The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-04-02


They said that the last time they
we're in the cellar was on Friday.
Noah went down after a pail of po-
tatoes. He handed them up to Coyle
and says that if the body Of Johnson
had been in the cellar at the time, he
would have seen it. He says that he
was surprised to know that the body
was found in the cellar, for he had
supposed that the, man was well on
his way to Sweden.
The story sounds very fishy.
Johnson was a widower AZ years of
age. His son-in-laW lived in the vicin-
ity of his home.
1t is believed that Coyle will weak
en- and turn states evidence, and will
cough up the entire story.
Coyle is a bad actor and under the
training of a man like Noah, would
be apt to do most anything.
Two years ago Coyle with compan-
ion went to Newport, near Kenmare
and attempted to hold up store
keeper. The fellow managed to get
away from the young ruttiians, and they
became alarmed and started out Of
town in their rig. Several shots fol-
lowed them, but they escaped. Later
they were arrested, brot to Minot and
tried. Coyle was sent to Bismarck for
eighteen months, Judge Goss at the
time lecturing him severely.
At the penitentiary ne met Noah,
who bunked with him. The two men
likely made up to kill some wealthy
farmer when they got out, and the
murder of Johnson is undoubtedly the
result of plans Matched in the pen.
Noah had been in the pen for pig
ging. His father-in-law, Mills, runs a
livery barn at Douglas, and his wife
and baby have been living with the
father. They have been sent for and
it is expected that they will soon ar
rive in Minot.
Noah is a we'll built fellow with
black hair and has quite a neat ap-
pearance.
He is dare devil. To the officers
he said, IF 1 am convicted l will step
upon the gallows and stick my head
under the moose with a smile on my
face It is believed that he would do
so, and he will probably have an op-
portunity.
The neighbors are very much incens-
ed over the murder and had the body
been discovered before the men were
taken away by the officers, there I'M
doubleday would have been a double
lynching. When the neighbors found
the body, they merely uncovered the
face enough to learn that it was of
their friend, and then left it unmolest-
ed, awaiting the coming Of Coroner
Ekrem. They then started for Ken
mare and attempted to catch up the
officers. Had they done so, they
would have made an attempt to take
the prisoners away from them and in
that case there would have been a
lynching.
! Pulling the trigger with stiff wire
on gun that lay on trunk, Robert
IS. Noah, according to his own con
fession, murdered Gus Johnson, a
kenmare farmer, in cold blood last
Thursday.
The complete confession Of the hor-
rlble murdere was made by Noah yes
terday afternoon to States Attorney
| George A. MCGEE. Noah says that he
and Johnson went to kenmare last
| "Wednesday oh i, ;~1r !
went home, SOLDERING up by Thursday
morning.
He says that the two men got up
and did the chores. Noah says that
he got breakfast and went out after
a bucket Of water. He entered the
house and laid his gun across trunk
in the room. He said Johnson was
sitting at one end of the breakfast
liable, with his back toward him, and
that he, Noah, pulled the trigger on
the gun with stiff wire. The bullet
struck Johnson in the back of the
head, killing him instantly.
Noah said that he became very
frightened, not knowing what to do.
He first intended to dig a hole and
bury the body, but he finally decided
" uuAOW Iuo UOuy uOWu cellar. he
went to Kenmare the next day with
a load of wheat and bought some
household furniture, although he did
not know what he wanted it for.
Later he made trip to Kenaston,
where he was arrested.
The complete confession follows:
Examination by Mr.. MCGEE
@. What is your name A. Rob
ert s. Noah.
@. That is your true name? A.
Yes
@. How old are you A. 81
@. Where were you born? A. In
Texas.
@. How long did you live there?
A. We lived there onlywhen was
a little over a year. old we left there.
My mother died there.
q. Your mother died there when
you were small? "A. Yes.
Q. Your father is still living? A.
Yes.