Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-08
DAM ING ADMISSIONS ALLEGED
Otn., Il BEEN MADE BY GUNNER
ARE ADMITTED IN EVIDENCE
1By STAR correspondent.l.

6By$ stan correspondent.)
Valley City, N. D.. Feb. 7.-Damag-
ing admissions alleged, to have been
made by William GUNNER to Fargo
otieers prior to his arrest on; h
admitted In evidence in y Gummer'a
triale before the district court hIre
this afternoon. s
That portion. Of his statement which
went on record today dealt with,
Gummer's relations with other; wom-
en- who had stayed at. the Prescott no
tel in Fargo. the circumstances SUR
rounding Marie Wick's arrival at, he
hotel. and Gummer's conversations
with her. Further testimony on these
alleged statements will be given We'd
nesday. .- a
Although a large part Of these
statements were OF an unprlntaoie
by a crowd which jammed the court
room to utmost of its capacity in
Guiding a large number of, women
most Of whom reJnained throughout
the session.
Introduction of these statements
followed the testimony of T. j. Cation,
handwriting expert of Minneapolis,
who testified thai in his opinion the
name James Farrell. Wilmar,
Minn.," which was written on the
Prescott hotel register on the night
of the murder Of Marie Wick was
written by the same person who wrote
other specimens of handwriting SUP
mitted to him by States Attorney
William Green of Cass county.
These specimens had previously
been identified in court by Andy
Brown, Gummer's room mate as hav-
ing been written several times on a
blank page Of Il hotel register, letters,
post cards, etc.
This testimony tends to bear out
the theory of the state that the name
Farrell was written by Brown on the
register simply to deceive the officers
who were investigating the crime by
causing them to seek an Imaginary
person who could not be accounted
for when the check up of the guests
was made. Canton will be cross eA-
amined by the defense Wednesday.
The morning session of the court
was marked by an attempt on the
part Of the, defense to cross examine
Brown as to whether or not he had
written, the name OF Farrell on the
hotel register. las Brown is still the
states witness, a denial CT having
written the name by him would ave
barred the testimony of the hand
writing xpert as the law OF evidence
would have prohibited the state from
attempting to impeach it's own wit
ness. s.s4 M So .
Chamber Maid Tells OF Noises.
Testimony by May Melaas, former
:. !lamher maid at the Prescott hotel
cgarding noises heard early in the
.orning of June Z, and thus tending
, fix the time. of the second assault
hichs was made IN Marie Wick,
putty Sheriff James Muligan. Cass
aunty deputy sheriff n Others took
the balance of the morning session
the court. Miss Melaas' testimony
~ to some extent discounted by
t Of Fred Lawrence who said that
day after the murder she had
him she heard no noises during
night.
81, jury was excused for an hour
afternoon while the adnissibility
evidence Of Gummer's alleged
aments was argued. The defense
cted to the admission of n con-
sations with Brown of which he
told, and any statements he was
.ea to have made regarding his
atoms. with other women than
..rie Wick, claiming that testimony
.;arding other .offenses by the de-
saant was not admissible in the
al Of this case.
Relations With Women.
.he state commended, however. thai
uH4lner's admissions regarding his
.ations with other women staying
t the hotel etc, were admissible az
howing his state of mind. and hi'
totive in committing the crime
sainst Marie Wick of which he Is
accused. Among the cases cited IL
support OF this contention was the
alebrated Leo Frank casa of Atlanta
Ga. The court ruled that the greater
aart of these statements were admis'
BILE, and by mutual consent of coun'
II, Gummer's admissions regarding
other than those who had been stay
ng at the Prescott hotel were strick
on out. This testimony was given b,
states Attorney Green. who was ques
toned by Attorney Charles Pollock O.
Fargo. who is assisting him in tn
case. Mr.. Green read Gummer's al
legged words from the transcriptiol
of short hand notes which he mad
at the time of the alleged converse
ton.
This took place, Mr.. Green testi
fed, at 3 o'clock p. m, June IA last
in the Office Of the sheriff OF Cas-
county. Gunner was not arrested
he said, until the night following thi
alleged conversation.
Gummer's Statements.
me states Attorney also declared
that GUNNER was not induced t
make the admissions in question b,
either threats, violence or promises.
In the alleged statements by Gum
mer, read this afternoon, the defend
ant admitted having had imprope
relations with two women who staye'
at the Prescott hotel shortly befor
the day of the arrival of Marie Wick
He also told of IN indecent CONVEX
sation with Andy Brown in the hote
lobby following the arrival of the un
fortunate girl in which Marie Wick
name vas mentioned.
Tired to "Kid" Miss Wick.
He, told Of Marie Wick's arrival q