The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-04
LAYER HAD FAIR
. CHANCE T0DENY
HIS CONFESSION /!
Chief of Police Martineson Ans
wers Talks of Activity of
Officers
NO THIRD DEGREE" USED
Officers in Case Willing to Lay
All Details Bare, He m
. Says
NO 'THIRD DEGREE" USED

IF anyone believes the confession
of Henry Layer to the murder of
eight people near Turtle Lake was
forced from him, every officer con-
nected in the case is willing to lay
every detail of the arrest and confess
sion before any impartial court" de-
clared Chief of Police Martineson to-
day, following the announcement that
arrornevs had been retained by Lay
er's relatives and friends to seek a
new trial for him. ,sEf
Martineson was given credit for
solving the murder mystery, the state
ments to this effect were presented to
Governor Frazier by officials of Nc
Lean county, as showing him entitled
to the $1,000 reward offered by the
Governor, but never paid. Associated
with Martineson were Sheriff. Ole
Stefferud. of'sMcL LeanlE county; G. D.
Mcdonald Northern Pacific detective
and Detective Hezner, Of the Thiel
detective agency of st. Paul.
"We have been silent while a num-
ber of people have circulated fumors
that we used third degree" methods.
because we thought that the talk was
only such as might naturally follow
such a case," continued Chief Mar
tineson. "Now it appears that~an or
ganized effort is being made in behalf
of Layer to discredit the officials con-
~nected with the case.
Had Every Chance
Henry Layer had every opportun-
ity to repudiate the confession he
40 h0 orf0roI tho state
prison where he now is serving lite
sentence. He had every opportunity
to deny his guilt and stand trial
Mr.. Layer can not stand in court
and claim lily white reputation, aside
from this case. He was Of quarrel
some disposition when he lived in
Emmons county before he moved to
near Turtle Lake. On his farm he had
16 gallons of moonshine when arrest.
ed, and he admitted making it. He
even told us he made it from the in
gradients used in the county grass
hopper. poison before the poison was
put in it,
One of the charges made by Layers
relatives is that he was beaten up in
the Jail at Washburn.
He was arrested in the afternoon
and he confessed shortly after mid
night" continued MartinesOn. He
was alone part of that time. He
was not beaten, nor was he brow.
beaten He was questioned long and
continuously, Of course, but no third
degree. methods were used. His own
conscience forced him to confess at
ter he had gazed upon pictures Of vic
tins.
After he contested he was left
alone. He slept we'll and he ate a
hearty breakfast. He was taken be-
fore a Justice Of the peace, who urged
him. to have a preliminary hearing.
He refused He was taken before the
district Judge, who assured him Of
every protection of the law, who had
him repeat the entire confession in
answer to questions and the records
of the court reporter will show that
he didn't vary one bit from the con-
fession he gave us, which some people
now say we wrote and forced him to
sign. is ar r,.s,.s "
-. Story Proved TrYe
Henry Layer had plenty Of time to
ponder on the crime before he con-
fessed; he had plenty Of time to pom
der on the effect of his confession
before he went to prison.
"He, related to US incidents which
later were proved to be true, which
we did not know at the time.
mo one wants to see an innocent
man convicted. but it is strange that
so many people shouldltry to absolve
a man from the most terrible murder
ever committed in North Dakota" -