The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-10-14
BERGSTROM GOES
UP FOR HIS LIFE
Kenoshan Is Sentenced to
Life Imprisonment at
Laramie Saturday.
BAKER SAYS INSANE"

Roy Bergstrom, formerly of Kenosha,
was sentenced to term of life lmpris-
onment for the murder of his wife,
Gladys Macarthur Bergstrom, on Satur-
day.
Attorney Robert V. Baker, who de-
Tended Bergstrom, this morning in an
interview with representative of the
Evening News stated that the jury who
tried Roy Bergstrom was only out four
hours before they returned verdict
of guilty of murder in the first degree.
It is understood that several of the
jurymen were insisting on the death
penalty but further elaboration COM
muted the sentence to life imprison-
ment.
Peculiar State Law.
It is law of Wyoming that person
sentenced to life Imprisonment must
serve at least sixteen years before any
proceedings may be undergone to effect
a pardon. This would make Bergstrom
about forty years of age if he were
pardoned at the minimum time limit.
or not Bergstrom was insane at the
time the murder was committed and in
the opinion Of Mr.. Baker choose what
was in their opinion the most just SEN
tence. A peculiar law on the statute
books Of Wyoming was little prejudi-
cial to Bergstrom's interest, Mr.. Baker
stated. "There is law in Wyoming"
he continued, chat if a man is charged
with murder in the first degree and is
acquitted on account of unsound mind,
he must be turned loose. The laws of
that state do not provide for imprison-
ment in state insane institution. In
my mind, am inclined to believe that
the jury was a little undecided as to
whether or not he was insane. I be-
lieve that there were two factions in
the jury and that they compromised
The one faction believed that Berg
strom was guilty Of murder in the first
degree and advocated the death penalty
hanging. The other faction believed
that he was of unsound mind yet be-
lieved that he was guilty but should
not be hanged I believe that they
compromised on either hanging him or
turning him Loose by giving him a SEN
tence Of Imprisonment for life"
BergstrOm Calm.
When asked how Bergstrom felt on
the jury's verdict, Mr.. Baker stated
that Bergstrom was calm and unemo-
tional. 81 believe that Bergstrom was
insane at the time he shot his wife,
Gladys Bergstrom, on April 3rd, and !
believe that he is insane yet. Berg
strom, like most insane people, of
course, scouts the idea that he is of
unsound mind. It's damned bunk said
Bergstrom when they accused him of
committing the deed in an insane mo-
ment."
Murder Was Premeditated.
"Of course the murder was premedi-
tated. We admitted it." said Baker.
"The evidence was conclusive and not
to be refuted. Bergstrom did premedi-
tate it but it is my firm conviction
that he did it in an abnormal state of
mind. There are several phases of
ticular phase Of Bergstrom allowed
him to plan his murder as carefully as
he would plan any other event. The
only difference between a sane and an
insane man is that the mind of a sane
man functions along the proper chan
nels and has for it's ultimate goal some
good, but the diseased mind functions
along different channels, sometimes
good and sometimes bad, but it is an
abnormal state of mind. Bergstrom
walked across the street and took his
revolver from the case it was lying in
and shot his wife four times and then
jumped into taxicab Evidence was
brought to show that Bergstrom asked
the taxi driver what the sentence for
murder was in Wyoming electric
chair or the rope-and in this the pro
secution attempted to disprove our con-
tention that he was in an unbalanced
mental state. But the mind gone
wrong has all the cunning Of a sane
mind and may appear entirely rational
yet being of deep subtle character
may so carry itself that it appears
normal. We had DR.. Dellhanty Of Den
yer, Colorado, who is an expert alien
list, examine Bergstrom and he stated
that Bergstrom was under a peculiar
mental coma and that he was not re-
sponsible for his act. This evidence
was refuted by the state when they
had the superintendent Of the state in
stitution of the criminally insane OK
anime Bergstrom. The superintendent
declared that Bergstrom was of a
sound state Of mind"
Motion for New Trial.
A motion was made for a new trial,
but this was only of a tentative sort.
Nothing can be done until seven days
in order to allow the lawyers to thor
oughly go over the evidence and see
that there was no legal slipup.