The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-05-06
CHRISTMAN CASE
TO CLOSE TODAY
Verdict Expected in
Prosecution of Alleged
Sperry Bandit
ATTEMPT TO IMPfACH
nefense Has Witness to Dis
prove Statements Made
by Saunders for State

The state rested its case against
Al r Christman the third member
~ the alleged Sperry bank robber
Gang to face trial, late Thursday,
sSepnoon The defense which had
,ssorypd its opening statement did
,ot make any statement at that time
Nut aid demur TO the evidence and
a, Instructed verdict. = Both mo-
,lors we're overruled and the
Ss,ensp began its testimony.
T,ro other members of the gang
rbich on December 20. 1920 rob-
SJi the state Guaranty bank OF
Aerry have already been tried and
.entcnccd to Is years In the poni-
,entiarl. They are Frank Stanley,
alleged leader and Eddie Shou-
quettc 80
of iotings. sort OF diary as 1t
we're, took a major part during the
testimony ot j NJ. saunders Thurs
day. This book attracted much at
,en,ion a. the other two trials and
was probably responsible in large
sense FOR the convictions. Occa-
sionslly referring toy his book In
which he had made various notes
a, his transactions with the bandit
rang, saunders told practically the
sane story he told at the other
trials,
Cbristman Positively Identified.
Following him on tho stand was
: c. Woods. West Tulsa grocer,
rho positively identified Christman
AZ the man who was driving the
bandit auto after II left sperr.s
woods on the day OF the robbery
was repairing his auto at the side
NJ The road Just on the outskirts of
sperry and he testified he saw the
bandit auto after IL left Sperry,
noticed Christman because he had
known him for several years.
An effort was made by the de-
Aense 10 impeach Woods testimony
by DR.. L. Seltzer. West Tulsa drug
eist, who said that Woods had told
6im before the trial. at the time
Ghrtgtman was arrested, that he saw
the auto and that Christman was
not IN II. Following Shouquctte's
trial the doctor said he asked
Woods about his testimony and
woods claimed he was just mis-
taken. However. Woods again
TOOK tho stand and ssaid that he
told tho doctor what he did because
he was afraid of the gang.
on the night following tho Shou-
ouette conviction fire did mysteri-
cusly break out in Woods store in
West Tulsa and completely de-
stroyed It.
Eugene p. cum. secretary OF the
Oklahoma Bankers association.
Rob O'Dell, police officer, John A..
Gustafson, chief OF police. Newt
Graham OF the Exchange National
bank, n. q. Brown, Burns detec-
tive, Luther Bishop, deputy sheriff
Of oklahoma City and W. q. Lind
say. undersheriff of the same place,
followed Woods on the stand. Their
stories were the same as. related at
the previous trials. Following the
testimony of Lindsay the state
rested.
Fails 10 Impcach Sanders.
After the demurrer OF the de-
fense had been overruled, Fred
Jackson took the stand in behalf
OF Chrlstman. Jackson was arrest
cd at Oklahoma City. Jackson re-
fused to give his name and was for
some time known only as John
Doe. However. when efforts to
identify him as one Of the robbers
Jailed he was released. Jackson
was used mainly ito impeach the
testimony OF Saunders. but con-
unued objections OF the state
blocked this purpose and Jackson
was dismissed from the stand with
out cross examination.
when court adjourned at $3.50
o'clock, ]. NJ. Springer, counsel for
the defense, said that he would
close tho case in a very few minutes
tnday morning. II is also believed
ihat arguments for both sides will
" short and court officials as well
as attorneys were of the opinion