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Show DARK THINGS IN CONTOS' LIFE AS RELATED BY VACOS ON THE WITNESS STAND. Accused Man Says Contos Confessed to Being a Counterfeiter In Chicago. Still maintaining the appearance of extreme nervousness, Nick Vacos, confessed slayer of John Contos, hai occupied the witness stand In his own behalf since shortly after the convening conven-ing of court nt 10 o'clock this morning. morn-ing. That the man appears 111 at ease expresses it but mildly. It is very evident evi-dent that the man realizes that the chargo against htm might result in his being called to answer with his life. At the opening of the morning session, ses-sion, Sheriff Barlow Wilson was called to the stand to testify regarding his attempts to produce witnesses sought by the defense. The sheriff states that of four missing witnesses three are known to be outsldo of the state, and that the fourth Is dead Sheriff Wilson has worked particularly particu-larly hard to Induce one witness, now residing at Baker City. Ore., to return to Ogden that his version of the story might be secured, but has met with no success. Acting on the advice of the district attorney, the sheriff has guaranteed the man's expenses for the entire trip, but the sought one remains obdurate The greater part of the forenoon session ses-sion was devoted to the hearing of Vacos' own account of his relations with Contos, their trouble regarding money matters and the subsequent tragedy. Vacos maintains that be had been brooding over Contos' threat to put blm out of business and that he (Vacos) had for days been unable to eat but sparingly. Regarding his actions ac-tions following the killing, he seems unusually forgetful, but the details of j the gun play are still fresh In bis mind. At a number of times, when asked by his counsel regarding any particular particu-lar phase of the trouble, Vacos sprang fitfully from his chair, endeavoring to enact what ho In English was unable to explain. He claim that he 6hof Contos fully believing that his life was about to be taken, clalmiug that the victim, giving utterance utter-ance to a vile name, bad made a motion mo-tion ns If to reach for a revolver. It now seems evident that the defense de-fense will make no attempt to secure leniency for the defendant by en-dt-avorlng to ehow him at the time of the tragedy mentally Irresponsible, but will use tactics to prove that the act of shooting was entirely unpremeditated. unpre-meditated. Upon the reconvening of court this afternoon Vacos was again called to tho Btsnd, at which time his cross-examination was begun by the attorneys for the state. Again his relations with the murdered man became for a time, the "le topic. At this time Vacos Va-cos asserted that on one occasion Contos Con-tos had Informed him that he (Contos) (Con-tos) had once lived in Chicago with a gang of counterfeiters, but, fearing apprehension, had assumed a new name and came woet Just what bearing this now phase might have on tho case is not yet apparent ap-parent yet. - Vacoa' cross-examination Is still in progress as we go to press. |