Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 21, 1914, Winnipeg, Manitoba 10 Manitoba free press Winnipeg. Saturday March 21. Man seen looking i Bank clerk not Kra Chenta Crown witness Root could not identify Krawchenko Man he saw enter motor car continued from Pali a one i not the experience of ills Learned Friend and thought there waa too much he said he simply trying to get the evidence before the jury and did not wish to Necro Roii Over tray court limitations. When or. Hastings Cross examined Root in regard to the scrutiny the latter had made of the prisoner in the Dock. Root reiterated has former state ment. I cannot say that the Man i saw Krawchenko he said. Can you swear he. Was not the Man no i Root furthermore went on to say that the Man who got into the murder car about his own Root size. Root an average sized Man. Root could not compare the face of the Man to saw in Plum Coulee to thinness with that of the prisoner. Lloyd Wagner who Ledger keeper in the Plum Coulee Bank on the Day of the hold up and murder a nervous witness on the Start. He a Fine looking fresh complexioned Young Man who has an evident inclination to do and say things in his own Way. He sharply reprimanded by or. Hastings for not being con Cise in his answers. Was not Krawchenko. In the Cross examination he repeated to a Large extent his evidence at the inquest concerning a Man he saw looking into the Bank window on the Forenoon of the murder. This Man he declared a stranger and not John Kraf Chenco. He admitted that he had fell nervous Over sleeping in the Bank and that Krawchenko had told him that he need not be afraid that if anyone came to Rob the Plum Coulee Bank it would toe in the daytime. Wagner appeared to be a difficult witness to handle and told by the judge that he must answer. In the Forenoon Cornelius Thiesen Cross examination finished. Jacob Bergen another Eye witness of the shooting told a Plain Story of the tragic occurrence. He watch ing the Bandit and or. Arnold they turned the Corner of the Bank and Dur ing the Pursuit of the former by the banker but unlike Wiebe and Thiesen he did not see the two men in con tact. Mrs. Bergen a staid old mennonite lady told of seeing the tragic scene and of the departure of the murder car. Samuel Rosner called by the Crown Given no direct examination and dismiss a by or. Suffield with the question Are you enjoying the Best of health or. Rosner who a Plum Coulee merchant bowed and smiled. Jacob Bergen evidence. " that fellow turn round and shoot or. this the dramatic juncture in the evidence of Jacob Bersen in the Krawchenko trial which in its third Day session Here. Bergen who a typical mennonite in appearance gave his evidence with out the Aid of an interpreter and seems to possess a fair knowledge of English. He told of standing in his Yard about 120 feet from where the shooting occurred and of seeing two Fellows run out of the Bank and around the Side of it to Ward the rear. A Man in Black leading and Arnold the banker following. The Man in Black wheeled just before the banker reached the Ash pile in the rear of the Bank and shot Down his pursuer. At the instance of or. Hastings the witness gave an exemplification of the gun play. His Effort to reproduce the motions of a gunman were somewhat awkward and stiff. The prisoner smiled this scene being enacted and on catching the Eye of some person in the court he grinned broadly. Bergen like the previous witnesses hazy when questioned by or. Hastings to the headgear worn by the Man in Black. He did not know if it a hat or a Cap but his impression waa that it Black. Bergen affirmed that he did not notice the gunman shoes. The men were walking rapidly and according to or. Bergen evidence they were not at any time in Contact far he could see. Eyesight Good. Before the Cross examination or. Suffield and the prisoner conferred and or. Suffield began with the abrupt question your eyesight Good the witness replied that it excellent. Suffield questioned Bergen to the size of the Man in Black and told he about the size of the wit Ness who weighs around 154 pounds mrs. Elizabeth Bergen wife of the preceding witness next called. She spoke through an interpreter. Her direct examination Brief. Or. Suffield in the Case of Ber Een Tead excerpts from the Evi Dence Given at the Coroner inquest and pointed out what he claimed were variations in the answers Given. Or. Suffield quiet in his. Procedure but very adroit in his questions and stops when he thinks he has gained his Point. Or. Hastings on this occasion pitted against a Man whose style very similar to his own and seems to be slightly confused on this account. Or. Hastings in his extensive career a prosecutor has been used to opponents who followed More violent methods and whose efforts were More Apt to intimidate witnesses. In or. Suffield Case he has reason to object very Seldom for the rules of Legal procedure Are Seldom overstepped and yet or. Suffield seems to be satisfied with j victim of shooting j late manager h. M. Arnold of the Bank of Montreal Plum Coulee who gave up his life in defence of the Bank funds. Ing to w. H. Hastings the Crown prosecutor that the trial will proceed with greater celerity once the German speaking witnesses have finished. Or. Hastings however has come to mor Den prepared if necessary for a four weeks stay. He Hopes the trial will not take that Long but taking to chances. The jury men Are looking Well and appeared quite unaffected this morn ing after their confinement. In Case the trial lasts four weeks their lot Likely to prove irksome. Jacob Bergen saw standing less than fifty Yards away when fatal shot fired. Street. He lost sight of him he turned round the end of the Auto. The car moved right away going North and he saw it turn East when it lost from sight. The Auto had Cut off his View of the Man when he turned round the car and when the car moved away the Man not the Hind the first Man who walking very fast. The first Man had on a Black overcoat. Counsel did you notice How the Collar it turned up or Down witness emphatically it turned up. He did not notice whether the Man wore a hat or Cap but whatever it he thought it Black. The Man he said had walked very fast along the sidewalk until he came to the North end of the Bank when h6 turned off the sidewalk and went North Westerly. Or. Arnold stepped off the sidewalk a few feet further on and also went in the same direction. He did not hear either of the men Call out. And what happened then asked the Crown prosecutor. Then said Bergen earnestly then i see the Feller turn round and shoot him. Did you see anything in the Man hand a revolver. In his right hand or left. In his right hand. How far he from or. Arnold when he turned round and shot five or six feet. Now show the. Court just How the Man turned and fired and or. Hast Ings handed the witness a Pencil. He turn like this said Bergen Wheeling in the witness Box and he fired. The witness dropped a raised hand to the level with the Pencil Point ing full at the prosecutor. Did you see any smoke from the revolver yes i saw smoke. Arnold fell to ground. Bergen described How he then saw or. Arnold pitch Forward on his face and the Man ran toward the Lane. The Only time he lost sight of the Rha i when an intervening barn intercepted his View. He Bergen ran through his Gate and Down the Lane still watching the run tag figure. He did not hear either of the men Call out. When the Man came into View again having passed the barn Bergen on the Street. The Man still run Ning and he ran after him. Going a Block and a half along the Jane. He saw the Man run out on to Peter Street run North to an Auto standing near the livery barn co. The West Side of the or. Arnold fell All the time i did not see them come around the Irner. Where were they when you first saw them about five or six feet from the Cor Ner. You saw one Man first yes. And then or. Arnold yes yes or. Arnold came soon of and you saw them All the time until Arnold fell far were they apart when or. Arnold fell about four or five feet. No closer in no. You saw them All the time you think that when the Man fired or. Arnold not More than six feet from him at the outside i not much that. " you have shown to or. Carberry who Drew a plan of this part of the Village where the two were standing at the time of the shooting. Would that be about the place witness studied the plan for a moment and then declared that it a Little farther away. S c e n e o b b e n Bank of Montreal Plum Coulee in which the manager held up at men december 3, and the Bank robbed of Over $4,000, some of which has not yet a to recovered. The Bank manager shot Down in the rear of the Lunt attached to the building. The Structure originally used a Stormi i now vacant the Bank having closed its Branch at Plum Coulee. Did you do i went to my House very much frightened. The same Man you saw coming Down the sidewalk you saw going to the Auto secs. The same Man who fired the shot yes. Or. Suffield Cross examination then began. What the position of the Auto when you saw it How far North of the Lake it standing near the Lane facing North. Did you be the Auto yourself yes. Were the curtains buttoned All around on the Side i saw it unbuttoned. How Many men did you see standing in the Auto i did not see any me a there. I did not notice that i just saw the one Man. Were you inside or outside your Gar Den Fence our Gate opens to the South and we were both standing in the Gate. And that when you saw the Auto i could just see the front end of the Auto. This an entirely new witness in thing when he stepped off the Side walk did you see anything drop i saw something fall. From what part of his person did it Ahe going quite fast and some the Case and considered an important thing fell in front of him he stooped one by the Crown. She did not a Dowl and looked for it. Pear at the preliminary hearing. Root Star witness he would be in Barnum what your answer he added turning to the witness. I could not say. The witness then Cross exam ined into his evidence Given at the in quest on or. Arnold when he said that the Man in Black about the size of himself. He had never seen him before he admitted. At least he added not that he could remember. Bergen confirmed the statement that he saw the Auto turn East on Peter Street. For a moment he lost sight of it and then it re appeared still travelling East. There were no other streets Between the spot a there the Auto and main Street so the Auto did turn East he said it naturally went far main Street. The witness said he did not see the Man get into the car. Reading from his Evi. Dence at the inquest counsel asked the witness if be then stated he saw the Man get in on the right Side. Ber Gen replied that he did not remember having said that. Mrs. Bergen heard. Mrs Elizabeth Bergen the next witness gave an interpreter. Her evidence through answering a few preliminary questions she said she the wife of the witness that preceded Plum Coulee murder trial what did it look like from where i i could not see what it . Was it a bundle it locked like a packet. Was there More than one i Don t know if there More than one. Where or. Arnold at that time he Bent to pick this up and or. Arnold said Don t touch it How far were the men part when or. Arnold said Don t touch it they were a bout three Steps apart and or. Arnold near the Ash pile. I understood you to say that tha parcel dropped just . The Man stepping off the sidewalk. No he on the North Side of the Ash pile. And where or. Arnold in rela Tion to the Ash pile he already off the sidewalk but very close to it. Did you see the Man after he turned round after picking something up from the ground he turned around and soon tie shot he ran. Did you see anything in his hand at the time the Sun shining Bright said mrs. Bergen and she saw something Shin Iii in his right hand. he Bent Down to get something or. Arnold said Don t touch it then he got up and shot. Did you see any smoke from that which you saw in his hand yes i did. I so frightened 1 had to catch hold of the Gate to hold myself up. What did Arnold do when you heard i the crack and saw the smoke i he crumbled up and fell. And the Man ran yes. In what direction did he go i did not see him any More. He ran North and he went past the stable he got to an Auto. Did you see the automobile from where i at the Gate i could not see it but i saw it from a Little Way Down the Street. Did you go North or South of the Street i went South to the Corner of lot. When you got Down there what did you see i did not see him till he right near the automobile. The Auto then went away. See who the Man shot. Did you see him running after the Auto i saw him just to there and that la All. Then where did he go he ran Down to the Auto and then out of sight. How Long did you look at the Auto there Tyas no time to look soon he the Eric the Auto moved away. And when the Auto moved away did you see this Man who shot no. Did you see anybody near where the Auto no Only my Man running Down. Where your husband when the Auto moved away commercial traveller describes actions of Man in Morden Man., March 20.on re sumption in the afternoon the Cross examination of mrs. Bergen again taken up. Did you see the Auto mrs. Bergen asked or. Suffield. I saw the front of it Only. How much did you see the witness in answer to a number of questions explained that she could Only see the Bonnet and a part of the top which raised. The witness wearing heavy Horn rimmed spectacles she stood in the Box and or Suffield asked did you have your glasses on at the time outside i can see far without glasses. I Only have to use them inside. Mrs. Bergen were the two men run Ning when you first saw them they did not run hard but they went quite fast. How far the Man in Black ahead of the banker they were about three Steps apart. All the time no. soon the Man in Black got to the end of the Bank he jumped off the sidewalk. They were never nearer together than three Steps while they were run Ning no they were never nearer together. How far were they apart when the banker fell i can t say. Would they toe this far asked the defence counsel measuring about nine feet from the jury Box railing. Yes replied the witness about that distance. How far the Man in Black Down the Lane when you got out of the Gate of your House he about opposite the Back Gate of the Queen hotel. That the first time you saw him after you left your Gate yes. After he had shot the banker he ran away and hidden by the stable. Did you see anyone else on the Lane at the time this Man running to Ward the Auto no there no other Man on the Lane counsel repeated he Down the Lane but he did not get very far before the Auto went away. And alien the Auto went away what Cacob Bergen a Eye witness of ithe murder and his Home opposite the rear of the. Bank. Crosses Jinni care where he st00p atthe Sipe of his House and i the Ash pile of which the. Bank coloured whatever it . Did you notice How he wag carrying his hands yes like thl illustrating the description by assuming a Bent posture and gripping Mso croat together with one a id and Holdin. The other though target into an overcoat pocket he came Between or. Lett and what did he say. He said a am ready i this question in Bre at half a dozen different ways and the witness reiterated her statement that there no one else but some Small children were Between her and the Black coated fugitive. Or. Suffield contented himself with this but before the witness Dis missed or. Hastings said he had a few questions to ask in re Examina Tion. Where your husband at the time this Man running to the Auto he asked. But before the witness could reply. Or. Suffield objected on the grounds that the prosecutor could not Cross examine the witness on a matter which came up in the course of direct examination in chief. His lordship ruled that tie question merely an exp amatory one. And the witness then stated that her Hus band and a Man named Thiesen ran Down the Lane after the Man in Black and before he arrived at the Auto. Traveller called. Wallace Boot a commercial travel Ler of Winnipeg told How the robber made his escape in an . At about 12.30 o clock on said he went to Dyck How barn to Gether with a or. Leet. At the barn _. They asked a Man if he w ?.s the pro i no. Krietor. He replied that the proprietor. You Sav he had his left hand in or. Dyck and pointed to him sit pocket yes Ting in an Auto 1n the Road. Root went j now when the Man Zaoie up Clow to the Auto and spoke to the Man on 0 you did Vou notice a eyes to the Driver seat. He noticed that the i could Vou Tell m v it color the machine facing North that it had Warp Nfn its engine running and that the Hood up and the curtains drawn. A within two feet of him when to said this. Nothing said by any of Dyck Leet or myself. Dyck got in the car the new Man waiting on the out Side. He had something la his haad but i did it then know what it . All this time the engine running and the car Egan to m be away. Describes Man. Can you Tell me anything about Tai Man face he had a false Beard Ovi Black. How did you know it false it very noticeable. Was any remark mad eyes or. Leet said what Are Yon do ing. Playing Santa Clau? did the Man make any reply no. He got in the car and who getting in dropped a lot of Money dropping it outside the car. Ther were bundles of Bills and Loose four or five bundles. When the Money dropped wag any thing said yes. I said he or by Santa claw. I picked up a lot of the Money and put it in my pocket tooth scattered Bulli and bundle. The Auto started elowls1. I heard neither Dyck nor the Man in Black say anything. the car begs to move some Loose Bills ton under the car. 1 think there were three or four one Dollar Bills. I ran and Sot one just before it got under the car another i got off the Mudguard. By this time the car going pretty fast and i hollered after it you be dropped real Money. Had your shouting any effect i repeated it loud i could Sev eral times. But the men in the car paid no attention to me. You and or. I get walked East yes. I where did you go j. Where or. Arnold lying. I you had some Money yes. What did you do with it we put it in our pockets and walked Down the Street and asked for Ornt one connected with the Bank. Or. Wagner pointed out to and gave it to him. What denomination were the Bulli All $1 Bills. You said something about Man standing near the car. Yes he a Man with a fur coat standing in the doorway of the Gar age do you know who he i found out afterwards he a traveller. Did you notice anybody else running away in any other direction no sir. M. Suffield. In Cross examination at what rate of Sneed the it moving at the time he Caj de the change in rate it sudden or wad ? sudden about 20 feet away from where the into started it gave a Lump. Where were you standing alongside the car. Did you look at Dyck and the my in the car when you picked the Money no sir. Did he Stop at All before he Poket to. Sir. Did you notice what material to coat the Man wearing no. What color Black. What kind of Collar Pur i be i it can you give me any idea of t i Speed the a Groin when it turned the Corner i Don t know. You picked up some Money Yos. What did you do a Man can running and Stop that Man 5i has just shot or. that Man not quite close to you no he called. Was Jacob Bergen. Then what happened you could not Stop the Auto the Man who Calll Stop that Man he has just shot or. Arnold Jacob Bergon. How do you know there no than in the car except Dyck i looked in. And from the time you were touch of to him to the time the car moved Sway there any other Man besides the Man with the false Barci and the Driver no. The Man not coming very quickly no. And i think you said you noticed be Hod false whiskers before he got he to you ? yes. Then i presume you saw what wearing not necessarily. You say he looked if a be carrying something under his coat. Yes. To. Coat produced in court of witness would not swear to its identity. Did you notice a tar in the coat in tha car William Dyck. Who remained in the for about two minutes and then got out. In order to get out he had to unbutton the curtain on the left hand Side. Leet and he talked with Dyck about five minutes saying they wanted to be driven to Morden without delay. Dyck promised to drive them fixing the time for the Start at 1.30, exactly an hour from the time of the arrangement. Saw stranger coming. i talking said. Root a Man came Down the Lane to where we were. He coming West. I Glrst saw him in the Lane behind the principal Busi Ness Street about 20 feet from the Street running North and South. Or. Dyck first directed my attention to him. He came running slowly toward . He maintained the same Pace till he reached the car. How he dressed he wore a dark coat with a fur col Lar. I cannot say exactly whether he had a. Cap or a hat on but it dark pre no sir. What style of face had he a Tina face. Witness then left the i and closely scrutinized the looking at the accused. What wot i you pay to his resemblance to in Man i could not say. Would you say that the Man you saw no sir. What would you say to 3ii nothing. He w so covered false whiskers that he Only �-5.,. Noticed that his eyes vere Flea tin Pale. D a you notice anything about a nose sch. What Only that it stuck out. Was of bending Over All the you saw him i cannot . Did not notice Driver or. Rout or. Suffield its Refl pm you notice the Driver i Yek at w1 i ring the time the Man in a a a Brett Long the car or coming a it. Did to appear to be Nerv ii. No. Sir replied tvs Witney not nervous that i could continued on 1 Ako Twe Nir to ;