Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-17
/ North Dakota NeUs J

I'll tue county, anu lH6S ti!ero
was adverse feeling because Hall had
|sponsible for alleged fraud in Bis
marck had not.
The court could not be convinced
that the attorney general had made
himself SO unpopular in Bismarck and
Burleigh county as the attorney gem
erals assistants seemed to believe and
to wish the court and jury to believe.
Judge Coffey granted Assistant Attor-
|ney General Brennan's request that
permissionSsb allowed to present af-
f1davits on behalf of Attorney General
LANCER in response to affidavits intro
duced by, the defense tending to in
declined to act in a case which some
Bismarck people believed should be
prosecuted.
Before we get through with this"
said Mr.. Brennan. I'VE will also bring
out the exact truth as to these charges
of fraud in Bismarck city elections"
Nearly all of the discussion and
all of the %afidavits brought into the
case do not affect the issue" said
Judge Coffey. 1.-THE one important
point has been raised by Mr.. Bronson.
that Of whether it may not be i'm
possible to. get a jury which has not
formed an opinion as to the guilt or
innocence Of the defendant. And that
of, the defendant, has not been dis
cussed. The state should be, and I
trust it is. Just as much interested in
giving this defendant a fair trial as
lit is in prosecuting him. That is the
highest duty of the state, to insure
justice to. ALL"
Thorp Attacks LANCER.
"I brand Mr.. LANCER a coward, If
he does not bring this case to trial."
Numbered Thorp of the defense, in
closing an argument against further
delays and 'pettyfogging" OF the part
of the state. IF the attorney general
wants to know where this money
went, all hethas to do is to try this
lawsuit. He has an opportunity to
take on his lap the sneaking, cringing
want to drag this case along until the
June primaries Of 1918, when Mr. Hall
and Mr.. LANCER have political ambi-
tons to be satisfied? The state is en-
bezzling time and it is embezzling the
reputation of the defendant, who I'M
til this charge was brought against
him was the strongest political figure
in North Dakota
Demands Investigation.
1.-THE defense now demands the pro-
duction in this court Of the afidAvits
which Mr.. LANCER has in his posses
sion Of fraud in the paving contract
and in the city election in this city.
He has charged two criminal de-
~linquencies in open court. Again in
connection with this motion we desire
PEELED to do his full duty in connec-
ton with charges that money has
been used in this case. The defense
is making no distinction between Tom
Hall as an embezzler and Tom Hall
as a briber. We demand that this
~pettifogging and that Tom Hall
be put on trial. We demand that the
attorney general cease his campaign
Of publicity through the newspapers
of the state. We insist that he not be
allowed to carry out his evident de-
sire to hold this case over until the
primaries in June are near"
LANCER Used State Funds.
I The Bismarck situation leading up
to the circulation Of grand jury petit
Mons was largely political"and purely
local. according to the amdavits filed
by the defense. Attorney. Stutsmen.
LANCER mixed IN this situation tosthe
extent of paying Charles w. Litten
and Henry L. Gilbert of Bismarck
several hundred dollars out of the
state funds for affdavits executed by
workmen employed here and at Minot
by Hanlon & Okes. After buying
these afidavits, alleging fraud on the
part Of the contractors, LANCER for
some reason pigeonholed them, and
he declined to give them up, although
August 81, 1917. Edward S. Allen,
representing certain property holders
filed a formal. written demand for
the same on the attorney general.
All of these afidavits, Mr.. Aliens
letter and vouchers. showing payment
Of $3.50 apiece to Messrs.f Litten and
Gilbert, are included in the affidavit
of Attornex> Stutsmap. 1t was to in.
vestigate this paving matter and the
attorney generals reasons for q sud.
den loss Of interest. state the affidavit.
of Mr.. Stutsrnan, that petitions calling
for a grand jury were circulated ir
Bismarck. Z.