The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-12-15

Attorney General George T. Simp-
son, forced to come from St. Paul to
Bemidji on subpoena issued on be-
half of the men whom the state has
been prosecuting on arson charges,
sat for half an hour in the little num-
icipal court room here this morning.
an unwilling. and for the most part
silent, witness in the adjourned pre-
liminary hearing of Edward Gearlds,
charged with having been involved
in the attempted burning of a build
ing at Blackjack last March.
Attorney George Spear of Grand
Rapids, despite the protests of Mr..
Simpson, had the attorney general
brought here for the apparent pur-
pose of showing the states connec-
ton with A. H. Brandt, also known
as Duval and Fisher, who was a wit
ness when the Gearlds hearing first
was called several days ago and who
at times said he had been in the
employ of the state since September
under the direction of the attorney
general and state fire marshal. Brandt
at that time also swore that he was
in Bemidji between March Fl and %
and was present when Gearlds paid
"Boston Blackie" $50 for "the Black
duck job" "aS
Despite every effort on the part of
Attorney Spear to draw from the lips
of the attorney general the states
connection with Brandt, against
whom a charge of perjury was is
sued following his testimony here
and WHO now is a fugitive from jus
tice, Attorney E. E. Mcdonald, spec
ial prosecutor in the arson cases,
built line of objections sustained in
almost every instance by Municipal
Judge H. A. Simons, before whom
the hearing is being held In a VOL
ley of questions which included in
situations of official protection and
immunity for Brandt who was held
up as cocaine fiend and ex-convict,
but four questions were answered by
the attorney general. The answers
were:
II am attorney general for the
state of Minnesota"
my residence is at Winona."
my brother is county attorney for
Winona county,"
II was in Brainerd a week ago last
Wednesday,"
In vain did the attorney for
Gearlds endeavor to get replies to
such queries as:
"Did Brandt make a statement to
you in your Officer"
"Did you see this same man any
time last week."
"Were you not advised that war;
rant had been sworn out for his ar
rest of charge of perjury?"
did you communicate with the po-
lice officers of the cities of the state
in an effort to apprehend this man
in his fight?'
'Is it not true that notwithstand-
ing knowledge on your part that the
arrest of this man was wanted that
you didn't do anything to bring it
about?"
did you not arrange a parole for
Brandt?"
"Have you done anything at all to
bring about the arrest of Brandt on
the charge of perjury"
'Do you know of any reason why
the state should want to protect
Brandt?"
els there any reason, Mr.. Attorney
General, why you do not wish to an
swer these questions?"
To all this line of queries, Attor-
ney Mcdonald objected on the gen.
eral ground that they had nothing
to do with the preliminary examina-
ton of Mr.. Gearlds on the arson
charge; that they were often imper-
tinent, foreign to the point at issue
and that they were immaterial, ir-
relevant, incompetent, and not asked
in good faith.
Finally Mr.. Spear said:
"That is all I care to ask the wit
The state had no questions to ask
ness at this time''
the attorney general and Mr.. Nc
Donald appealed to the court to per-
nit his return to St. Paul. H.
Gle is here this morning at the ex-
pense of his public Duties" said Mr..
Era. t-rr- 81 e. e. r-e - % -,-. /. nl 90. . Fl