Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1907-12-05
KUNZ PARDONED

KUNZ PARDONED.
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city.
The state pardon board met 81 Bis
marck this week. Vincenz Kunx was
pardoned. Why this action was not
taken last June II d hard to under
stand, when one takes into considera.
tion the strong reasons that we're pre-
sented therefor. 1t viii be remem.
bered that the old man, Kunx, shot
and killed Walter Steele Ia 1905.
Steele Vas foreman OF the Boettcher
ranch. about nineteen miles east Of
Linton. There was trouble between
Steele and Kunz, believed to have
been caused In large degree BY .
young man named Stanley, who was
employed ON the ranch. One day
Kuns and Stanley had some trouble
because, - was alleged BY Kunx, STAN
ley insisted, in spite Of the old mans
protests, on riding horseback through
Kunz 3 standing grain. Stanley rushed
to the ranch dwelling and informed
Steele that Kun1, mounted on . horse
and carrying pitchfork, had chased
him. Steele got on his horse and
rode rapidly toward the house on the
Kunz place. That Is Ill that 10 known
Of what occurred at the house Of Kunx,
except Is 1t was given BY the latter
on the witness-stand It bis trial,
as Kunz killed Steele, and the latter's
dead body was found . few yards from
Kunz's house. The old man claimed
that Steele rode up to the door, drew
. revolver and said he would kill him,
and that he (Kunz) fired the shot In
defense Of his own life. A revolver
was found near the house Of Kupz,
but proof was lacking that the weapon
Vas dropped there BY Steele when he
fell from his horse, although It Was
the general opinion that It had been
% dropped.
Kunz was sentenced to the penlten-
tiary for term OF six years, and had
served about third Of that period.
At the trial young Stanley was the
principal witness for the prosecution.
HIS bearing on the stand, Is we'll Is
out Of court. was anything but pleas
Ing, and the general sentiment among
those who knew Stanley and who
heard his story was that he was
largely responsible for the mutually
bitter feeling which led to the homi-
eide.
The fact that Steele took revolver
with him when he rode away to the
Kunz place was not brought out ct the
trial, - ms. Steele was not on the
stand; but, later, she said that he had
done 90, and this statement had .
great deal to do with causing those
Who heard % 1t to believe that the
old man fred in self-defense.
With knowledge Of these things,
Attorney Armstrong, Kunz's counsel,
last year began campaign for his cli-
ent's pardon. He drove all over the
county-and Is far Is Napoleon, where
ono Of the iurymen was then en-
ployed-securinR the signitures Of the
trial jurors to the request for Kunz's
pardon. One had gone to Wisconsin
to reside, and his signature was the
result Of correspondence. The names
of the entire twelve were procured.
The trial judge, the states attorney
and the assistant attorney general
who took part In the prosecution we're
also favorable to : pardon. Probably
no stronger showing in favor Of y
prisoner vas ever presented 10 par
don board.
The paragraph Immediately proceed
ing was written because Of the Bis
marck Tribune's account Of the par
don giving the entire credit Of its OBJ
tainment toa couple Of Bismarckers,
when II Is an indisputable fact that
not single reason for the pardon was
presented to the pardon board ct Its
recent sitting that vas not presented
last June, after the concurrence Of
judge, jury and prosecuting officers
bad been obtained and the entire
foundation for pardon had been laid
by an Emmons county lawyer. A rule
Of the pardon board denies the consid-
Grafton Of subsequent application
for pardon, unless new and favorable
evidence not presented with the first
petition hes been discovered. There
was no such evidence in this case. and
the only logical conclusion is that the
board had recently given q more care
full consideration to the reasons for Z
pardon than It did when such reasons
were presented BY Kunz's attorney six
months ago.
Flnal Proofs.
The acknowledgements final proofs
have been made ct Linton since last
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