The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-19
TANKE DENIES In TOTO
HE STANDS QUESTIONING !. WELL
Defenda mt in Murder Trial Contra
diets FIatly Most of States Il
-s..r.., Evidence. 5-as-ci
Special to The Journal.

Special 10 Inc JOuTQdl.a
Henderson, Mimi, June 19.-Defendant
Frank Tanke was under crossexamination
conducted by Attorney Davis all. morning.
The state did not succeed in breaking
down his testimony of yesterday after
noon, nor were any new facts in the case
brought to light: The state endeavored
to hold the defendant to statements made
to J. H. Block, who made extensive in
vestigations Of the case Immediately after
Wellner's death. sTanke's statements at
these examinations were taken down in
short hand and the state is now using the
results of these Investigations as founda-
tion for crossexamination. Tanke's story
however, does not differ materially from
his original testimony as given to Block,
though there are few instan where
discrepancies were apparent.
He denies that he told Block that he
met Schneider at Williams saloon In New
Ulm at 5, 6 or Z o'clock on the evening of
Jan. 1. Schneider was the person who
Tanke states that he met the former at
first told Tanke Of Wellner's death.
about O'clock. Tankestw was emphatic in
his denial that sShoerhaus had seen him
at Stengeth's saloon at $3.50 D. M on the
afternoon Of Dec. 81, 1898. also that he
had assumed the air of boss about the
Wellner farm after Wellners death. Mr.
Davis, during the cross-examina<tion, said
to the defendant: .q: zy,
you have denied pretty nearly all OF
the testimony OF the. states witnesses
haven't you?" -
Yes, sir" replied ,Tanke, land I could
deny fifty more '
The cross examination closed at noon
Herman Mueller testified yesterday af-
ternoon that he saw Tanke at Union hall
on Dec: 81, 1898, at about 11~p' clock, and
again On the outside at about 11.45 D. NJ
Carl THrhnnck0 uhn od urfth NIL a
six weeks In St.u Paul, eaid that he did
not see a revolver In Franks possession
during that time. 4is ;,..::aa%E'' s9a RS.
Tanke on the stand.
Tanke, the defendant was called to the
stand at o'clock. This was an unex-
pected move on the part of the defense,
and caused some surprise. The examina-
tion brought out no new details Tanke
was composed throughout It all, and
showed no signs of breaking down. His
story was corroborative of the other wit
nesses for the defense, as far as they re-
lated to his movements on the afternoon
and evening of Wellner's murder, begin
ming with his departure from the Wellner
farm for his home at New Ulm at b:15
p. m.
He put Oh the black Duit of clothes at
the farm, thereby differing in his story
from that told by his father, who said he
made the change after arriving home at
o'clock. He was at Union or Schneuck-
er's hall almost continuously from ii p
m. that night until 4 O'Clock the next
morning. He was not in the vicinity Of
Eagle Roller mills, he stated, and did not
arrive at New Tim that night on Min
neapoAs & St. Louis train arriving at
8:55, as maint aimed by the state, but did
some In from Winthrop at same hour q
week previous He was questioned al
some length as to the Testimony OF
FRANKIE and Wilmert, in which they
claimed to be witnesses to improper con-
| duct and language between defendant and
Mrs. Tanke, all of which he pronounced
| untrue. The alleged overhearing of in
eliminating admissions by Coleman
Whitney, Mueller and others were also
| impossible, he said, since these converse.
ttons had never taken place.