Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-02
CORONER'SJURY
HOLDS GUNNER
RESPONSIBLE
Fargo Hotel Clerk Blamed
For Death of Miss Marie
Wick.
Verdict of Jury is Given Out
Today Following End
Of Hearing.
(Herald .special Service. !


Fargo. N. d.. July 2.-wflliam
Miss Marie Wick, 1S, of Grygla Mimi.
in room No. 80 of the Prescott hotel
on June Z, according to-. the findings
OF the coroner's jury as expressed in
the verdict reported this morning.
THE VERDICT.
The verdict reads that: "Ma-
rie Wick came to her death on
the seventh day of June, 1891,
in room No. 80 in the Prescott
hotel, in Fargo, N. D., by rea-
; son OF having been choked, etran-
gled and struck upon the head
with fire hose nozzle; that her
killing was felonious, following
rape, and said rape and murder
mer, according to the evidence
presented, and to the best of our
knowledge
Signed Today.
Coroner E. F. Moore signed the
verdict at II o'clock this morning. the
verdict following the preliminary ex-
animation which was concluded yes
terday afternoon. Last night A. H.
Letmbacher, chairman, and J. F.
Holmes of the coroner's' jury met and
drafted a tentative verdict. This
Woo sit6AIly C1ldHSeu tulS InoTHlnS.
The third member of the jury, Fern
Monson, did not sign the verdict as
given out by Coroner E. F. Moore. 1t
was explained by both Leimbacher
and Mr.. Moore that Mr.. Monson is
confined to his home with illness, and
had not been able able to sit through
out the entire preliminary examina-
ton as had the other two members.
Viewed Body.
The coroner's jury was empaneled
by Coroner E. F.. Moore Immediately
following the discovery Of the muir
der. The members Of the jury viewed
the dead girl before she had been re.
moved from the death chamber to the
Moore chapel on Roberts street and
had assisted the authorizes. in a part
of the investigation which was made
in the hotel ont tthesrnofMr Mrgs sof .lt
discovery }of the crime Several sit.
tingsgwere made, but it was decided
on advice Of counsel, not render 8
verdict until after the hearing.
Fargo, N. D.. July Judge Sven,
son Of Devils Lake. associated will
counsel for the defense, was the frs
to grasp the hand of William Gum
mer, night clerk Of the Prescott hotel
after Justice J. K. Bingham had helG
the accused to Cass county distric
court for murder Of Miss Marie Wicl
Of Grygla, MINI. Judge Swenson Is {
brother-in-law Of the accused go2-year
old boy, and sat next to the, boy dur
ing the proceedings. E
Morris GUNNER. father Of the ac
cused, grabbed his sons hand ant
held it for fully three minutes. Tha
fatherly grip indicated that he in
tended to remain by his son to tn,
end and that he believed in his SON.
innocence. The father only let g.
when a deputy sheriff stepped up t.
GUNNER and accompanied him ou. o
the crowded court room.
It was $500 o'clock in the afternoon
when Justice Bingham overruled {
motion Of the defense for the dis
missal of the case. The defense con
tended that there was not sufflcien
evidence to connect GUNNER with tn,
crime. States Attorney William c
Green then moved to hold the de
fendant to the next term of the dis
trict court which was allowed by tn,
court, and it was ordered that til,
defendant be committed to the Gus
tody of the sheriff without bond. Thi
ended the hearing which has been ii
progress since last Tuesday morning
In his closing arguments to tn,
court Judge w. H. Barnett for tn,