ho thought they could live happily together 1 told.him that if they could not live amicably together they should separate. Mr. Creighton told him at the olllco that ho liked to have his wife admired. Lauer replied that ho was of an entirely different disposition and could not bear to have a man speak to her. Ho said that ho thought ho had bet tor go away from town lor a short time as the feeling in town was so strong against him. lie said thut ho would take all the blame of the separation , as ho would not lor the world do anything to injure her. " On cross-examination Mr. Her stated that Lauer gave him a deed of his house and his stock in the nail works to keep in trust for his wifo. In fact ho trans ferred everything ho had to her. "What became of them , " said General Cowin. " 1 gave them back to her when Laucr returned. 1 think she sent an order for them. As soon as Laucr returned she went back to live with him and it was soon after that that she sent for the mop- erty. " "Alt ! I see , " said General Cowin in a significant manner , O , A. Baldwin testified that the day after tho. shooting ho accompanied Mi ; . to La tier's house. \ \ hen tliuy went in the jury had suspended examina tion , but they heard oneof the jiuors question Lntior and n lady named Mrs. Savage. Mr. Baldwin stated that when they went into the room where the trag edy occurred Lnucr , v ho was standing at the head of the bed , said : "Hero is whcro wo sloop. " "Latter then went on testate state , " said Mr. Bnldwiu , "that ho had been troubled by a boll which had dis turbed liis rest. The night before , how ever , his boil being better ho had slept soundly. Ho was awakened , ho declared , by voices in the next room , and look ing up saw a form approaching htm. Ho immediately got his revolver ver and fired. Ho then looked for his wife and could not find her. He looked at the foot of the bed and saw her lying there upon the lloor. 1 asked him , " continued Mr. Baldwin , "if she was dead. " " 'No , ' was the response , 'I snw she wns still breathing , but it was evident she was dying. ' " ' \ott nicked her up and placed her on the bed , did you notf ? " 'No , 1 loft that for the coroner. It wns not moro than six seconds from the time 1 wns first aroused until I got to whcro I could see her lying upon the lloor. ' " Mr. Baldwin stated that Lnuer wns per fectly calm and collected while ho wns having the conversation with him nnd that ho told the story of the shooting in the same unconcerned manner in which any man in the court room would tell It. The defense refused to cross-examine him and the court then adjourned till U o'clock this morning. Whllo Cedar Piling Is bettor than oak for bridge or foundation work. It lasts longer in or out of the ground nnd can bo luruishcd and driven lor one-third less cost by D. Sopor & Co. , 1020 Farnam street , Omaha. AXOTJIKU BUSINKSS KNTfilUMUSU Canning and Preserving "Works to bo Ktoctctl Hero Tills Season. A company has just been organized for the establishment here ot canning and preserving works. The incorporn- tors arc Mr. S. II. II. Clark , John M. Eddy , M. II. Goble , John T. Bell , M. G. Shrivcr nnd Dr. J. U. Conkling. Tlio papers were signed 5'cslerday. A line site has been selected in West Side on the Belt Line , one inllo from the city limits , on the extension of Loavcnworth street. Arrangements will be at once made for procuring seed for sweet corn , tomato plants , etc. , to be distributed among gardeners - donors and farmers for this year's crop. The company hope to put up at least half n million cans this year , and quad ruple that next season. A practical man has been secured as manager , and the prospect is very encouraging. The importance of this enterprise to Omaha and to the farmers of Douglas and Sarpy counties cannot bo overesti mated. This is doubtless the forerunner of numerous manufactories to be located on the Bolt Line , thus securing shipping facilities unexcelled in the west. The ground on both sides of the. Leavonworth street extension is especially well located for manutacturing interests , and partic ular attention is just now attracted to that street by reason of the efforts of the county commissioners to make it one of the leading thoroughfares for country travel. Police Docket , Dan Cameron was sentenced to sixty days in the county jail yestcrdaA , for committing an assault upon Ben Thomp son. Tlio latter swore that Cameron , who is something of a slugger , entered liis house the night before amid cmandcd a night's lodging. Thompson told him that ho could not stay , whereupon Cameron assaulted him with a shoe , cutting sever al ugly gashes in his head. Cameron had no defense to make , but plead guilty to the charge. Tom McGregor , a notorious hard char acter , was given until two o'clock to leave the city. Mrs. Ben Donovitch had her husband arrested for crucUy.bc.itingher but in the morning she relented and refused to ap pear against him. Donovitch was ac cordingly discharged , J. C. Burns , accused of being u suspic ions character , was discharged. Clement Johnson had come from Iowa to see the Omaha elephant and had been picked up by the police in a state of glo rious intoxication. Ho contributed the usual amount to the school fund. A Chasn Tlirouyli the Snow. Mr. P. Morgan , residing on North North Fourteenth street , between Cali fornia and Webster , had an exciting chase yesterday morning after a thief who entered his house. Mr , Morgan was awakened about 1 or2 o'clock by hearing a noise in his room , and saw a man dis appear through the door with a pair of pants. Mr. Morgan did not care so much for the pants , as for a purse of $50 or ? CO which was in thorn. Ho jumped to his feet and chased the fellow through the hall , out into the yard , but failed to capture him. Mr. M. was in his bare feet , but the thought of losing the money outweighed all other considera tions. and ho pursued the robber at full speed. The sneak thief was too Hoot for him , however , and after n hard tun of four or live blocks ho was obliged to give iiu the chase. There is no eluo to the thief , though if Mr. Morgan could. sco the follow again , he could probably Iden tify him. Wanted to exchange for stock of Hard ware and general merchandise , Gi ( ( ) acres of line Thayer county ( Neb , ) laud ; live lots in Genoa ( Neb , ) ; good store building ( best corner ) ; good dwelling ( best loca tion ) in Essex ( Iowa ) ; also eighty acres one-half milo from town of E-sox ( Iowa ) , seeded in blue grass For further par- tioulars , address John Lindcrholm , Cen tral City , Nebraska. Commercial men take notice G'd ' Centr'l Hotel , Kearney , Neb. , has changed hands. T. C. Braimmi , Prop. for Cutlery. ' No , sail , I dun got dat knife from my feller in St. Joe , and don' you forget it , " wore the words wliich Annie Johnson , a colored girl , addressed to Judge Ston- berg yesterday morning , Annie had been arrested for robbing Mike Gilligan the night beforo. On her was found a Inrgo jack-knife , of peculiar pattern and exactly similar to a lot which were stolen , with other articles of cutlery , from Stoolzol's hardware store some two months ago. This was n "pointer , " which gave rise to a well developed sus picion in the minds of the police that some of- the stolen goods \voro _ occruted in Miss Annie's house , Sim is known to bo oil intimata terms with several well know crooks , and her premised will bo carefully searched for the plunder. Annie's explanation that the knife was given to her by her St. Joe "feller" is not accepted by the police. Intcrcstlni ; to Horse Dealers , Horse dealers nil over the state will hear with pleasure of the new Ilorso and Mule Market now being erected at Fourteenth and Howard streets , by Messrs. Hnko & Palmer. See their card in ihis issue. Hon. John E. Williams and family , of Des Molues , who have been visiting Mr. and Mrs.E.S. Hood , of thu city , returned home yesterday. AMU8KMCXTS. THE S1I.VKH KIXQ. This justly colobrntcd nnd ponulnr melodrama will bo produced at Boyd's opera house Monday and Tuesday evenings , March 1C nnd 10 , by Frank C. Bangs nnd the Now York company. The company is a largo nnd expensive one. The snlnry list ot this company ( which includes twenty-seven people ) is $ 1,000 per week. The royalties paid nightly to the authors of the drama is 20 per cent of the gross receipts , and its cost tor scenery , stngo settings , wardrobes , nnd the solo right to present the piny in America nnd the Canada * , $37,000. All the superb scenery used in the presenta tion of thu above play in Now \ork will be ttsed in producing the Silver King. Scats go on snlo Saturday. Mary Anderson is Iho attraction a Boyd's on the 22d and S8d. On the first You Like It. " Snlo of seats commences Thursday , the 18th. The Tlmrstons Win. Chief Butler received yesterday the following telegram from Assistant Chief Gnllngan : Nr.w OIH.KANS , La. , March 11. J. II. Butler : First race for the M , Thurstons. 1) ) . D. GAUAO\N. All of which goes to show that the Omaha lioso team has not been barred from the competition , and that It has already scored one great victory. AbsolisteSy Pure- Tlits powder never vnnos. A mnrrol of puri ty , strength nnd wholosomcno-s. Mcno ccon- nnmlual than the ordinary Idndi , simlcannot ho sold in competition with the mnltlttulo of low tc t , fchort Moight , n'.um or phcxphnta powdi-rs. Sold nnlv In cans. ItovAr. HAKI.NQ I'owncn Co. . 100 Wiill St. . Now York. ORAAHA 13th St , Cor. Capitol Avenue. POIt THE TnEATNEI < T OP AU. Chronic & Surgical Diseases. DR. KloMRNAKIY , Proprietor. Button jours' lo ! jmul ami J'rlvuto 1'rncticn Wo Imvc the facilities , np | ratiic nnd rcmcdlos for the successful ticrxtmentof over/ form of dis rate requiring cither medical or ptirglcnl treatment , nnJ iiivlto nil to conic uiid Inveftlfcato for themselves or correspond \\ltli ua. Loii experience hi ( rent- Ini ; cnscs by letter enables MB to treat cuany cases tclentitl rally \ \ Itliont scolni ; them. WJUTi : FOH CIKCULAK on Deformities nnd Ilrnce , Club Feet , Curvatures of the Spine , DISKASEB op WOMEN , I'ilcs , Tumors , Cancers , Catarrh , Broncbltli > , Inhalation , Electricity , Paral- yds , Kpllcpsy , Kidney , Kju. Kar , bklu , Illood nnd ull surgical operation * . KuttcilcH , Jiili.ilerH , Uracrs , TIMIKSPS , nml all kinds of Medical and Surgical Aplillauces , man ufactured and for Bile. The only rcllablo Medical Institute mnklnq Private , Special i Nervous Diseases 'CT ALT. CONTAGIOUS AND 1ILOOD DISEASES , from M hatovcr cause jit ndnci d , successfully troiitcil. Vi'u can remove SjimUiUo polton from the tj stem wltho.it mercury. Now rcstoratUn trritmrnt for In * s of Itnl prm or. Alt , COMMUNICATIONS CONI'IUKNTIAL Call and consult na or fcml naino nnd iioet-olllco nildrcss plainly written enclose etauip , and we Mill Fend jon , In plain urappir , our PRIVATE CIRCULAR TO MEM WON I'llIVATH , Sl'KClAI , AN11 NEWOlIS DlSUASLS , SEMINAL WCAKKLSS , SrESMATonminiA IMI-OTIIN- cr , Hirnii.js , tiONortrmuiA , GLEET , VAnicorm.H , STRJCTUIIE , AND ALL nicpARrs or THE OKNITO- UltiNAiiY OrtuAHB , or tend history of your case for on opinion. Persons unable tolslt us may ho treated nt their liomcp , by correspondence. Medicines and Instrii- neiit by null or express SUCUItULV 1'ACK KIJ PIIOM onSRUVATIO.V. no marks to Indicate content * or Bender. One personal Intenlcw pre ferred If tomcnlent. Fifty rooms for thu nccom- Modatlon of patient * Hoard nml nttcndauLu nt reasonable juices. Address all l.ettero to Oniaba Medical and Surgical Institute. Cor 13thSt andCanHol Avn , , OMAHA , N.B. O23T APE.II. . ' 1st , Wo will open our Horse and Mule Market Cr. ) Howard and 14th Sts , , Omaha , Nob. With BOI criil riir loads of iioo < l stock , nnd will keep riiimtuntly ( in liniiil a lull iiMurtmi'iit of D1IAIT unil 1)111 Vl.V/HOKhKb In cur lota or m ictall. HAKE & PALMEH. F. M. ELLIS & CO. 8 OMAHA , NEB , and DES MOIHES , IA , Oir.cu , Cor , Jitli nnd Karruuii Streolg , ItouiuH Or.oiiriE IlimuNoiiox with F. M. I'.illi , HARRIETT HUBBARD A ! 120 West 13th stiect , Now i'ork , ARTISTIC FURNISHING and INTERIOR DECORATION COM'r'ISSIOli OFnlUIJiOS ATTENDED TO. I propose letting forth on rur Annual Kuropoan J'llp thu latter pail ofMunh , au.l ilii.ll tnku irri'st pleasure In executing unjr onion tlut nujr bo entrust. * uil to mo. I urn pre | > ara < l lo ( elect and purcbuiu Hrtlclci of \Vviirlii4Apimrcl unit of Iho Toilet , olijct in of urt uii'J Virtu t'urnituro. and I'urccllun , lllti of tillrcr , Ijc.ii , tolli old mm modurii-ln tint miythlnc my ciintonier ni ) dcilrx. lilullt.ika the turao pains In Ulllnnii tnullcrurdci UKI h'riMlcr uno , uaU bvv u trial , how- cvur nnlinporliuit. N. II. In > cndln3 orders , i > a n * exact as puiaiblo with Ilinlt til price. Kurlr corrcjpouilunco espec ially elicited. Mi > . A > cr hut lue honor to refer lo Mr.nml Mr .Clius II. Koimtiu , Denver , Col. Mri.hchurler Vjr > Hcnulejr. Now VUM. llur Dr. iind Mrs. Clinton I/oUu. ( irai-u Cluiroli , ( "go Her , Uolierl Collrer. Clrurth of tlio Mc laii. . ' { . V , Uor.arul Mm. Artbur IJrookj , CImicli or Iho li.oar- n.itloji. NIIW York. lloi. Hubert I.lnrnln Hoc \\ar.Wiubluston , J ) . C. .tmtfro unit ilr H. f. Mirier. ( Jciienil mid Mra Jobn A JA > .IU , lit. aud UuCUrlCi J > 1 arwvlj , C TELEPHONE 621 , REAL ESTATE ROK S , W , Cor , 16th and Farnam , lias the largest list of property , tha cheaest and bast , the easiest term ] ; no matter what kind of property you want , by all means examine his list ' before purchasing elsewhere , LotsforSale In every desirable addition to the city. Octi- tlcnianly salesmen with buggies READ ! AT ALL TIES A lot on TOIh , between Douglas nnd Dodije , a It taken at once. Foil SAM : No. 103. Lot fronting ; two streets , two good bouses only 0 blocks from court house , $5,000. Easy terms. 175. Lot 00x181 ; house , 8 rooms ; S. 13th near Center si , , $8,200 ; easy terms , 183. Six-room cottage , full lot , line view , beautiful location , Shinn'g add. , $3,500 ; easy terms. 208. Two lots its Reed's First add. Four largo houses. Will pay 12 per cent , on the investment ; $15,000. 20 ! ) . Lot 100x110 , four-room cottage , S. 15th st. , next to llartman school , $ -3GOO , , on monthly payments. 215. East front lot , house 8 rooms , in block 8 , Hanscom Place , $3,200 ; easy terms. 218. Full lot , brick house 7 rooms , liar- noy. near afith. $0,000. 222. I'ir.o location in West Omaha , 7- room cottage , largo barn grounds 201x 121 , corner on three streets , $0.500. 223. Corner lot on Citicago st , , line loca lion , $0,000. 225. Iwo full lots , elegant rcsidenco property , furnaces , everything strictly first-class , good location , $11,000. 200. Full lot , two cottages , Shiim's add , $2,200. 202. Cottage of live rooms , full lotShulls add. $1,800. 3111. Nieo lot , cottage rooms , Prospect Place , $1,500$200 down , ? ' 30 per month. 33 ! ) . Two lots on 20th .st. , 4 good houses , $0.500. This is a bargain nnd a good investment. 3-10. Half lot on Wcbstsr st. Two good houses , § (5,000. ( 852. 1 < nil lot , 2 brick houses , ono tramo house , S. llth st. , $8,500. 853. Full lot , largo house on Farnam street , $3,500. 851) ) . Full lot , ! ) room house , furnace , gns , water , sewer. Farnam st. ; $10,500. SCO. Full .ot m-iok house , Onmlin View , $1,150. $150 cish : , $10 per month. 800. Two full lots , two story iiouse , thrco miles Irom postoHtee , $800 , $100 dowu ? 10 per month. 300. Lot 00x213 , two now houses , ono 8 rooms , ono of 0. A nice place to live or u good investment , Howard near 2lh ( ) ; $7,500. 570. Elegant rcsidenco property on Cap itol Hill. House of 15 rooms ; $8,000. 800 Lot 00\133 , house 0 rooms. S. llth st. ; $2,500. 3)3. ! ) Full lo ; , ( , tvo story house , 7 rooms , Iruit trees , barn , etc. Shinn's add ; $2,000. 800. Two lots , good , ! room house and stable. Lowe's add ; § 2,000. Easy terms. 411. Elegant rcsidenco property S room house , lot 75x1-10. $7,500. Virginia ave 105. Lots on Georgia avo. , between Lcav cnworth and Farnam , $1,890 each. Ev : sy terms. 171. Lot facing Hanscom Park on Park live. . $1.000. 170. Nice lot in Ilimpbaiigh Place , $1,0" * 177. Three meo lots in bloek 5 , ilanseo * , Place , $ lr,0 ! , to $1,500 ouch. 183. 183 ft. square cor. , Harney anil 20th , St. , $20,000 , I 107. Lot , 00x181. 18th St. , near Center , $2,500. 201. Lois in Coif ax st. , between Leaven- worth and Farnam , $ ' . ' ,000 each. 203. Aero lots in lUmobatigh's add ; § 150 each. 210. Corner Farnam and 2Sth streets , COx 183 ; $5.000. 228. Hull do/.cn choice lots In Hanscom Place ; $750 and $300 each. 2 I. Thrco lots in M.irsh's add ; ft" to $1,250 ouch. 230. Lot in Clifton Place , $1,000. 100 , Two good lots in Dwight it Lyman'.s add. for $750 , 258 , Nice lot In Dcnisc add. ; $800. 207. Lot in Arbor Plaeo ; $1JO ( ; monthly payments. 270. Lot I , bloek 270 : ? ( iO' ) . 231. Thrco nice lots in block20 , JIanscom Place ; $ * r > 0 each. Terms easy. 800. 8 Acres Taylor's odd ; tS.ODO. HOI. Nice lot in'Koes Plaru , $1,1)00. ) 801. Good lot In Hawthorn add ; $ (500 ( , 800. Tluee nice loU in Shull's add. ; $1,200 , oacn , 811. Two lots in Lake's add.$1,175 nml $1 ' 200 , 812 . .Slx'lots in block 11 , Hanscom Plaeo ; $725 to $ S75 each. 318. Choice lot in West C'umlng add ; * 250. 811. Full Jot , Howard St. , near 12th ; ? 18,009. 830. 100x1 ! 0ft. cor. Michigan and Georgia nvo ; $8,000. 8155. Eight lots in King's mid. ; f 550 each. 810. Two nice lots in Kirkwood : $ l&0 each. Aaliiut Hill Lots $000 to ifOOO each , on easy terms. Foil SALU 10 acres within 3J miles of the P. O. Nice house , largo orclutid , fine location. Only u slonu'.s throw fiom Ambler Plaeo whcro i3,03 } ! ) per aero is asked. Will sell the 10 acres ut | 550 per aero , Twenty-live acres between Cote Brilliant nnd Hyde Park. $150 per aero. OuciiAHi ) IliUf-.The most doiirablo real ( lunee portion of Omalia. The best lo cation , with u splendid view of the whole city. Prices low and terms easy. If you buy a lot before looking at Orcliurd Hill you will regret it. It ooitu nothing to take a ride out there to ox- ammo it. For beautiful residence sights or for bafo investment buy in Orchard Hill. Hi'.Atrnrui. aero lots In Helf-ilcrn $300 to $ IKO each , which willbowoith ? 1OJO insiilo of u year. Foil anything in the real estate line ca.ll on C. E , Mayne. I IIAVI : a comnlcto set of abstracts of title for Douglas county. AIISTHACTS made on short notice uud nt ica-onablo rates , IONKV 1 ° LOAS on real estate at thu lowest rate of lntercs.t C. K. WAYNE ,