The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-06-08

The transcript bears out previously
reported statements to the effect that
Judge Nuessle gave Layer every op-
portunity to repudiate his confession
aud almost pleaded with him to allow
the court to appoint lawyer to de-
fend him. Layer refused every op-
portunity offered by the Judge, SEEM
ingly anxious to take the sentence
that he knew awaited him
Judge Nuessle the transcript shows,
had Layer repeat everything he hai
said in his confession, taking it step
by step. repeating much OF the testi-
mOny.
The reward of 81 900 offered for the
apprehension of the murderer has not
yet been paid but the state auditing
board is expected to take action on
it this week.
The complete transcript of the evi-
dence presented before the court, is
as follows:
v..a TRANSCRIPT
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, County
of Mclean; In District Court. Fourth
Judicial District
State of North Dakota, Plaintiff, VS..
Henry Layer Defendant.
This cause coming on tG be heard in
the District Court of the Fourth Judi
cial District in and for the State of
North Dakota, before tho honorable
w. L. Nuessle, Judge of the Fourth Ju-
dicial District, in the ccurt room, in
the court house. at the city Of Wash
burn, Mclean county, North Dakota
on this thirteenth day Of May, A. D.
Ninteen Hundred and Twenty, at l2:45
D. m. of said day, John E. Williams,
states attorney for Mclean county
North Dakota, appearing in behalf OF
the State. and the defendant appear
ing in court in the custody of the She:-
1T Ole H. Stefferud, the following pro-
ceedings were had
The states attorney files written
confession of guilt and asks permis'
sion to file an Information.
Examination Of Defendant by the
Court.
@. What is your true and correct
name? A. Henry Layer.
@. How do you spell your last
name? A. Layer.
@. You understand English pretty
we'll? A. Yes, pretty we'll.
@. Do you read and write English?
A. Not very good:
@. Have you seen this paper be-
fore? A. Yes.
@. That is your name that is writ
ten there? A. Yes.
@. You wrote that? A. Yes.
@. Did you understand what you
were doing when you wrote that? A
Yes.
@. Did you read this paper over be.
fore you signed it? A. They read it to
me, yes.
O. Mr.. Williams. the states attor-
ney, read it to you? A. Yes.
@. Before he read this to you did
he read another paper to you? A.
Yes.
@. And in that paper you were
charged with the crime of murder in
the first degree? A. Yes.
@. You understand what murder in
the first degree is? A. Yes.
O. And you understand what he
read when he read to you the paper
charging you with murder in the first
degree? A. Yes.
a. In this paper he charged You
with having killed Jacob Wolf. Jacob
VOLTS wife. five of his children and
his hired boy? A. Yes.
@. You understood that? A. Yes.
@. Now in this paper here you say
you did that and you want to enter
a plea of guilty to that charge? A..
Yes.
c. What I am trying to get at. Mr..
Layer, is whether or not you know
just what you are doing? A. Yes, l
think do.
@. You knew Jacob Wolf? A. Yes.
@. You knew the children? A. Yes.
O. And you knew that they were
killed week or so ago? A. Yes.
@. And the States Attorney here
has charged you with having killed
them? A. Yes.
@. And that is what you want to
enter plea of guilty to? A. Yes.
Confession is Filed
COURT: Let the record show at
this time the States Attorney of Nc
Lean county appears before the Court,
the Clerk of the Court being also pres
ent, and the Sheriff of Mclean coun-
ty being present and having in his
charge and custody Henry Layer. and
the States Attorney having filed a
written confession and admission OF
guilt of the said Henry Layer, where
in the said Henry Layer admits that
he is guilty of the crime of murder in
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