The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-02-10

BIG ISSUE IN
MURDER TRIAL
Prof. G. N. Langum of Bismarck
and Fargo Handwriting Ex-
pert Are on the Stand
SHORT DEFENSE PLANNED
Attorneys Say They Can Finish
Defense in Day After Ex-
perts Are Through
SHORT DEFENSE PLANNED

Valley City, Feb. 10.-Prof. G. N.
Langum, of Bismarck, one of tho
handwriting experts called by the de-
tense, continued on the witness stand
today in the trial Of William GUNNER
for the murder Of Marie Wick in Far
go. MIR. Lansum testified late yester-
day that in his opinion the name
James Farrell was not signed on
the register Of the Prescott hotel the
nlght OF the murder, June Z. by Andy
Brown, Gummer's roommate.
The state has contended that this
name was written by Brown to intro
duce an element Of mystery and that
there wouldbt one mysterious male
guest Of the hotel unaccounted for
when the murder would be discovered
the next morning.
The state is prepared to cross-ex-
anime Mr.. Langum and F. l.. Watkins,
Of Fargo, the defense's other hand
writing expert who testified yesterday
that in his opinion Brown did not
write the signature.
Iesuly On signature.
ALL yesterday alternoon r. Leland
WatKlns anu MFR. Langum went over
the signature OF James Farrell, Will
mar, Mlnn.," as it appears on the
prescott hotel register lUr the n4gnt
or June i, comparing as did the ex-
pert witness each and every letter in
the above four words with the same
letters exhibited in a mass Of the un-
disputed writing of Andy Brown, he
came to the CONCLUSION that Andy
brown did. not, and could not have
put the name James Farrell" on the
register. Photographic reproductions
Of the signature printed from plates,
were in the hands of each juror, as
were also printed reproductions Of
Browns writing.
With all the appearance and all
the atmosphere Of the school room
the jurors were given a lesson In
studying the peculiarities of the let
ters in each exhibit for the purpose
Of comparison, in the defense's effort
to prove that Brown did not write
James Farrell" on the register.
It was the final testimony of Pro-
fessor Watkins that he could find no
chara cteristics of Browns writing IN
t'e Signature. Test.fying also that
no matter how man attempts to dis
euise his handwriting some charac-
tcristics will show, but in James
Farrell" as it appears on the hotel
register. not one Of the character
istics of Browns handwriting appears.
Mr.. Watkins was excused at $3.50
P. M. and at this time he was not
cross-examined by the state.
MIR. Lanyum on Stand.
After recess at $40 the defense
put on the stand A. NJ. Langum, head
of a business college at Bismarck.
Mr.. Langum testified that he had
studied scientific penmanship for 20
years. That he had many times been
called upon to give expert testimony
in court on the question Of disputed
handwriting, that he had carefully
studied and examined the signature
of "James Farrell on the register
and compared it with the mass Of
writing that was furnished HIM as the
undisputed work of Andy Brown. In
answer to a direct question from the
attorney for the defense Professor
Langum stated that in his opinion
Andy Brown did not write the name
"James Farrell" on the hotel regis
ter.
HeN then. at great length, taking the
entire balance of the afternoon, told
the jury in his own way how he ar
rived at this opinion. He followed the
same method as did Professor Wat
kins and studied each letter, one at a
time explaining wherein the "A" in
the line On the register had none of
the characteristics Of Browns a."
and thus on through every letter in
the line. In none Of the letters in
the signature on the register could ne
AN "A