The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-07
DEFENSE FINISHES
Second Trial Of 4Tankesfor " Wellner's
Murder 1sinAthe Last
I, Stag
Defendant Denies ALI Guilt Dis
crepancies Found in Some
Of His Evidence. &
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. n 33Ys 4
St. James, Mimi. April 7 The cross
examination Of Frank Tanke pccupied the
greater part Of the morning session. The
defendant said he left the Wellner farm
after 5 o'clock and before, dark, and that
it began to grow dark when he was about
a mile and a quarter from the farm. At
the Henderson trial. he said it was almost
dark when he. had trayeied half way.
Don't you know that your goose story
was first brought to light April %, 1901,
by Mrs. Wellner?" asked Mr.. Davis.
mo, I&don't know that," was the reply.
did you say anything about 1t before
the April % examination? I'm pretty
sure referring to Tanke's oft-repeated
.denials. Mr.. Davis said, ''you are contra
dieting good many men, aren't you?"
.And you would contrad;ct more If nee
essary?'' IS.
The witness was not allowed to answer.
The defendant admitted that he sang
songs and shook game Of dice at Roth S
saloon, but denied saying anything about
throwing away his revolver. He also de-
Il don't see how they could find it out, :"
but insisted his statement was: II don't
see how they can have anything against
me- Cross examination brought out that
he had simply made the denial at Hender-
son and added his statement later.
! : Were you pTelIya SUSPICIOUS aDout oe-
tectives about that time?" Referring to
the time Lorreck was at the farm. The
defendant said he was not. <t--~s. =
You believed. Mrs. Z Wellners story
about the robbery
| Yes" 1a''A As,S s. ~ ~
your wife made you believe it?"
| "She did, -s- 4 T.. -
~"she fooled you in the matter, Them
| State In RebuttaI.
! The defense rested at II a. m. Joseph
Wild was the first witness called by the
state in rebuttal. He swore that John
Wellner was not "a quarrelsome man and
that he had a pgod reputation In his
Ineighborhood. He also said that the day
after the murder he saw the shotgun
which Mrs. Tanke testified her husband
came toward her with in the house and II
was not loaded: that Mrs. Wel1ner would
ner. permit her husbands s body TO be Gov
cred with a quilt, saying it was too goot
for him. %s5E& !. .'s.-..~ =
4 The testimony of Harry Atlas, who sale
he saw Wellner alive at p. m.,' was thel
rebutted by Mr.. Wild who said Atlas Fhat
, told him in February following the r1ur
der that he was glad he wasn't in tha
L vicinity that night or they would hav
suspected him, that he was at Fairfax tha
night. I. l.s..s2. .y. w. <%
p Tanke's Cool Denial. /.
Frank Tanke, the defendant, took tn
;, stand at 8 o'clock, yesterday afternoon
His testimony was largely a repetition O
former witnesses for the defense, denyin
= at all points the claims made by tn
u u state. He was cool and composed, Whil
= on the! stand. ~ .E- 5sts@C% IS
:. He was in New Ulm, he said. at the tim
y set by the state forsthe crime, and did nc
: : arrive in that city on a, train..@ Continu
ing, he said. IN arrived ed at his his home
tenaed aaas es fnerI1ninatir @ IN
statements alleged to have been made 9
Union hall he denied. as well as all othe
confessions or conversations between him
- self and wife. = .. &st1s p
y 4fIIe was not in the vicinity of the rive
= = on the night in question, be said M
- had he ever owned a revolver. -.