The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-06-30
NET DRAWING TIGHTER

Tense Moments Reign During
Long Preliminary .
Hearing
Fargo, June 80. William
GUNNER confessed having been
in the room of Marie Wick, 18.
Grygla, Minn., before her body
was discovered in a room of a
local hotel on the morning of
June 7, William Green,
states attorney Of Cass county,
testified today at Gummer's
preliminary hearing. The girl
was found tied to her bed, gag
ged and skull fractured. ...
GUNNER, %, night clerk Of
the hotel, was held charged with
the crime. His story of the
event of the night the girl was
killed as previously related was
that he had known nothing of
her death until several hotel
employees opened the door after
the girl failed to respond.
CHANGES STATEMENT
1t differs materially from the
statement which Attorney
Green said the defendant made
to himself, to Sheriff Fred Krae-
mer and to a Burns detective,
E. NJ. Brandies.
GUNNER, according to admis-
sions the officials credit to him,
opened the door of Miss Wick's
room with a skeleton key at
$3.50 a. M, advanced about 8
steps into the room and found
the girl dead. GUNNER says, ac-
cording to this story, he re-
traced his steps, went down
stairs, waited about ten min
utes and then called Fred Law
renee. - - g.. ..-
MADE ADVANCES =
Mr.. Green also declared that
GUNNER confessed having
made advances to Miss Wick
! over the telephone after she had
gone to her room, which she had
repulsed, according to his testi-
mony.
Today before Justice Bing-
ham, Gummer's alleged admis-
sion to officials on June ID were
recited by William C. Green,
states attorney. He presented
himself on the witness stand to
present the transcript. of the
talk officials had with GUNNER
lasting from 3 p. m. to IL mid
night on June ID.
! The courtroom was cleared of
! spectators when Mr.. Green was
called to the stand.
This was done, it was said, be-
cause of the nature of much of
his testimony. \: '.
Miss May Melaas. chambermaid at
the local hotel. where Miss Marie
Wick was murdered June q testified
today in the preliminary hearing of
William GUNNER, night clerk of the
hotel. who is charged with the,
crime. Miss Melass occupied 4
room under No. 30-t the one in
which Miss Wick was killed. The
chambermaid heard q sound as OF
pounding in or near room 30 at about
O'Clock on the morning Of the MUIR
der, she said. After this sound ceased
she heard someone leave the room and
walk down the corridor.
Miss IMelaas told how she had been
awakened. "All of a sudden thought
! somebody jumped out of his bed and
! took his shoe and struck the bed."
! she said. 1T seemed to me that
the person might have been sore for
not being called in time to catch a
train.
Shortly afterward the clock in the
court house tower struck four" she
said
Miss Melaas. who was the first to
enter the room of the dead girl in the
morning also told of finding the body.
Her testimony cleared up the mystery
Of a blood-stained Bible which had
been found in room next to No. 30
1t had been stained with blood before
the murder occurred, she said.
Step by step the state is trying -
weave its web of circumstantiS evil
dence around William G. "a m m r.
charged with the murder of Marie
Wick.
Miss Wick, on the night that she
was assigned to the room, was given
key attached to a brass plate.
! She locked her door from the inside
with that key.
1t has not since been found: the
door to her room was locked from the
outside by the man who raped and
| NH rde red her and he took tho kev