The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-12-20

man and banker, and North Dakota
state examiner, again proved yester-
day the best all-around witness who
has taken the stand in the Burleigh
district court in many a year. The
major was called by the state, but
after w. H. Stutsman had finished the
cross examination for the defense Mr.
| Waters had said fully as much which
was a favor to Mr. Hall as he had
testified to the discredt of the sec
rotary Of state.
1 The testimony Of the state bank eX-
aminer was practically the same as
on the preliminary examination. He
stated that he had counselled. moder-
alton all along the line; had agreed
with the secretary Of state that the
matter could be kept out Of the lime
light without serious damage to the
two families and all their connections
the shame and sorrow which would re-
suit from the arrest and prosecution
Of Hall and Walla.
Waters testified that he had urged
LANCER to accede to Halls request
that the whole matter be laid before
Governor Frazier before the state be
committed to the prosecution Of
prominent member Of the administra-
ton, and that LANCER had chosen to
ignore the governor in the matter,
stating as his reason: He's too big
hearted; just like you are, jim"
The bank examiner told of the third
degree applied to Tom Hall in a room
in the Grand Pacific hotel the night of
October 80 when warrants already
were out for the secretary of states
arrest and representative of a
strong of Townley newspapers was
waiting in the lobby below for re-
lease of his STORY which blazoned
another LANCER coup.
Hall Pleads For WaIIa
Halls original pleas for mercy
seemed to have concerned Walla al
most entirely. Apparently, the secre.
tary of state could not believe until
LANCER himself broke the news at the
Grand Pacific the night of October
80 that he, (HalD was to be arrested,
although the secretary of state had
earlier shown some anxiety on this
point.
Hall said he wanted to avoid pub
licity for the sake Of his family and
his parents. He feared the news
would kill the old people, who he saiu
were poor, but honest and proud" said
Waters, in telling of Halls first con-
ference with LANCER.
LANCER said too many people knew
about it, mentioning Steen especially,
and that he didn't see how the thing
could be hushed up"
Hall said he could fix Steen; he
and John were old friends. l don't
think he was using the expression,
Fix Steen', with any idea of buying
him or bribing him.
Hanger said You may be able to
fix Steen, but you can't fix me-"
Stutsman: Did Bill swell up and
look important when he said that"
The witness couldn't say that the
attorney general expressed anything
more than conviction of self-right-
eOusness.
Change Of Front.
"Well, if LANCER couldn't be fixed
and was SO anxious to prosecute, why
did he refuse to have anything to do
with counting the cash? Why did he
first refuse to let Brennan go? Wasn't
| Hall with you when both of you ask.
ed LANCER to go down and see the
cash countedo Hadn't you (Waters)
refused to open the safe unless Lang
er or someone from his office was
there?"
Waters on cross-examination admit
ted that this was true, and that
that LANCER had finally reluctantly
said that if Dan (Brennan) wanted
to go, it was up to him.
The state examiner testified that
none of Halls personal checks and no
slips bearing Halls 81. o. u" were
found in the safe when it was opened
and the cash counted.
Frazier Too Easy.
Waters: "Tom told me of trouble
he had had with former clerk in
the same department and that he had
conferred with Hanna and the matter
had been hushed up after the shortage
was made good. Hall wanted Frazier
brought into a conference on this bus
mess He told me he was going right
over and see the governor and have a
good talk with him about it, but the
governor wasn't in town.
81 told LANCER | wouldn't arrest
Hall, and asked him if he Uanger)
had seen the governor about it. Bill
said:
1.-The governors too big-hearted-
he's just like you >"
Apparently the governor wasn't con-
suited, and things went forward to a
quick climax before the governor
could return to the city.
Didn't Like Business.
The whole business was distasteful
to Waters, as man, he testified on
close examination. He didn't care to
be present when Hall was arrested
but LANCER asked him to go out with
him and look for Hall, and when Hall
finally was found Waters "was trail
ing right along"
After LANCER got Hall by himself
with Brennan and Waters in private
room in the Grand Pacific he inform
nj tho cocrotarv If state he was r.