The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-01
SHE BREAKS DOWN
AND WEEPS IN
COURT
Told Story of Murder of Hus-
band-Had Determined to
Shoot Him Herself.
WORDS OF BOY PRISONER
Just Following Murder Causes
Mother to Cry Bitterly in
/, the Witness Stand.
WORDS OF BOY PRISONER

Fargo, ~. D., March 1.-Only once
during the entire time she has been
on the stand did Mrs. Laura Cramer,
charged with murder break down.
That one time was when she related
the shooting of her husband when the
young lad, Arthur Cramer, aged
years say, "Oh, mama, what will l
do" The witness broke down and
wept bitterly for a time, but finally
assumed her usual manner, and this
afternoon she Is being subjected to
severe cross-examination.
She has been on the stand all day.
She told of the shooting, of how her
husband started up the stairs Of their
home at Page saying "I'll get you, you
sons-of-." She said that she had
figured on shooting if matters came to
the worst, however on thinking of the
matter, she found that she would be
unable to do. On the spur of the NOM
ent, she ordered the little boy to do
the shooting, which he did with fatal
results.
On the cross-examinaiton endeavors
were made to bring out the fact that
Cramer was not such a bad man as he
had been pictured.
The third day Thursday of the
Cramer murder case resulted in sub
stantial progress and the state rested
yesterday afternoon, the last witness
on the stand being Mr.. Griff1ths of
Page. Attorney Fowler for the de-
Tense then made motion to dismiss
the case against Laura Cramer so that
she might be a witness in the case
against her son without being subject
to the restrictions Of a defendant, The,
motion was made under Section 999S
of the revised code of North Dakota Of
1905, which provides in substance, that
where two persons are placed on trial
Jointly for the same offense and the
evidence is not strong against one of
the defendants, he or she may be dis
charged SO that she may be free to
give her testimony untrammeled to
assist the other defendant. Judge Pol
lock overruled the motion and the de-
tense placed Mrs. Laura Cramer on
the stand, where she remained until
adjournment, about an hour.
Exhibited Revolver.
The principal witness for the state
Thursday was VIM. Geddes, a lumber
dealer of Page. He told of finding
the body of the murdered man a few
minutes after the shooting. He also
testified that Mrs. Crmaer visited him
Feb. II, three days before the murder
and told him of the trouble with her
husband and asking that something he
done. She requested that her husband
might be required to sign a bond to
keep the peace. Witness testified that
she remarked eff something is not
done will put bullet through his
head-not his brain because he has
none. If something is not done l will
get so worked up till l do something
myself" Witness testified that she
showed him a revolver, the same re-
,volver with which Cramer was after
wards shot
Had to Kill Him.
Mr.. Geddes testified that Arthur
came over to his lumber Office Feb. IA,
just after the shooting, and cried out:
ooh, Mr.. Geddes. come over to our
place and help us. Dad was coming
upstairs to kill us and we had to kill
him. He is lying down." Witness
testified that he asked Arthur what he
meant and then told him to go to
Constable Murphy.
On crOss-eXamination by Attorney
Fowler for the defense, Mr.. Geddes
said Arthur came to the kitchen door
out of breath crying and excited.
Wanted Him Arrested.
Witness testified in cross-examina-
ton that Mrs. Cramer said on the
Monday referred to that she had tried
to get a divorce and also said somc-
about wanting her husband bound over
to keep the peace. Witness told her
to go to the authorities. Witness tes-
titled that Mrs. Cramer did not say,
"If the worst comes u the worst, we
will have to use the revolver" She
asked II she could have her husband
bound over to keep the. peace.
Mr.. Griffith was called by States At
torney Barnett for the state. Witness
testified that Mrs. Craaner had visited
him Fob 70 Ho statod thot sla hoa