The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-17
Defendant Takes Stand To-
day in Own DefenSe-DOeS
Not Recall Conversations
With Officers or Newspa-
per Men, He Says-AttOr-
neys Have Sharp Exchange
of Words

Circumstances surrounding the
Staying Of Nels Romer, Mandan po-
lice chief. are a total blank to him.
Arnold Thiele, alleged murder, told
the Jury which will decide his fate
this morning.
Placed Oh the stand To sustain the
defense contention that he was
''crazy drunk" when Romer was slsin
Christmas day, Thielc said that he
doesn't remember" anything that
occurred between Il time prior to the
shooting of Romer and his return to
the Morton county Jail several days
after the alleged murder.
He recalled nothing Of cclvc-sa-
tions with Milton X. Higgins, assist
ant states attorney of Morton coun-
ty. newspapermen and others who
quizzed him shortly after his arrest
on the shooting charge, he said. He
also said he failed to recall any Of
the questions asked at his prelm-
mary examination two days after the
shooting.
At.his preliminary examination. ac-
Thicle said he remembered "shoot-
a
today by William LANCER, defense at
this.
Memory Fails Him
Of the chasing of his wife from
the house. the fight with Alec Ried-
niger, his neighbor to whose home
Mrs. Thielcs fled, the walk down
town. the capture by Sheriff Charles
Misunderstanding that occurred
between Christmas eve and the fol-
lowing Monday afternoon when he
was returned to the Morton county
Jail from the penitentiary-Thi
could not remember.
Called by LANCER shortly after II
o'clock this morning, Thicle climbed
hcsitantly up the steps to the wit
ness stand and sat down, fixing his
gaze on the floor. He answered
questions in barely audible voice
50 that jurors had difficulty hearing
him and his lips scarcely moved when
he replied to the questions asked
him.
Langer completed his questioning
Of Thiele just before court recessed
at the noon hour and Mr.. Kclsch
opened the questioning wien the
afternoon session began
Thiele admitted he had been drink
ing for good many years and re-
membered that he drank home brew
Christmas day, but remembered notn-
ing else that occurred at that time,
he said.
The accused man said he did not
remember when he first saw William
LANCER, his attorney, and swore he
did not discuss with him what his
defense would be.
"Did you call for Mr.. LANCER or
did you send message?' kelsch
asked.
II don't know" Thiele said.
"You wanted to see lawyer, didn't
your"
"Yes," Thiele answered.
"Whom did you send for?'
~ never sent for anyone as | re-
member" the accused man replied.
"Who was the first man who came
to see you?" asked Kelsch.
MIR. LANCER" Thiele replied.
The accused man denied that he
had carried a gun for the past fifteen
years, when the question was ASKED
by Mr.. Kelsch.
Just few minutes before Thiele
was called to the stand. his wife had
completed her testimony. She told
of Thiele's actions prior to the shoot,
ing and said that he staggered aw-
full" The prosecution stressed the
point in questioning that Thiele had
climbed up and down stairs, pursued
his wife and walked about unaided
the morning of the shooting.
Attorneys Have Tits
Several hot tilts between attor-
news for the prosecution and defense
broke the even tenor of the question
ing.
WASN'T it true that Thiele was
bootlegger" States Attorne!
Kelsch asked Mrs. Thiele.
LANCER jumped to his feet and
cried: "I'll give you a thousand dol.
'"~r ~ Kelsch # you can find any.
thing to that effect in the transcript,
Continued on page three.)