The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1918-12-13
THE. C0VLIN CASE
IN COURT AGAIN
BROTHER OF MAN ACCUSED OF
MURDER SAYSHE MERELY
WANTED TO LIGHTEN EXP.

Carl Covlin was tried before the
District Court at Bismarck, last week.
This is thesecond chapter of this ia
nous murder case Wn:ch took place
at Dogden and which the press of the
state has had a good deal to say. The
following account is from the Bis
marck Tribune.
After States Attorney J. E. Will
'liams, Sheriff w. G. Hendricks and
Deputy Sheriff o. H. Stefferud had
testified that Carl Covlin offered the
first VITO officers $500 if they would
prosecute his neice, Julia Covlin, in
stead of his brother, Anton Covlin,
for a murder committed at Dogden
abut a year ago, the defendant took
the stand in district court and entered
a a. hat denial. Coylin declared that the
only time he offered the officers any
money was when he requested that the
Testimony Of certain witnesses at Dog
den be taken a second time, and that
he then offered to pay such additional
expense as this action might inf1ict
upon the state.
Hans Fischer, assistant cashier of
the First National bank at Washburn,
wa a fourth witness for the prosecu-
tion. He told of Covlin's having had
$500 transferred by wire from his
home bank to the Washburn institu-
tion States Attorney J. E. Williams
testified that this $500 was offered
him as a bribe to quash the murder
charge against Anton Covlin and to
prosecute the latter's daughter alone
for the Staying of a neighbor. Miss
Covlin had confessed the crime and
attempted to shoulder the whole bur-
den of guilt. Eye-witnesses, however,
had testified that the fatal shot was
fired from gun in the hands of the
girls fater. The Covlins, father and
daughter, were tried at Fargo on a
change of venue from the Mclean
county district court.
Francis W. Murphy of Fisk & Muir
ply, Minot, is defending Covlin, Judge
S. l.. Nuchols of Mandan is assisting
States Attorney Williams Of Mclean
county with the prosecution.
The jurors are Henry Schonert, A.
B. Currier, Charles Spitzer, E. A.
Waid, J. L. Whitney, D. J. McGillis, A.
r. Amundson, Carl Bertsch, e. E.
Morris, William D. Deckert, John Hal
pin and Frank Blake.
In the beginning of the trial and
after looking over the personal of
the jury, it would seem that every
thing pointed to a sure conviction, but
when the case was completed and the
jury stood seven to five it created a
good deal of talk and comment. This
ccld-blooded murder of neighbor has
already resulted in two trials and no
conviction. This case has been a big
expense to the county, and an added
burden on the taxpayers when taken
out of the county, especially to Fargo,
when it might have been tried here +
in neighboring county. 1t is the
opinion of many taxpayers that States
Attorney Williams owes the county an
explanation as to why the case has
been handled in this manner. Why
was not Covlin arrested at Washburn
at the time. the bribe was offered the
officers instead of waiting five weeks I?
{ Covlin did not bribe the officers,
why was he prosecuted? 49,
An explanation by Mr.. Williams in,
the next issue of the Leader would,
be of great interest to all in Mclean
county, h-=*
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