The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-01-19
MORRIS GUNNER
N. D. PIONEER
Father of Accused Boy Hauled Sup
plies During the CONSTRUCTION of
the Northern Pacific. Notes Old
Camp Sites. in the City.

Morris GUNNER, the father of the
accused boy on trial now before a
Barnes county jury on a charge OF
first degree murder in connection
with the death of Marie Wick Of Cry
Ella, MINI. in Fargo last June, stat
ed to Times Record representative
last night that he had hauled sup
plies over the present route Of the
Northern Pacific railroad during the
surveying of the route in 1872, camp
ing on the river at the present site
of Valley City. He is quite familiar
with this portion of the state and
says that he could pick out several
former camping sites in the valley
here if he had time to look around,
although the country looks considera-
BILE different now than at that time.
Morris GUNNER is man of Is
years of age. He owns and operates
a farm in the Mayville district and
is quite pure-bred hog fancier, own
ing a number Of exceptionally good
Duroc Jersey hogs. He expects his
wife and two of his sons to arrive in
the city tomorrow morning. They
will stay in the city during the trial
of his boy. Mr.. and Mrs. GUNNER
have been blessed with family of
eight children, five boys and three
girls. John GUNNER, 40 and Good
man GUNNER, "a, will accompany
their mother to the city. Arthur
GUNNER, 81, is the present postmas-
ter at Clifford, Mont. Charles Gum
mer, 80, is looking after part of
Arthur's land at Clifford Mrs. o.
car Thomas, 80, of Fresno, Mont, is
a daughter Of Mr. and Mrs. GUNNER.
as is Mrs. Elmer Hildebrandt of
Shaefer, N. Oak.
In speaking of the charge for which
his boy is on trial Mr.. GUNNER states
that to the best Of their knowledge
the boy knows nothing Of the manner
ain which Marie Wick met her death
other than was submitted as evidence
at the preliminary hearing. He says
that the accused has told both his
father and his mother that he does
not know who committed the crime
and while he feels the seriousness OF
the situation he is sure that his in
nocence will protect him. Mr.. Gum
mer states that he believes the boy be-
cause he has never caught him in
any direct lie in his life. Mr.. Gum
mer also says that ''if my boy is
guilty of the dastardly crime for
which he is on trial there is no one
in the state of North Dakota more
anxious that he should pay the pen
atty than myself. have been a God
fearing man and law abiding citizen
all my life and have brought my chill
dren up in the same way. Such a
heinOus crime should be punished,
whether committed by my son or
not.
Mr.. GUNNER has every confidence
in the ultimate acquittal of his son
and feels that they are sure to take
him back to the farm at Mayville at
the conclusion Of the trial.
Mr.. GUNNER stands up under the
strain of the past few months well
and does not show much sign Of the
mental suffering to which he has
been subjected. He states however,
that Mrs. GUNNER is on the verge OF
a nervous breakdown and he is as
much concerned about the effect Of
the trial upon her as he is as to the
ultimate verdict in the case.
Mr.. GUNNER, during his talk with
the Times Record representative, be-
came reminiscent and spoke Of the
life on the prairie at the time he was
hauling supplies through the camping
site of Valley City. He said the val
lev made an ideal camping spot but
the Indians were too numerous fol
comfort and chad habit of wanting
to add to their collection of hair
Mr.. GUNNER moved the surveyors to
the present site of jamestown and as.
sisted in the laying out Of the orig
inal townsite there, moving them on
to Bismarck and assisting in the same
work at that place. Mr.. GUNNER
says he assisted in the raising of the
first bridge to be built across the
Red river.
Mr.. GUNNER is an interesting talk.
er and has a fund Of interesting an.
ecdotes Of North Dakota's early days
and has quite an original manner Of
telling them.