Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-20
Thursday's Session
OF Tie Trial OF
William GUNNER
Ak stafr Correspondent.

JA&t55l 10Y 0tdll SOITSSpViiOCAI
Valley City, N. D.. LAM. 19.-How
hhsblood- stained body of Marie Wick
49, found on the morning of June Z
tnit. in her room at the Prescott hotel
Ut Fargo, was told by several witness
esfttn the district court here this aft
ernoon In the trial % William Gum
Akr, who Us charged with the murder
e9s the young Grygla g!rl.
circumstances under which the
body was first found, n the general,
condition Of the scene OF the murder.
wefc described by Fred Lawrence, son
of 3he proprict-ess of the hotel. who
with the exception CT GUNNER him
self, appears to have been the first
person on the scsne, and several men,
bcrs Of the Fargo police force and
sherin's department who were sum-
niGEed shortly afterwards.
The state during the afternoon con-
timed the elimination Of possibilities
in connection with the crime which
began this morning when Arnold Ras-
mussen's innocence of n connection
with the murder was demonstrated
with the evident view Of showing tina:
Gumme-'s guilt is the only possible
hypothesis. In tho testimony this aft
ernoon it was brought out that when
the room OF H. J.. Hagen. which was
text to that Of the unfortunate girl
wa examined following the discovery
OF the tragedy. absolutely nothing
was found there to onnec him with
the crime in any way. Similar results
attended tleisearch of other rooms in
the hotel. In no case had the towels
been used as would have been neces-
sary for the perpetrator of the crime
to wash blood-stains from his hands.
In cross examination of the states wit
nesses the defense brought out evil
dence relative to the possibility OF an
intruder in the hotel escaping by way
of windows and fire escapes. follow
ing out the line which had been indi-
Gated earlier in the sessions.
The states witnesses also establish
ed the finding Of a bent hat pin which
it will be commended was used by Cum
mer vine he gained entrance to the
girls room to comr1it the crime with
which he is charged.
Important Key Question.
The question OF the key to the
room OF the slain girl also doomed
up in important proportions this
afternoon. the question, involved
being whether OF not the key
which was given to Marie Wick
when she registered at the hotel
was in Gumnfer's possession the
morning after he crime.
Mrs Lawrence, proprietress OF
the hotel, testified that she had
given Miss Wick a key On an or
binary brass tab. such as is COM
monty used with hotel keys. A
key similar to this was in the key
rack in the office OF the hotel and
marked Room 80. but would not
open Room 80. Mrs. Lawrence
testified. The only other keys
which would open the room ex-
.cept that given to the girl after
wards slain were skeleton keys
which had no brass tabs.
Nevertheless Richard Picker
ing. the first member Of the Far
go police force to arrive on the
scene following Inc discovery Of
the murder, .sWOrr hat GUNNER
Rt him into Room so with a key
which bore 4 tab.
Photographers Examined.
Two Fargo photographers were also
on the witness stan during the aft
ernoon to identify photographs made
of the scene of the crime shortly aft
er it's discovery. Fred IawrSnce, be-
sides telling of the discovery of the
ghastly affair, described the position
Of the hotel fire hose with the nozzle
of which. the state contends. Marie
Wick was beaten over the head by
her slayer after he had ravished her
During the morning session of the
court Hans Wick Of Grygla. the faith
err of the unfortunate girl, was placed
on the witness stand to tell how his
daughter started on her fatal journey
so ~tragically Interrupted at Fargo.
Emotion choked his utterance as he
narrated his story and as he told how
he last saw his daughter alive. He
was unable to continue. and could
only answer the questions asked him
by nodding his head. The testimony
OF Arnold Rasmussen. who met Marie
Wick at Fargo, which was corrobo.
rated by that Of three other witness.
es, established the fact that the young
man could not have been present Al
I, the Prescott hotel at the time Miss
Wick was slain. In the same way
the testimony of a woman who was
on the train on which Miss Wick came
to Fargo was introduced to SHOW thai
she received nc attention from mer
in the course of the journey which
would ave accounted for the attack
on her.
Mrs. Lawrence Tcsstiries.
When. the our r~econyened thi.
afternoon after tho room recess, Mrs
Anna Lawrence, proprietress of the
Prescott hotel, was on the witnes.
stand.
On cross-examination of Mrs. Law
renee W. H. Barnett. Gummer's coun
Sci. established the fact that access t.
the fire escape could be had from tn.
hall of the second floor where Mis-
Wtck's room was located. GUNNER
was noticeably excited during Mrs
Lawrence's testimony. leaning for
ward in his chair and following it will
the closest attention:
Mrs. Lawrence was then recalled t
h stand and testified as to event