Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-20
D. D.R.OFF|IE ] I EY ! | IS
ACQUI'I TED | ] ] ]. Oh /
MURDER CHARGE

Jury Returns Verdict Early
Today; Politics Had Fea-
tured the Case.
Hettinger, N, D., July 2o.A yer
dict Of not guilty was returned at Q.
o'clock this morning by the jury
which tried d. r. Offley for the al
legged murder Of NJ. K. Bowen. At no
time during the eight hours delib-
GRAFTON Of the jury was there ques-
tions as to the result. Time was re-
quired, jurymen said to consider all
the charges Of the Judge.
Offley was taken before Judge
Berry shortly before o'clock. The
assembly hall in the high school
jaimmed with people waiting to hear
the verdict. There was little doubt
as to the outconae, and with the an
nouncement of the foreman a ripple
Of applause started which was
stopped by court officers. ;sf
Ohley was discharged from custody
by Judge Berry, who complimented
the jurymen on being attentive In
giving all testimony consideration.
Il Ou were Judges Ol lie ldCIS III lAlo
case and your decision is necessarily
right he said.
j. F. Sullivan of Mandan, OffIey's
attorney. expressed his pleasure over.
the verdict.
There was at least one person who
did not think so, Mrs. Bowen, wife
Of the slain man.
Mrs. Bowen Uphraids Jurors.
This morning she tnet seven Of the
jury men. She flew into a fury upon
seeing them and walking rapidly to
them on the street she upbraided
them numerically for their verdict Of
not guilty.
You're a bunch of crooks she
shouted F"You were fixed by big
business. The whole trial was q
frame-up.'' ~
Mrs. Bowen was led away by
/. friends. 5
p This morning it was announced
sthat the trial of E.. W. Taylor will be
Z held at Bismarck before Judge w. 8.
Nuessle at the next term of court
which "opens in December. Taylor is
the man who insisted upon the stand
that he "shot and kept shooting until
Bowen dropped."s ) .,-- .,. \,
Because If II hadn't he would have
killed sme, ogley and perhaps all OF
U.s." S2. .. IA 4. $.. a. B !, ID.
ssaisss +. shss !
Stark and G. r. jeffrey would tasbe
dropped, 4 as there is far less evidence
tos connect either with the shooting,
or alleged connivance at murder than
there was in the case against Offley.
II Bowen was shot and killed July 81
1919 at his home near Beach when
the four men came TO replevin and
secure forty five head of, cattle own
ed by Offley which Bowen had taken
up. @
Political Capital Seen.
Eonpartisan league leaders imme
diately, seized upon the killing as po-
litcal capital. Sheriff Pierzina and
States Attorney r. F.. Gallagher were
removed from Office for alleged par-
ticipation in conspiracy to have
Bowen killed, because he was a
leagAer.'''S
Big business, Wal. street, the I. v.
A! organization in North Dakota are
repeatedly charged with the blame
for the killing. Attorney General
William LANCER was charged with
murder was used during the political
campaigns in 11e3.
However,. although L. A. Simpson,
special pr6secutor engaged by Attor-
ney General William Lemke, attempt
ed on two ortthree occasions to inject
politics into the trial of Ofley, there
was not throughout the whole trial q
single vestige Of testimony developed
which would indicate that political
af1liatton or belief had aught to do
with the death of Bowen, whom wit
ness after witness described as a bad
nsln with reputation OF carrying a
gun"
Collection Taken Up.
r. F.. Murtha OF Dickinson was as
sociated with Attorney Sullivan in the
defense. sJ
Mr. Sullivan referred to the fact
that following the shooting and poll
tical capitalizing Of the death OF the
league. member. the league newspa-
pers took up collection for Il the
poor widow of the league member
who was killed by the I. v. A." tI5'
I''I think 1T rather Significant, too
said Mr.. Sullivan; that the. political
value: OF charges gone with the
elimination OF LANCER. Pierzina and
Gallagher from Office, that the Far
90 Courier News made no effort tc
cover the trial and throughout the
Eve weeks OF the trial ignored the
case, or gave It scant attention II
news stories clipped from other pa.
pers. # n II a % S. tta ss IL 5sSt
The jury which freed offley earl,
this morning included seven men VINO
have been afaliated with the league.
WOULD STOP TATTooING.