The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-10
TRAP IS LAID
FOR R.G. DAVIS;
ADMITS TRUTH
Governors Explanation Is
That Son was ''lnveigled
Into Taking Money"
PAROLED BANKER CAUSE
Lays Trap in Hotel Room in
Kansas City. with News
paper Men Listening ,

topeka, Nam, Jan. lO.-t BY the A.
PA bombshell was dropped intn
Kansas politics today with the alle-
cation that Russell G. Davis. % year,
oldson of Governor Jonathan Davis,
yesterday accepted $3.50 and deliv-
cred a pardon to Fred W. Pollman,
former president of La Cygne, KAN
sas. convicted forger.
The transaction took place in a
hotel room here and was made public
by the Kansas City Journal in copy
righted story saying that journal re-
porters in conjunction with Pollman
had set a trap for the Governors son.
Governor Davis, whose term ex-
pires next Monday, admitted his son
had been 'inveigled into accepting
the money" and asserted the affair
was "a frame up by political ene-
mics to get me.'N
Journals Version
The Journals version was:
Young Davis accepted 81 900 from
Pollman while two Journal represen-
tatives, short hand reporter and
several other witnesses listened in
from an adjoining room by the aid of
telephonic device hidden behind
cushion in Pollman's room.
"Receiving the $1,000 payment the
Governors son left the hotel and re-
turned with the pardon and then re-
ceived $3.50. He was then confronted
by the Journal reporters and the 9TH
er witnesses. The Governors son,
when threatened with arrest, return
ed the $3.50. left the hotel, and came
back later with the $1,000"
The Journal said he refused to say
where he had left the $1,000 and add
ed that young Davis asserted that his
father had no knowledge of the
transaction. Gov. Davis said l.is son
told him of the affair last night when
he came home.
when he realized why they had
given the money to him he took it
back to them. At the same time he
delivered the pardon which l had al
ready decided to grant" the Cover
nor said.
Declaring he had aided Pollman at
his trial and later had appealed 20
mans behalf when the convicted
folger was seeking parole, which
he received, Governor Davis declared
Pollman had, used his friendship in
plotting to gain a pardon through
young Davis and to frame" the Gov
ernor.
The Journal said the denouement
at the hotel came after Pollman had
received the pardon and made the
final payment. Pollman read a pre-
pared statement to young Davis de-
claling it was only when Governor
Davis requested that l employ you
that considered it an opportuve
time to do what am doing now."
After young Davis returned the
money he was allowed to leave with
the warning that the matter would
be exposed, the Journal said.
Can't Reach Son
The Governors son could not be
reached last night. his father stating
that he had gone to bed. Pollman,
in an affidavit. declared he had vis-
tied young Davis at the Davis farm
near Bronson. Kansas, where the lat
ter discussed payment of money for
a pardon.
Pollman also alleged he had been
told by Glenn A. Davis, 80, who was
sentenced to life Imprisonment at
Independence. Kansas, for murder,
that Governor Davis solicited the
payment of money to his son for exc
| cutive clemency. Pollman, who had
been out of prison since January s.,
1928 on parole, had been active in
behalf of Glenn Davis and he obtain
| ed. he said, several short term par
oles for the latter.
Pollman stated that Glenn Davis
talked to the Governor in Topeka on
Dec. last and charged that the
Governor had told the murder convict
that if Pollman went down to the
Davis farm, taking about $1,25O
along" and saw the Governors son,
Pollman would get what he want
ed" Glenn Davis quoted the Cover
nor as saying "Pollman affirmed
that "his son, Russell, had a great
deal of influence with him."
Glenn Davis was granted a full
parole by the Governor December 20
last, Pollman stated, after the mur-
der convict had gone on q mission
to Kansas City for the executive. ia