The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-03-20


cent, thinks he got "raw deal" il
the Fargo jail and in his trial.
"You had good lawyer to prepar
your case, didn't you?" he was asked.
"Yes, but don't think the jury the!
had had enough Intelligence to tr!
that kind of a case," he declared
'They selected men who hadn't reat
the newspapers and don't consider
that kind Of a man of sufficient In
9 telligence to try that kind OF a case
There were couple of old men or
there who were pioneers"
II learned one thing in that trial,
he exclaimed, "and that is that peo
pie can get the witness stand anC
they'll be believed as much as some
one telling the truth"
He showed resentment against
States Attorney William Green, who
prosecuted him, and some other Cass
county authorities. GUNNER agrees
with the states attorney that the mo.
tive for the crime was rape. He de-
MES the state theory that there were
two separate attacks, one shortly at.
ter midnight and the other about 4
g. m.
Lacks Prison Pallor
"There were too many people, about
the hotel about midnight" he declared
II think the crime was committed at
one time" He refused to divulge a
theory Of the murder he declared he
held, saying he had been advised not
to discuss the matter.
GUNNER lacked prison pallor al
though he has been in Jail for months
He was freshly shaved, and had not
been dressed in" as yet. He wore
brown trousers and silk shirt This
he will exchange for khaki trousers
and hickory" shirt.
GUNNER impressed all who talked
to him, from the time he loft Valley
City with Transportation Officer
Skeels early Sunday morning until
he was behind cell in the prison,
with the freedom with which he dis
cussed the murder, and his laughter
as he jested. He is of slight build,
about 5 feet 10 inches In height and
medium weight.
wants to Study
The prisoner asserted that he hoped
to get a Job in the prison where I'll
get a chance to use my brain. A fellow
wouldn't want to degenerate too much
in here"
He said he didn't, know what he
would be permitted to do but expected
to take up some study.
Under the prison rules GUNNER
can write one social letter a week and
as many business letters as neces-
sary. He also will have chance to
study. Many prisoners are taking
correspondence courses.
Asked concerning Andy Brown, also
held for the crime, GUNNER said:
"From what IFknow Of the case It was
impossible for Brown to commit the
crime"
GUNNER continued to discuss vari-
Gus angles OF the trial freely. AS
the interview ended and he was led
back to his cell, he remarked:
swell, don't play this up too much. +"
~ Brought Here Sunday
GUNNER / was brought here from
Valley City Sunday morning, arriv-
ing just in time to eat Sunday d1nner
in the prison. He was in charge o.
Transportation Officer William Skeels
who left Valley City with GUNNER
about 8 a. m. and arrived in Bismarck
al noon. At Jamestown Skeels picked
up another prisoner, who will serve
a five-year sentence on charge Of
assault.
Unlike many prisoners who quake
as they approach the forbidding walls
OF the prison, GUNNER maintained
the same calm he has shown at al
times
One of the first things GUNNER sait
tn Warden l.. L. Stair was: I'm no
guilty of this"
"Well, that's too bad" remarked tn
Warden, "for if you were guilty IL
trv to get you out. You know w
have ESQ men in here and they al
say they are not guilty, and
wouldn't want to have one guilty mai
to show them bad tricks"
GUNNER smiled. He was anxious t
talk about the case and laughed Wit
officers in bantering talk.
In Lifers' Row
GUNNER entered "lifers' row" occu
pied by eighteen other men servin
life sentences. 1t is the choice cell ro'
Of the prison. 1t faces the ives
looking toward Bismarck, and ,fro1
the windows, higher than the pr1so
walls, the prisoners get a command
ing view of wide stretch OF terr
tory.
No handouts were placed on Gun
NOR by Officer Skeels in bringing hi
in, During their trip from Vale
City GUNNER talked continual
about the case. He declared he W;
not guilty and blamed himself, as we
as others, for his conviction. He d
clared the lie he said he told the Ca
county officers after he was first he
which he said he told because
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