The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-04-06
Y0UNANS CASE
NEARING CLOSE
TESTIMONY WILL BE CONCLUD-
ED FRIDAY-NEAR RIOT SAT-
URDAY WHEN PLAINTIFF F
HURLED A BOOK - JUDGE
THREATENS TO FINE YOU
NS-ATTORNEYS CLASH.

There was near riot in the court
room during Saturday mornings ses-
sion of the trial of Grant S. Youmans'
$225,O0O damage suit against the state
officials and bankers, growing out OF
the closing and transfer of the Saw
ings Deposit Bank in 1918. Follow
ing the remark that the defendants
were ., bunch of bank robbers, You
mans, while being cross-examjned by
Assistant Attorney General Francis
J. Murphy, picked up ledger that
lay on the desk just in front Of his
chair and hurled it with great force
at Murphy's head. The Assistant At
torney General stood coolly watching
the. flying book and ducked just in
time to escape the impact The book
crashed onto the floor and most of
the defendants, together with many
in the audience, sprang to their feet.
Former United States Senator Purcell
one of the counsel for the defendants,
rushed up close to Youmans, who
shouted for him to stand back. "You
get away from me-" Youmans said
to Purcell. "Get away, nothing
Purcell answered, "you are talking tc
different man." LeSueur and Man
ahan, counsel for Youmans, rushed tC
his side to defend him and friends of
Youmans started from the rear of the
court house towards the front, expect
ing there might be free-for-all
Atty. Sinkler, for the defendants
arose and shouted for the crowd tc
stand back.
"Order, Orderv shouted Judge
Kneeshaw. "Call the bailiff." Sher-
iff Nedreloe was called in and during
the remainder of the session was giver
a seat close to Judge Kneeshaw.
The trouble started as Mr.. Youmans
was being questioned by Mr.. Murphy
in regard to certain mortgages which
the defense claims, were worthless
and which were sold to the Savings
Deposit bank. These were the mort.
cages aggregating some $4,365 on {
quarter section sold to William N
Client, on which there was a prior
mortgage of $4OO, which later was
foreclosed and a sheriffs deed ISSUED
on the land Mr.. Youmans testified
that he paid about $2,400 for this
land, giving him three or four lots ir
Minot and elsewhere to make up ST..
600; assuming the $400 mortgage
paying him $354.34 and charging 9th.
er items of expense Questioning him
as to this transaction, Francis Muir.
ply, for the defense, asked:
''Is that another bankers trick, buy
ing real estate that way?"
Simply a bankers method of max
ing loan available for commercial
purposes replied Mr.. Youmans.
"A bankers trick for making real
estate available for commercial pur-
poses ?" queried Mr. Murphy.
81 decline to answer that" respond
ed Mr.. Youmans.
Because it contains the word
"trick," interrogated Mr.. Murphy.
II answered your trick I told you
in plain English what that thing was, "
replied Mr.. Youmans.
II am asking you another question;
/ ask you if it was not bankers trick
to make land available for CONNER
cial purposes?" asked Mr.. Murphy.
eyes; just small trick I learned
when l was in the bankers fraterni-
ty," retorted Mr.. Youmans.
"You used it in your business ?"
asked Mr.. Murphy. .
II was allowed to use that trick as
long as stood in when fell out,
trying to be square, I am here with
that d bunch of robbers trying to
kill me offp' replied Mr.. Youmans,
vehemently.
answer that, will you" queried
Mr.. Murphy.
(To> Mr.. Purcell) "You get away