The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-12-02
.ConfessA~e~>.,<
Is Crux of
.Vajgrt Case
That Made by Woman Admit
ted by Defense Without
Objection = Fight Ex-
pected on Statement.
Board Chairman Called


fession made by Lula Vaigrt. five
days after Anton Lana met his death
in the straw house on the Vajgrt
farm, will constitute the backbone Of
the defense was clearly indicated in
the trial of Mrs. Vajgrt and her hus-
band and daughter today when de-
fense chief counsel admitted the con-
fession without objection.
Mrs. Najgrt, in her signed state
ment, exonerates her husband and de-
clares that she and Abby alone were
with Lana until after he was dead.
WAS Adolph there at all while the
fight was going on?" the county at
torney asked when she was making
the confession.
NO" was her answer
Didn't Adolph help you pound him
with the plank?' is another question
in the confession, and 1t, also, is an
swered With negative.
The real fight between the state
and the defense will come when
County Attorney McKillip attempts
to introduce into the records, confes-
sions made by 15-year-old Abby and
her father. Tlby has never impli-
Gated her father. but he stated. in
his confession" when I come over
there | see the fight. He Q4ana) want
to run out. / see like If he were choke
and he want to go out. I don't re-
member He want to go out Of shed
and I raise two-by-two and we
pound him. we both pound him" In
supplementary confession, Najgrt
states. then 1t was no my fault some
one stick the gun in my hands. I put
it some where in hero, Indicating
right side), then II shot, but who jerk
/ don't know"
The state spent a part of the day
trying to Law foundation for the
of the confessiens. and
called w. B. Stolz. chairman of the
board of Seward county. TO the wit
ness stand.
Stolz testified that he had been
present when Vajgrt made the con-
that what he said would be used
against him. The defense, however.
his statement when the
records of the preliminary hearing
were produced and showed that Stolz
had testified there that he had heard
no warning given to Vajgrt.
did you know that Constable
George Runty was down giving
vajgrt the third degree before he
was brought up to make his confes-
sion?" Attorney Thomas asked.
mo. didn't" Stolz replied
Stolz and George Bauer OF the
board. who followed, agreed
that they had seen nothing unusual
In the conduct of vajgrt when he
made the confession.
Check for State.
The state suffered a check in testi-
mony of James AIarek, cashier of
the First National Bank of Crete.
who was called to the stand to testify
that Vajgrt, on the afternoon of the
crime. came to him and paid 5000
that he owed on life insurance prem.
iums.
Marek said Vajgrt had paid him
the money / ntwo checks on a Mil
ford bank and n few dollars in small
currency. but the implication that
Vajgrt's action was inspired by the
tragedy that had taken place on his
farm was destroyed when Marek said
that Mrs. Vajgrt had tried to pay
the premiums two days befoe, hut
had been unsuccessful because he
did not know exactly what was awed.
Glenn Pendell, who. with his wife,
was with Mrs. VaJgrt when she indi.
Gated a desire to make confession.
testified that he had never heard the
women implicate Adolph in the crime.
His testimony practically coinclded
with the statements in the confession,
and when he had concluded the testi-
mony the confession was identified by
him and admitted to the records.
Tells OF Threat.
Helmet F'uehring. nelghbor of the
Vajgrts, was the states last witness
before the court adjourned. He said
that he had known Lana intimately
and that on the Friday preceding the
tragedy tho farm hand had come to
him. apparently intoxicated, and
threatened to kill the>Vajgrts.
Fuehring declared that he had re-
monstrated with Lana, but that he
had said. in reply. Il don't give n
damn for the law. | kill them and
Kill myself. too"
What did you say them the
county attorney asked
II said. NO. Tony, you don't want
to kill nobody but he gave me a
shove and said. i thought you were
my friend Then ! saw little Lille,
the Vajgrts 4year.old child. whom
knew Anton loved a1,d said. What
will become OF her II you kin her
father?'
Lana replied that's right and
burst into tears" the witness con-
cluded.
Warden Threatened.
Fuehring on cross examination nd
mltted that Lana could not be called
mild even when sober. and that he
had known Lana to threaten the game
warden aud Constable Runty when he
found them on the banks OF the river
whore he was accustomed to trap.
Again referring to Lana's threat TO
XIII the Vajgrts, Fuehrlng said they
had gone to the farmhouse and called
Adolph out.