The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-11
DUMAS FACING
A HARD TRIAL
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
THOUGHT TO HAVE STRONG
CASE LINED UP.

Bemidji Mimi, Sept 11.-That the
state, under the direction or Alexander
James. assistant attorney general, lN
putting forth every effort to unearth
every particle OF evidence that will
send light on the movements Of Or.
Dumas. and his alleged pals, Mike Da-
Wis and Martin Behan, charged with
having attempted to burn and rob the
postoffice building at Puposky. June
IL is evident by the large number
of people, who are being summoned
before Mr.. James, to tell what they
know prior to the converting of the
grand Jury in this city tomorrow.
Mr.. James and those connected with
him, express themselves as highly
pleased with the information. that has
been given them, since the states
chief representative arrived here this
week from st. Paul to be personally
In charge of the movements Of the
state against the Cass Lake mayor.
That the state is receiving informa-
ton, which is considered sensational
and convincing, Is evident by the
guarded statement of a Bemid1i man.
who has been close to the state from
the first, who has got more inforna-
ton than any other individual. Mar
tin Behan, whose sensational testi-
nlony at the preliminary hearing
startled the spectators, has recovered
from the gun shot wound, which he
received during his attempt to escape
from Puposky, is much improved. in
fact, is in the best Of health and is
being given excellent care He will
be here when court convenes next
Tuesday.
'Behan will stand by his original
statement involving DR.. Dumas as the
instigator of the plan to burn the
Puposky store" says this party, whose
name is withheld. "And he will be
perpared to undergo any ordeal OF ex-
animation that may be put UP to him."
Bert Smith, owner of the Puposky
store and whose name has been fire.
quently mentioned as being the states
star witness, has nothing to say on any
angle Of the case Smith did not tes-
tify at the preliminary hearing Of Dr.
Dumas, but he has been subpoenaed to
appear before the grand jury, and
there is an intimation that his testi-
| mony will be more sensational than
was that OF Behan's at the prelimi-
nary hearing. Those close to DIR. Du-
mas assert that evidence will be Of
| fered at the trial that will discredit
| Smiths testimony and put him in q
bad light.
Judge Spooner, chief counsel of DR..
Dumas, is still absent, but is expected
here tomorrow morning. A. A. An
drews OF this city, who is associated
with the Judge in the case, states that
| so far as he knows no effort is being
made to secure change of venue In
the Dumas case to some other county,
and he does not know that any such
move is contemplated.
| That Mike Davis remained in the
county north OF Bemidji not far re-
moved from Puposky, after hts escape
during the gun fight is apparently
borne out by statement made here
today by farmer, living near Far
| ley, twelve miles north of here. j. N.
Guthrie states that two days after the
| Puposky affair his wife saw a man
lying In the brush near their home
who resembled the photos of Davis
printed in the papers. That his arm
was injured and that when he arose
he limped as though wounded and
that he struck off through the woods
in a southwestern direction. Rumors
at that time were that Davis was
cared for by a friend living near Tur-
tie river, and was got to Cass Lake
from there, going to Deer River and
to farm owned by friend in Cass
Lake. There was a man hunt at Deer
River and 1t was claimed at the time
that Davis got away to Superior,
among friends, and out Of the country.
There is great interest here in the
Dumas case. The assertion being made
that there is politics back Of the pros
ecution Is not plain to Bemidji people.
DR.. Dumas has lived in Cass lake,
and how he could in any manner be
involved in the politics Of Beltrami
county cannot be figured out