The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-03-27
ROBERTS, CHARGED
WITH MURDER,
HAS HEARING
Minot Blind Pigger Accused by Muir.
derer Arthur Buck of Being One
of the Murderers of Devaney
and GOWN.

ucICA <A1VNut ADu$n OA OCAN6 OAsS
of the Murderers of Devaney
and GOWN.
Arthur Buck, aged "a years, who is
serving life sentence in the state
penitentiary at Bismarck for the mur-
der of Night Policeman Patrick j. De-
vaney and Special State Officer Ker-
sey E. GOWN, has been the principal
witness throughout the week in the
hearing of r. A. Roberts, charged with
the murder of these officers. The hear
ing is being held before Judge Lynch.
States Attorney Herigstad is hand
ling the case for the state and the de-
fendant is represented by Atty f. R.
Sinkler.
The case will not be concluded be-
fore evening, but the Independent pre-
diets that the charge against Roberts
will be dismissed. Roberts, who has
resided in Minot for number of
years, is at present serving time in
the Ward county Jail for pigging.
It looks very much as if Buck is at
tempting to cast the blame of the muir
ders from the shoulders of his old
friend, Clark M. Ticknor, who in all
probability was with Buck the night
of the murders, late last April.
Arthur Buck and wife lived in lit
tie cottage in Minot on the north side.
Buck and his wife sold whiskey ana
beer and when Buck was not thus en-
gagged, he was out stealing automobile
tires in company with Ticknor, Red
Parriott and others. Buck and Tick
nor or Roberts (probably Ticknor) had
gone to a farm about mile northeast
of Minot on the night of the murder to
get the auto tires which they had
cached in mass of tumbling weeds
which had blown up against wire
fence. The tires had been found there
earlier in the day by farmer, Vac
Barta, who had seen mysterious
looking track crossing his plowed field.
Barta sent word to the Minot police,
who, investigated. Night Officer De
vaney volunteered to go out and lay
they would show up that night for
the tires. Special State Officer Ker-
sey M. Gown volunteered to go with.
Devaney and the two officers were
driven out by farmer, Chauncy
Jones When they arrived at the
field, they saw the robbers auto, an
Olu%.rOEU, SC<aAluulS OCoiuC VIC AO0N.
They got out of their car and walked
down along the fence, Buck and his
pal lying in the weeds on the opposite
side Of the fence: The robbers could
see the officers plainly and they open
ed fire. Devaney fell mortally wound
ed at almost the first shot. GOWN
was struck several times, but put up a
game fight, emptying two guns.
When he was so near dead that he
could hardly use a gun, he crawled up
to the fence and steadied his hand
against post, pouring the lead IN the
direction of the fleeing robbers. Jones,
who was unarmed, secreted himself IN
the weeds The robbers got into their
car and drove away. The Minot police
force located Buck and Ticknor few
hours later in the Rex hotel and ar
rested them after an interesting fight.
Buck admitted his guilt. He is a
famous gun man and the bullets. from
his gun killed the two officers. He
first claimed that Ticknor was with
him and did some shooting. Later he
declared that r. A. Roberts was the
man who was with him, but finally
changed front and implicated Ticknor
again A short time ago, he told the
penitentiary guards that Ticknor was
innocent and that Roberts was the
man who accompanied him to the pas
ture that night Accordingly, he was
brOt here as witness in the Roberts
hearing.
There is no question but what Rob-
ers' car was used by the robbers that
night. Roberts owned an old leaky
Ford and the fact that the radiator
leaked was determined by the appear
:ance of the ground whore the car was
standing when the robbers were in the
field.
Buck claims that his testimony dur
ing his preliminary hearing when he
accused Ticknor first, was a lie. I'm
der cross examination by Atty. Sink
ler,, Buck says that he remembers lit
tie of what occurred after the murder
that night and he seems to be very for
getful concerning his previous testi-
mony concerning Ticknor.
Buck is apparently a well educated
fellow, using excellent language. He
says. that the night of the murder, af-
ter killing the officers, he and Roberts
drove to this city, stopping at a
bridge to change q tire, throwing the
old tire into the Mouse river. They
then drove to near the Moore garage.
After Sinkler had pinned him down
pretty we'll, showing that he was a
pretty fair sort of a liar, the murder
er said: 81 know what have in my
mind now, but hesitate to say it. Your
line of cross examination is not con-
/ sistent. There is no sense to it,
"He hasn't answered anything"
Sinkler declSred ut appears on it's
face that he is liar. That will be a
peach Of record for the pardoning
board"
Stupard, the yonug Mountrail coun-
! ty desperate, who terrorized that COM
munity for several weeks, was brot
to Minot as possible witness in the
Roberts hearing. Stupard told one of
the prison guards that four men, IN
Guiding himself, were out at the scene