Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-09
DEFENSE COVERS
: UP NOTHING IN
| MURDER TRIAL
Second of four Alleged Muir.
derers of Bowen Placed on
Stand Today.
(Herald Special Service. }

Hettinger, N. D., July s.-''we
have nothing to conceal and nothing
but the whole story to tell, and to
tell it to the jury" ssid Attorney j.
is why few precedenis in legal prac-
tice will be broken. We will place
each and every one Of the men ac-
cused of the murder on the witness
stand for the defense
M. X. Bowen was shot and killed
at his farm home near Beach July
81, 1919, when D. r. Offley, E. W.
Taylor, j. Stark and G. ]. Jeffries
called at the Bowen farm with replev-
In papers for cattle belonging to OFF,
ley, which Bowen had penned up.
F. Sullivan of Mandan. leading coun-
sci for the defense in the M. K Bow
en- murder trial here. He added that
Stark and Taylor had been deputized
as constables.
Taylor Surrendered. "
Following the shooting Taylor sur
rendered himself to the sheriff. The
local Nonpartisan league, editor, Mar
tin Blank, seized upon the shooting
re Ishsf1n, John, PisTzina and States
Attorney r. F. Gallagher OF conniv-
ance in a political plot to kill Bowen,
and William LANCER, attorney gen
eral, with negligence in ofice. Stark.
Jeffries, Ohley and Taylor were ar
rested and held for trial following
the coroners inquest. The Bowen
cal question. III
Governor Frazier removed States
| Attorney Gallagher and Sheriff Pier
Eina from Office, but following a
lengthy legal battle they were order
ed restored to their positions A
month ago Martin Blank, league
newspaper man who had instituted
all the POLITICAL charges, issued COM
plete retraction. Offley is now on
fense yesterday E. W.. Taylor, placed
on the stand, declared he had shot
Bowen. Late yesterday afternoon he
was oss-examined by L. A. Simpson,
leading counsel for the state. Without
Without variance he repeated his
story nor waivered in the least under
grillinE examination this morning.
! Ira J. Stark, the second Of the four
alleged mureders, was placed on the
stand by the defense shortly before
noon. He bore out the statements of
Taylor that Bowen, cursing the man
and enraged, ran to the barn, seized
his gun and was leveling at Taylor
when Taylor shot first
Witnesses to prove the reputation
of the deceased as fighting man
witness to prove Bowen had made
threats against Offley and others, Civ
ing cause for ocley taking two spe-
cial constables and friends with him
when he went after his cattle; wit
nesses to testify of threats made by
Bowen against Onley of which On1ey
never heard. will follow Stark on the
stand after which Jeffries will be ex-
amined. and finally Offley placed on
the stand ii his own defense" Said
Attorney Sullivan this morning.
while Offley is the only defendant in
the present trial. all fow are charged
with the murder and all four will take
the stand Other than the original
disqualification Of states, Attorney
Oppegard of Golden Valley county on
a technicality and the appointment OF
Senator Peter Garberg, Lacquer. Of
Adams county as representative OF
the original county; the appointment
of L. A. Simpson of Dickinson by At.
special prosecutor, and association in
the case of Attorney s. L. Nichols
political differences have not been in.
jected into the case. Nichols appear
ed here to aid in the prosecution as
serting he had been retained by for
mer Attorney General William
LANCER for that purpose. and had
been paid a retaining fee nearly two
years ago by LANCER.
The jury secured to try the first
I man, Ofley, after four days examina.
ton, the regular and two specia
Yenires Is composed of men about
evenly divided in political faith
Leaguers and Independents, 1t is said