The Mankato free press., 1902-06-27
TANKE IN THE BOX
Denies Much of the Testimony
of the State.
His Evidence is Not Shaken on Cross
Examination, Which Lasts Half
Day.

ternoon that he saw Tanke at union
hall on Dec. 81, 1898, at aboutl
II O'Clock, and again on the outside at
about II :45 p. m. Carl Zschuncke,
who roomed with. Tanke six weeks in
St. Paul, said that he did not see
revolver in Franks possession during
that time.
Tanke, the defendant. was called to
the stand at O'Clock. This was an
unexpected move on the part OF the
defense, and caused some surprise.
The examination brought out no new
details. Tanke was composed
throughout it all, and showed no signs
of breaking down. His story was COR
roborative of the other witnesses for
the defense, as far as they related to
his movements on the afternoon and
evening of Wellner's murder, begin
ming with mis- departure from the
WeInerl farm for his home at New
Ulm at 5 10 p. m.
He put on the black suit 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 s O'Clock. He was
at Union or Schneucker's hall almost
continuously from II p. m. that night
until o o'clock the next morning. He
was not in the vicinity of Eagle Roller
mills, he stated, and did not arrive at
New Ulm that night on Minneapolis
& st. Louis train arriving at s :55. as
maintained by the state, but did come
in from Winthrop at some hour
week previous. He was questioned at
some length as to the testimony of
FRANKIE and WiImert, in which they
claimed to be Witnesses to improper
conduct and language between defend
ant and Mrs. Tanke, all of which he
pronounced untrue. The alleged
overhearing of incriminating admis-
sions by Coleman, Whitney. Mueller
and other were also impossible, he
said, since these conversations had
never taken place.
Tanke was under cross examination
conducted by Attorney Davis all yes
terday morning The state did not
succeed in breaking down his testi-
mony of Wednesday afternoon, nor
were any new facts in the case brought
to light. The state endeavored to hold
the defendant to statement made to j.
H. Block, who made extensive inves-
LEGATIONS of the case Immediately after
Wellner's death. Tanke's statements
at these examinations were taken
down in shorthand and the state is
now using the results of these inves-
LEGATIONS as foundation for Cross
examination. Tanke's story, however,
does not differ materially from his
original testimony as given to Block,
though there are a few instances
where discrepancies were apparent.
He denies that he told BLOCK that he
met Schneider at Williams saloon in
New Ulm at, 6, or O'Clock on the
evening of Jan. /. Schneider was the
person who Tanke states that he met
when the former first told Tanke OF
Wellner's death about s o'clock.
Tanke was emphatic in his denial thai
Shoerhaus had seen him at Stengeth'
saloon at 80 p. m. on the afternoon
of Dec. 81, 1898, also that he has as
sumed the air of boss about the Well
ner farm after Wellner's death. Mr..
Davis, during the cross examination,
said to the defendant:
"You have denied pretty nearly al
of the testimony of the states wit
nesses, haven't your"
Eyes, sir" replied Tsnke, ''and
could deny fifty more" The cross
examination closed at noon.
The cross examination by Prosecu
ting Attorney Davis was severe, bu
the prisoner remained cool through
out When he was dismissed the de
fense rested, and the evidence of tn
state in rebuttal commenced.
George Boork, surveyor of Brow
county, was the first witness called
and said he could not swear that b
saw Tanke after 10 o'clock on th
night of Dec. 81, 1898. Williar
Bieraugal stated that he did not sc
Tanke at a. m. Ernest Sauer sal
that the Tankes at New Ulm had n
boarder at the time of the murder
as claimed by Tarke's father an
sister.
Joseph Wild, who was administratt
of the Wellner estate, tcld that he ws
at the Wellner home the morning aft
the crime was committed that
told Mrs. Wellner not to employ Tank
and that she hired him against b
wishes.
He said that when he went to get
quilt to place about the body of Il
murdered man, Mrs. Wellner stops
him, and said that the quilt was t.
good for him, meaning Wellner, {
dead man, and told him to use an o
coat instead. When he asked her
she wished to see the body of b
husband she replied no.
Again, when the remains were
the coffin, he asked her if she want