Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-03-27
CROWD PACKS
COURTROOM
FOR HEARING
Belknap and Son Positive in
Identifying Youth as Ban
dit Who Robbed Banker
Defense Witnesses Who Saw
Mysterious Man in Cotton
wood Say He Wasn't Dunn


Mr.. and Mrs. G. S. Dunn, re-
siding a mile west of Grange
vile, was held to answer to
the district court on a charge
of having robbed the Cotton
wood State bank, on Nov. 9,
1923, by Probate Judge w. L.
Campbell, at 10 O'Clock, Tues
day morning. Dunn was
bound over following a preli-
minary hearing held Monday.
The Judge reserved his decis-
ion until Tuesday.
Dunn's bond was reduced FROM
$4,000 to $1,000, which was furnished
Tuesday afternoon and he was re-
leased from jail.
LOOKS LIKE SCHOOLBOY
More resembling a schoOlboy than
a bandit who would boldly walk into
a bank in broad daylight and, witnour
displaying gun, force the man be-
hind the teller's window to hand him
$3.50, and then tie and gag the bank
err and make his escape, as did the
man who held up Cashier M. Nj. Bel
KNAPP. of the Cottonwood State Bank,
at noon on November o, young Dunn
appeared in court with his parents
and his attorney, NJ. r. Hattabaugh.
at 10 O'Clock Monday morning. The
youth had been in the county, Jail
since his arrest on March IL.
The courtroom was crowded by
spectators, and at one time during
the hearing at least fifty persons
were standing in the aisles, and
scores occupied chairs which had
been carried into the room to sup
plement the stationary seats. Boys
and girls from the Grangeville pub
lie schools, friends of young Dunn,
cut their classes i'm order to attend
the hearing. Many friends of the
family were in the courtroom, and
occasionally, during an intermissiOn,
a woman would leave the audience
and walk to the boys mother, who
sat at his side, grasp her hand, and
speak to the mother a few whisper
ed words Mrs. Dunn, with the wei
chit of the criminal accusation again
st her son plainly visible in her face
smiled pleasantly and returned the
greeting.
BELKNAP ON STAND
NJ. NJ. Belknap was the first wit
ness placed on the stand by the
state. He related circumstances of
the robbery, as previously printed,
and then positively identified the
defendant, Manford Dunn, as the
man who had held him up, at the
teller's window of the Cottonwood
State bank. Belknap spoke firmly,
relating a clear story of the affair.
He did not waver under criss-eXam-
nation by Atty. NJ. Il. Hattabacgh,
for the defense.
you were rather badly frighten-
ed. weren't you?" asked Mr.. Hatta-
baugh. in reference to the robbery.
"WelI. it was not an altogether
pleasant situation" was the bank
er's sharp reply.
'eThen you are not positive this
is the man! I" Hattabaugh shot back
at him.
BeIlnap reaffirmed the identify
of Dunn as the robber.
Burdette BelIknap, II, son of the
cashiet asd himself bookkeeper in
the bank, took the stand and iden-
tilted Dunn as the rObber. Sheriff
ElIer. testified briefly and the state
rested.
WITNESSES FOR DEFENSE
Numerous witnesses who had
seen the robber in the street in Cot
tonwood prior to the holdup, were
placed on the stand by the defense
Some declared positively Dunn was
not the robber. Others said they
thought he was not the man. These
witnesses included DIR. ]. ID. Shin
nick. Mrs. Sadie Hensley, Mrs. Ray
Minis, Chester Thompson, Ernest
Peek. Katherine Nacke and Roy Ro-
mig, all of Cottonwood, asd Grover
Zehner, of Fem.
you wouldn't say he is not the
man. doctor?" said Prosecuting AT
examining DIR. J. d. Shinnick, who had
torney Fogg, for the state, in cross
talked to the bandit prior to the
holdup.
CONTINUED on page p