Bismarck Daily Tribune

ACQUITTED

ASYLUM ATTENDANT CHARGED WITH KILLING A PATIENT, IS ACQUITTED AT JAMESTOWN.

Jamestown, July 17.—J. C. Coad, who has been on trial for several days on the charge of murdering Mike Gleason, a patient at the state insane asylum, was acquitted of the charge. Coad was an attendant there and was charged by a fellow employe with beating Gleason prior to the insane man's death.

The defense closed the testimony Saturday afternoon. Coad was a witness in his own behalf. He told of Gleason's injuries at the hands of other patients and denied having injured him in any way.

Coad contradicted the testimony of Gentemann regarding their alleged conversation in the bath room at the asylum. Gentemann's story as to his telling him of having kicked Gleason, the witness said was untrue. Gentemann had also testified that they gave Gleason a bath without using a brush or soap and this the witness also pronounced as false. Gentemann was a new man and did not know much about the work so the witness let him look on while he attended to the bathing of Gleason. Coad gave his testimony in an easy manner and on cross-examination did not get at all mixed.

Attendant Harris corroborated the testimony of the defendant. He said some of the patients in ward 4 were vicious at times, striking one another so as to bring the blood. He knew Monray to be vicious, brutal and anxious to take advantage of the absence of an attendant to do some injury to some fellow patient. The witness told of having heard Gleason fall down stairs and of assisting Coad pick him up. He had noticed discolorations on the body of Gleason shortly afterward.

Attendant Downs testified that he had seen Gleason fall down one of the stairways at the asylum. Attendant Osborne also testified to having witnessed Gleason fall down a stairway.

In answer to a question of States Attorney Baldwin he admitted that he as well as all the attendants at the institution, had contributed to a fund for the defense of their fellow attendant, Coad, showing the way they feel about the matter.

Dr. DePuy, Assistant Supt. Baldwin of the asylum and Coroner Baldwin were witnesses. Dr. DePuy insisted that the broken ribs on Gleason's body were a result of violence and brought about pneumonia which caused the patient's death. Upon the conclusion of Coroner Baldwin's testimony the state and defense announced that the testimony was all in.

Attorney Thorp announced that he had a motion to make and the jury was excluded from the room while he was making it. Mr. Thorp asked that Judge Glaspell direct the jury to return a verdict of acquittal in the case on the ground that there was no proof of any criminal offense having been committed; that there was no proof that Mike Gleason received any injuries at the hands of any one; that there was no evidence in the case pointing to Coad having any connection with the death of Gleason; that the only testimony of Gentemann and this testimony was unconfirmed. Judge Glaspell denied the motion of Attorney Thorp.