The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-24
First Indicated Only Small
Amount Taken Made
Loans of Walla
WATERS TELLS
OF CONFESSION
Bank Examiner Says
States Witness Told of
81, 800 Shortage
AZ AssocIated Press.l


Bismarck, N. D., Dec. 24.-Secre-
farv Of state Hall was rigidly cross
examined by Assistant Attorney
General Brennan this morning In an
effort TO prove that the de1endant
had been more concerned In money
raising than Walla had following
the latters disclosure Of a shortage
October 16.
Hail admitted that he had applied
to w. III. Stutsman, Grant 1oumans
and to the HUFF bank at Sanger. Tor
q loan, and that he possibly had al
ready received a $500 draft from W.
II. Stutsman when he wrote 70 the
Minot banker.
resented the shrapnel and machine
gun fire of the assistant attorney
general. You're taking lot OF
things for granted, Dan,P he said TO
the prosecutor. You're tryinM to
tangle up this jury
Hall admitted that he had asked
Examiner Waters to defer the exam
ination of his department and stated
this was after Walla had revealed a
shortage, and while Hall was watt
ing to return from hunting trip
that he might get the keys TO the
cash drawer. When Walla did re-
turn, the witness saids he 1Wallal
admitted TO Hall that the shortage
yas larger than originally stated,
and Hall waited until more money
could be raised before asking that
the drawer be opened.
Hall admitted that his letter TO
Youmans, dated October goth may
not have been written until October
26. but knew of no reason for pre-
dating his letter. He originally said
he asked Youmans for the money
because he did not know whether ne
could get 1t from Stutsman. and later
admitted that he may have received
the money from Stutsman several
days prior to his writing to You
mans. He insisted that he had q
cattle deal in mind west of the river
when he wrote Youmans, but denied
having stated over the phone to
,Youmans that he wanted a loan for
the purchase of cattle. The Hall
case probably will not so to the
jury today.
Halls Own Story.
Bismarck. Dec. 24.-Tbomas Hall,
secretary OF state. Saturday after
noon took the stand in his own de-
Tense, sketching briefly in response
10 questions from counsel, his boy
hood days, his early experiences in
railroading and newspaper work, and
his entry into state politics when he
came to Bismarck to accept the post
Of secretary Of the North Dakota
state railway commission. Counsels
direct examination was designed to
bring out a difference between the
mode of living OF the Halls and the
Wallas, and to prove that the former,
on $3.50 the month. have lived much
more simply than the latter on 500
70 $3.50.
= Hall Good Relator.
Calmly and Internationally, in q
matter -of-fact, storytelling tone,
Secretary of State Hall recited
through the long hours of the late
afternoon and evening the story OF
his discovery that there was short
age in the automobile registration
department, when Walla, he alleged,
for the first time revealed the fact
that money which Hall, he testified,
believed he was borrowing from
Walia for use in the GARNER cattle
deal. had been taken from the states
till.
only once did the witness show
emotion. That was when he choked
up and his eyes filled as he told OF
pleading with Attorney General
LANCER not to arrest the witness for
the sake of his old mother at James
town. Hall could not for q moment
continue his testimony, and 1t be-
came necessary for him, and for not
q few Of the spectators, to busy
themselves with handkerchiefs.
Hall took the stand with the man-
mer Of q man who has passed
through q trying ordeal and finally
has come to the sculminating point.
He seemed more himself than at any
time since his preliminary examina-
ton. He appears in better condition
physically, and his mind is appar-
entity more clear and freer from
Knew WalIa Was short.
II knew Walla was about s400
short and that with what / had bor-
rowed on that cattle deal he would
need about $500. so / wired to my
insurance company at Omaha for
$500 and asked Bill Stutsman for
$780,"
Then more shortage developed,
and .Walla suggested that / better
make out some checks to the boys,
the clerks i'm the ONCE, for about the
amount OF their salaries, and let him
20 down and get the cash on them
IN order that suspicious might not
be aroused by the deposit Of q large
sum OF currency at once"
HaIl said that the $50 memoranda
for the expenses Of a trip to Minne-
apolis was legitimate. He had made
this trip on state business and had
procured the money from the TIL
stated the secretary of state, expect
ing to pay Il back when his expense
voucher was allowed. Then he had