The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-05-20
To Receive Pension

Layer later, the authorities announc-
To Receive Pension
On behalf of Mrs. Layer and her
SIX chl'ulen left worse than .ather-
less by the confession of her husband
an application for mother's pension
was filed in the Mclean county pro.
bate court.
The application was filed after Mrs
Layer and her brother had called OH
J. E. Williams, states attorney and
Mr.. Williams recommended to the
court that it be granted.
Under the law she may be paid up
to SIS a month for each child and the
probabilities are that the court will
order a pension to be paid monthly of
Was Ignorant of Crime
Mrs. Layer told Mr.. Williams that
she at no time suspected her husband
Of completely in the Wolf murdsgs.
She is badly broken up over the affair
but faces the tremendous task Of car
ing for her six children bravely.
The Oldest child is II years old by
q former marriage, while the other
five children are from II months to
6 years old. Mrs. Layer is about 80
years old, and she and Layer were
married at Ashley, N. D.
Layer had purchased farm under
a contract but had paid very little
on the obligation. Mrs. Layers broth
er said he thought deal could be
made for 40 acres Of the land to be
retained by Mrs. Layer.
Layers testimony at the coroner's
inquest, held the day after the mur-
ders were discovered, shows how the
confessed slayer of the eight persons
had mentioned the cause Of the quar-
rel which resulted in the terrible
crime. The inquest was held on the
Wolf farm before any Of the bodies
were disturbed and Layers testimony
bodies of Mr.. Wolf and the two little
girls were still lying where the mur-
derer had attempted to hide them.
Layers Testimony
Layers testimony at that time was
as follows:
my name is H. C. Layer and live
one mile east and one mile north of
here. l first heard about the murder
about 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
My brother-in-law came in from town
and brought me some blades for my
plow. The last time ! saw Wolf alive
was on Thursday forenoon. He was
working in the field until he unhitched
his team between IL and IL o'clock.
That was pretty early for him to quit
working"
"When came TO the Wolf farm Sat
urday afternoon came directly to
the cow shed and saw him under the
hay. l talked with some people on
the place, fed the calves and MIXED
the cows. l also fed the chickens,
and gave the pigs some water.
Found Three Shells
"On Sunday someone told me to go
upstairs and get some eggs. went
up in the hay loft and reached behind
a nest and found 12-gauge shot gun
shell. / stepped back and yelled for
the sheriff. We found two more shells
sticking in the hay. l didn't know
they were there until reached around
with my fingers.
81 didn't see any gun around. Il
heard Wolf say he had revolver two
years ago, but l never saw the revolv-
er. The hired man didn't have a gun
as far as l know. have shot gun.
It is 12-gauge shotgun. Wolf never
was much of hunter as far as I
knew"
Martineson Suspects Man
At this point Chief Chris MARITIME
son who was suspicious of Layers
actions asked Layer if he ever had any
'louble with Wolf. Layer replied:
II never had any real trouble with
him. His dog chased my cows, but
never had any trouble with him. The
last time l talked to Wolf was last
Sunday in church. i had little trou-
bic with Wolf about free range, but
We never had much talk about It. We
settled this matter by letting his cat
tie run free range and let mine
run on free range"
When asked by member of the
jury, whether he had ever
'ca.d that Wolf had money in the
:afe. Wolf replied:
"There was a general report that
le had money in his SAFE He was
great hand at telling everybody he
lad lots of money in the house all the