The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-07-23
Mrs. Frances Sheldon Relates
Strange Story and Investiga-
ton Follows
ONE CASE IS NOW ON TRIAL
Jury to Act on Accusations of
Woman Made Against Broth
er in District Court

er in District Court
Steele, N. D., July %. - The re-
markable story told to authorities
here by Frances Sheldon, in 'con-
fession" to the states attorney here,
that there are rs bodies buried on
farm south of Steele, has caus>
ed authorities to send out men in an
effort to locate the bodies.
The authorities believe that they
will find the bodies of Ed. Leitzke,
a hail insurance agent, and the body
of an alleged child of Mrs. Frances
Clayton Sheldon, born out of wedlock,
whom James C. Clayton is accused
of having murdered.
Blood Stained Club
When the investigation was first
started she told the officials in which
corner of the Clayton home to dig
for blood-stained club which she
said her father had used to kill the
baby and insurance agent. . i.
The hunters followed her directions
and found the club, which the state
claims was used for the killing.
In digging for the bodies the daugh,
ter has told the officials to dig III
seven or eight different places. When
the first excavation failed to reveal the
skeletons, she said that she was dc
ceiving them and indicated another
place, which she said was the real
location of the buried bodies.
Said he Would Leave
Claims are made that Leitzke, the
insurance agent, told Braddock pee
ple he was going to leave for Alaska
about the time the murder is sup
posed to have occurred. No trace OF
him has been, found as yet. When
last seen he was drunk and headed
toward the Clayton farm, supposedly
to see Frances, it was alleged.
George MussOn declares that farti'
er investigations are being carried on.
but nothing definite has been learned.
The confession of the daughter says
that more murders have occurred. In
seeking to solve the tangle the state
is investigating all possible sources
and thus will discover any traces OF
more murders, if they were commit
ted Search for the bodies will be
started again as soon as the present
trail ends.
Brother Faces Trial
The trial of Roy Clayton, rs years
old son of James Clayton, started in
the Kidder district court yesterday.
Roy is charged with criminal assault
1,,1v
George Musson, state attorney for
Kidder county is prosecuting the
case before Judge w. l.. Nuessle.
All the evidence was brought in on
Thursday and the arguments by the
state were the opening feature OF the
trial today. Musson spoke for 40 min
utes. reviewing the evidence.
Thorp then took the floor and
started in hot and heavy on the de-
fense. ...s...,,.
The Witnesses
The principal witnesses called yes
terdav were: Frances Clayton, (who
married Ted Sheldon), Laura Clayton,
n4year-old sister, Ted Sheldon,
husband of Frances Clayton), Mrs.
J, B. Crowell, Miss Anna Stein, Fred
Young, Mrs. Sheldon, (mother OF Ted
Sheldon), Mrs. Van Mouse, mr.. ana
Mrs. Walter Clayton, Mrs. John Gay
ton. (mother of Roy Clayton-.6elng
tried). Mrs H. B. Schultz and perhaps
six or seven more.
The submission of evidence yester-
dav was conducted behind closed
doors.
Visited Brother
Laura Clayton took the stand and
told how she and Frances took some |
milk down to their brother. who was
patching it." near the homestead.
The state, and Frances Clayton
claim the violation occurred at this
time. about July Is. 1918. Laura. the
younger daughter declared that Roy
sent her home and made Frances stay
with him at the shack. r-a
The defense. on the other hand,
maintain that Roy was working for a |!
neighboring farmer at the time.
The state attempted to show that !
Roy Clayton is and was degenerate. i
So far they have not definitely proven !
their point.
Does Not Testify
An expert psychologist, Hotchkiss,
was brought down from jamestown
Yesterday and it was thought that the !
state would present his opinion re-
garding the mental status of Clayton. |
II appears as though his deductions
were not satisfactory. At any rate
he returned to Jamestown without
appearing in court.
The defense attempted to show that !
the character of the principal witness
for the state. Frances Clayton or Mrs.
Sheldon, was not of the best.
Under the date OF Aug. 20, 1919,
the register Of deeds for kidder
county has filed an agreement between
Guv Sheldon and Frances Clayton in
which Sheldon agrees to pay her SIS |
a month for IL years. G. w. Little !
and Roy P. Logan Of Bismarck signed
as sureties. ,Inftsiooa.t
Changes Statement
In the trial Frances Clayton testi-