South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-28
READS SIGNED
STATEMENT AT
MURDER TRIAL
Efforts to Introduce Bartak
Statement Cause of
Lively Debate.

Introduction of the signed con-
fessiOn of Ernest (Frenchy) Gariepy
of his part in the robbery Of Carl
Cook, which resulted in his murder,
was one Of the big developments in
the case now on trial in the circuit
court. The confession. which Gov
cred - typewriter pages, was read
10 the jury by Ralph y. Smith, who
took the original statement. Eff
forts OF the state TO have read 10
the jury an alleged statement made
by Steve Bartak, one of the com
paniOns OF Gariepy on the night
the murder was committed, pro-
duced the most lively verbal battle
that has taken place during the con-
duct of the present trial.
When former Sheriff VIM. 3. An
triss OF LapOrte was placed on the
stand during the afternoon, the
state asked him about a conversa-
tiOn he had with Gariepy the day
after he (Gariepy) had been arrest
ed. During the dc -ailing of this
conversation. the efforts Of the
TAX read was made. 1t was strenu-
ously opposed by +. r. Liddell.
counsel for the defense. who cited
numerous cases TO the court why
the Introduction should not be ad-
mitted as part of the evidence. The
jury was excused during the argu-
ments before the court and t-ien il
was that the first signs OF bitter
ness between opposing counsel came
out.
Geriepy Leader.
II is expected that the statement
OF Bartak would be damaging TO the
Gariepy defense. for the efforts of
the prosecution will be TO show that
Gariepy was the ring leader in the
conspiracy TO rob the Cook grocery.
Some evidence Of that was brought
out I'm the reading OF the confession
OF Gariepy, but II is expected that
the statement Of Bartak viii fasten
the guilt more firmly upon the
shoulders of the defendant.
Ralph y. Smith, assistant TO Pros
ecutor Rowley, led the fight for the
introduction of the statement of
Bartak. He said that the introduc-
ton of the paper was part of the
conversation with a witness, and
that II is more reliable than 10 pin
the faith of the jury upon the mem
Ory OF man who had the talk
more than a year ago. But Attor-
ney Liddell. arguing for the defense,
SGA0 lAldL the NOllNt Ntl Nt l4Olr ana lIt
reading OF the paper TO the defend
ant was nothing more than frame
up 10 get Gariepy 10 talk. and that
IL was a well laid subterfuge on the
part OF the state TO force a confess
sion from his client. He said that
all the conversation that Sheriff An
triss had with Gariepy was for the
purpose of getting Gariepy 10 talk
about the statement that was read TO
him. The court took the question
Of the introduction Of the state
mont Of Bartak under advisement.
and will give a decision Tuesday
morning.
Court Room Silent
The crowd in the court room was
silent as the proverbial tomb during
the reading of the confession OF
Gariepy 20 the jury. Many white
as well as the wife and baby of the
man on trial The confession de-
tailed the relations of Bartak,
. Baker and Gariepy when they were
at Indiana HarbOr, and stayed at
the Inland hotel. Of the attempt of
Gariepy 10 beat his hotel bill at this
place. and his lack of money when
the attempt failed. It told of the
trip to Laporte the night Of the
murder of Cook, and how the rob
berry Of grocery store was plannej.
Accordine TO his own statements
made in the confession. Gariepy
was in the robbery for the purpose
OF obtaining money with which TO
buy groceries for the family. and
Christmas presents for the children.
The confession further detailed
the actions of the trio after their
arrival in Isaporte, and the failure
10 rob the intended grocery because
the manager had closed his store
Sooned than they had expected. Gar
iepy swore that he did not go in
CONTINUED OK PAGE THREE)