The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-06-30
G. I. Bickford Was
Found To- Be Guilty
Tic Jury Was Out Nine Hours and
Balloted Six Times Two Held
Ont For Aequfttal
1--WE find the defendant guilty Of
embezzlement of the sum Of S54.

y
65.''
Such was the verdict Of the jury
in the case Of g. Z. Bickford,
former state treasurer, charged
with the embezzlement Of 100000
of the states fund, whose trial here
has centered the interest of the
entire state in Washburn for the
past two weeks.
The trial began Monday, June
10, and occupied the attention Of
the court for nine days The jury
was given the case at ten o'clock
Wednesday morning and was out
nearly ten hours.
When seen by press representa-
tives after the verdict had been
announced, the defendant declined
to make any statement for publical
tion, but Attorney George Bangs
!. of Grand Forks, who had con-
Quoted the defense, said. ':The'
verdict is palpably contrary to all
evidence offered in the case and
we will most assuredly appeal the
case.' Mrs. Bickford was greatly
affected by the verdict and at the
time Of the reporters call was in
tears.
While Of course gratitied at the
verdict Of guilty, the state was
disappointed in the small sum
fixed by the jury as the amount
embezzled.
The prosecution looks upon the
amount as a compromise verdict,
the sum being fixed at that figure
in order to bring over some who
were holding ont for acquittal.
II is reliably, reported that 81,
v q
the first ballot the jury stood seven
to Eve for conviction. Later the
ballot was nine to three. Then it
dropped back to seven to five, then
for several ballots the jurors stood
ten to two. Finally with eleven
for conviction and one still holding
out for acquittal, the compromise
was effected.
OF the. jury which convicted
Bickford, seven were farmers, two
were merchants, one q mining
engineer, one q painter, and one a
hotel man. Seven of these pro-
fsssed republicanism as their
politics, when questioned by the
defense during the empanelling Of
the jury, a great deal Of attention
being paid to the political afilia.
tions Of the prospective jurors
during their examination at the
outset Of the trial.
Washburn has been given q
great deal Of desirable publicity as
result of the trial being held
here. Outside the direct material
gain to the business interests Of
the town, the many visitors to the
city nearly all Of them being peo.
pie Of prominspce In the state.
have an opportunity to note the
prosperity Of the community and
the excellent outlook for the future
which 10 Wash burns portion. The
Commercial Club and in fact ell
citisens Of the town have mad can
effort % make the stay here pleas
ant tli y Y: ~ I IS & ID ] - at,
] torneyk and therss interss I'D ia
I the trial Who have been here DUR.
ing tia past two wesks.
4 Il The case was brought "a Nc.
Lsan count ON Z change of venne,
and Judge Y @. Crawford .of:
Diokinson aat il the oase. being
ealled AZ 81 ind nohester.s
agsinst hon g. g. iidavit 81
] pro judice had been aIed ss,,tstesr,' 4
Attornsy N q. Smith e BurlsiRh,
county, eondpst tsd m prpse eution,I
assissed 81 III; ~ ilftlI I y e 3 4 a
.lleoap "a pdgs u Wsud q!
srgn (a1ss 3angS y and
FORKS essilt I ! tl,e ! N aol