Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1922-02-09
GUNNER ADMITTED
BEING IN ROOM OF.
SLAIN GIRL GREEN
States Attorney Of Cass
County Tells Of Admissions
Made by Accused Man in
Office of Sheriff on June
IA Testimony Corrobo-
rated.

1t - eSllmOny IOETODO"
rated.
Valley City, Feb. S.-Wm. Gum
mer accused OF the murder of Marie
Wick in the Prescott hotel, Fargo ad-
mitted on June IA, 1921, Z days af-
ter the murder that he was in the
room on the morning following the
crime. at least a half hour before he
aroused any one to go to the room
with him.
He also admitted on June IA, that
he had called Miss Wick on the no.
tel telephone while he was on duty
as night clerk, and had made sug-
gestions to her which she rejected.
These alleged admissions were re-
cited in the Barnes county district
court by VIM. c. Green, states attor-
ney of Cass county, who read the
transcript Of the conversations he
testified took place on June IA, in
the office of the sheriff of Cass coun-
ty.
The transcript, the reading of
which began yesterday, covered two
distinct sessions on the afternoon
and evening of June IA, in which
GUNNER was questioned concerning
the murder.
At the afternoon session accord
ing to the evidence as read today.
GUNNER denied that he knew any
thing Of the murder or death of the
girl until he and Fred Lawrence, the
son OF the proprietress, were admit
ted to the room by the chambermaid.
GUNNER during the afternoon ses-
sion told the officials that Miss
Wick had called him on the phone
to change the time of her morning
call. and that he had not engaged her
in conversation at that time, accord
ing to the testimony of Mr.. Green.
He maintained during the afternoon
conversa tion that he had not been
near the girls room before he and
Fred Lawrence entered it at a. III.
During the evening session on
June IA. the alleged admission was
made Green said, concerning the con-
versation with Miss Wick, and Of
GUNNER being in the room after the
Fred Kreamer, sheriff OF Cass
county testified today also that
GUNNER made admissions prior to
June IA, corroborating Green's testi-
mony.
Indications this afternoon were
that the state would complete the
of evidence before ad-
journment today.
Greater Number Women Present
When court convened Tuesday the
room was filled and with a greater
percentage Of women than at any
previous time during the trial. Gum
mer's family had their usual places
and were accompanied by several
people from Mayville and surround
ing district.
Many women got up and left the
court room while States Atty. Green
was reading the testimony Of Gum
mer taken at the preliminary hear
ing in which GUNNER told of his
relations with other girls.
Judge Charles M. Cooley had an
nounced a ruling whereby the PROS
ecution will be permitted to intro
luce testimony concerning actions of
William GUNNER toward other wo-
men guests in the Prescott Hotel to
testimony as to his de-
neanor toward Miss Marie Wick.
Expert Claims Brown =,
Signed JAS FarreIl''
r. J. Cation, Minneapolis teacher
1and writing expert and publisher
was the next witness called and stat
I'd that he conducted commercial
school in Minneapolis about ten
years ago and had since been pub
ishing work ON rapid writing. He
s graduate of the Spencerian
'chool of penmanship and has been
recognized as a handwriting expert
or the past 80 years, testifying in
numerous cases the last twenty
,ears. He has made q study of the
cience Of handwriting for the. last
orty years.
He had been requested last No
vember by Assistant States Attorney
;. Wattam to examine the specimen
# handwriting contained in states (.
exhibit No. IA which is the hotel reg
ster and No. So which is the
statement written by Brown in
Green's office. The witness stated
hat he had no Indications at that
ime OF the nature Of the case. He
informed Mr.. Wattam that he could
lot give an opinion on the handwrit-
ng without the presentation Of more
pecimens. He was then furnished
With various letters and postal cards
ntered in evidence by the state and d
with with the signature of Il
ames Farrell on the hotel register
heet. The witness stated that s
Brown signed Jas. Farrell. sSS Az 4!
CatOn's Theory Ss
My opinion is that one and the
anne person wrote all specimens ex-sS
mined including the Signature U