Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1913-06-19
Murdered Man Had
Received Warnings

Washburm y. L., June lS.-The
trial of w. T. Anderson, charged with
the murder Of Frank f. Funk, for
merly chashier of the First National
bank Of this city, IS being watched
with considerable interest by the
people Of North Dakota, The accused
man was closely associated with the
deceased banker in a business way
and was also a arm personal friend.
The element OF mystery connected
with the tragedy also adds much to
the interest manifested, for il is Il
fact that no M was al eyewitness to
the shooting Of Funk on the evening
of April IA.
Had Trust OF Superior.
Anderson had been employed as d
clerk in the First National bank for
the past five or six years, and altho
but % years Of age was a most com
petent man and fully trusted by his
superior, II Anderson is guilty of the
crime for which he is being tried his
motives for the deed are unknown,
and although many rumors are afoat
none can be verified,
The accused was known to be a
prodigal spender in many ways and
where all his money came from is q
mystery. 1t was believed that his
wife had within the past few years in-I
herited a fortune estimated at from
$685. GOO TO $4,000. but since the shoot.
ing ;he report has gone out that the
amount Of her inheritance was not
over $1,000. Anderson at the time of
the tragedy had two high priced
automobiles in his possession and
was known to have spent large sums
of mouey on other extravagances.
He was recognized by those who
knew Kim as a crack shot with a gun
and had a regular arsenal in his home
NO Eye Witnesses to Shooting.
That the shot which killed Funk
was fred from the direction Of the
Anderson residence is not denied by
any one, but as no one saw the deed
no direct evidence is o~btainable. The
window in the west wall of the An.
derson home faces the back door OF.
the Funk residence. On the evening
OF the tragedy Funk had gone out on
his back porch 10 pick UP his little
child who had fallen down while play
ing. and in the act was pierced with
a bullet which entered his body just
above the right nipple and passed
cut below the left shpulder blade,
The bullet went through the open
door OF the kitchen and lodged in a
pile of magazines In the further end
of the room, The bullet was found
and is said to be in the possession Of
the prosecution.
Another mysterious feature Com
nected with the affair is that Funk
had been threatened several times
within the past year by parties who
had alleged grievances. At n time
a skull and crossbones had been
painted on the bank window with the
Inscription, Wen get you, Funk
and at ANOTHER time a brick was
thrown through a window while he
was at work in the bank.
1t was evident at that time that the
parties doing the mischief were benz
on driving Funk cut Of town, and hi
Els said to have remarked that ths
only way they could him ou'
was to do it with 4 bullet The re
peated warnings received by Mr.
Funk caused his friends much anxiet.
hut the dead banker was loath to be
lieve that Anything serious would re
suit.
Frank r. Funk was the son OF /
Methodist minister, and his parent.
now reside in California. He hat
been cashier Of the First Nationa
hank for 10 years and was recognized
as an able and shrewd fnancier,
Stony Point was a busy place las
SUNDAY. The day was warm and thu
crowd was large and there was /
large demand for cooling refresh
u.e1t