The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-06
WOMAN UNDER FIRE
Cross Examination Of Confessed
Murderer Of Wellner Conducted
by Mr.. Davis. =. - 49,.
Witness Mixed on Several Stories
Her Desire to Save Frank
Tanke. -~.--.

special to The Journal. ~ < 4 -
St. James, Mimi, April e.-Mrs. Frank
Ianke was cross-examined all the morn
ing. cat Henderson at your trial ~zyoa
changed your plea to second degree mur-
der,' asked Mr.. Davis. Yes, sir.' '"Then
in the afternoon Of July II, when about
to be sentenced, you began swearing and
told al labout how you shot John Well
ner." "Yes, sir"
What became Of those two highway
men who came In about II o'clock:"
"There was not any,
did you not testify to that and tell
the next day?' II did,
"Then you told a robber story at the
inquest, didn't you?" Eyes, SIR
And you made them believe you:" 81
guess so'' , -.-.- 80. 5...-.'. r. =!
How many times did you tell Mr.. Block
this former story?' "Three or four
times 4
"You made Mr.. Block and your neigh
bors believe your story?'' II testified to
it, *v
Did Frank leave the house after the
kWellness murder up to the time Of the
arrest?' mo, SIR
You told the same story at Henderson
about robbers, didn't you?'' IT did,
What was you telling it .for?' ITO
| keep the shame from my children
Wasn't you thinking to save Frank
Ianke! mo, Sir.
.rhe 9s jury 'a found IN, !, Tanke stlty didn't
"That afternoon he came back to Jail
and Mr.. Eckstein came back a little
later, that was the afternoon you told him
all you had told him was false?" 'Yes,
sir ,sn.-~,-.s -,.7: :.s5 ~.=.<
had been abused by your husband?" 1T
was.'
! And you told Eckstein all about bury
ing the revolver and where it was
buried?" "Yes.''
"And you went out there?' IT did"
Did they find a revolver that day?'
| mo. SIR
Did you tell at Henderson that wellner
the MURDER" mo, didn't '''e''' -
''Your story keeps growing, doesn't it?'
The witness did not think SO.
Did you want Frank Tanke hanged?
mo, I didn't n,
You love. Frank Tanke.c don't you ~
1T don't do any god now, am as Still
water 49,; E.F%s:
Didn't you love him when you married
do you still love lin7" 'No, I DON'T
when did you quit loving him ?" ''since
have been at Saltwater"
How did you happen to shoot your hus
band in the back?" Il don't know
| LOu luuSL UG d pIcLty SOOu SfOL, 0lC
! you ever shoot a revolver before thai
night?' mo, sir.''
And that was the first shot you eve1
, fired?" 1T was"
Crank Tanke didn't come into tn,
house that night, did hep "'No, h.
didn't" = -. d
Mrs. Tanke sworn.s4.ss-
7 Mrs Amelia Tanke's story, aiming a
the exon Grafton Of her husband, Foran
Tanke, was the feature Of Saturday aft
ernoons testimony, and she told Of tn
> details OF the alleged murder witfou
, finching. Tanke, who has at times bee
an Indifferent listener to the testimon!
I had his eyes .rivited on hi$ wife durin
. the entire time she was In the box Sh
at Henderson.
Her husband, John Wellner, had fo
c lowed her out Of the house, on the nigf
T she told him she was going to her fatt
er's. He caught her by the hair an
Q dragged her into. the barn, when he sait
Now. yoa've, got to die to-day ,st
Il managed to-, esca pc from him, she sal,
and he left the barn. only to return wit
3 a lantern and a club. AS soon as ST
st sAw him apprnac ching, fearful that /
: meant to Kill her she seized a. revolve
which size had previously hidden under
feed-box, and went out to meet him ST
fired two Shots she said, and he fell nee
the corner ct the barn. She also fell .
n the same time in a swoon:.
After revivi1lg. she went into the hous
where she remained on a couch for tr
t hours or more She then went out, 2,
d the revolver, watch and pocketbook, an
= hid them in a sack: She buried the Al
= ticles, she said, in Il posthole. the follow
ing spring. sf s..-r7 -..s
The remainder Of her story relating I,
her going to her fathers was iderltic
with that told by former witnesses 4
= the state. .r, ga, .>... q. h.. 2