The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-17
DECLARES HUSBAND
drunk night that
OLIVER WEBB DIED
Denies That Mate Cursed Hel
or Dead Man When Shoot
ing Occurred
SAYS WEBB WAS DRINKING
Testimony Corresponds to Evl
dence Offered by Previous
Witnesses "A


Mrs. Ray Potter, wife Of the MAJ
who is being tried on charge oi
numbering Oliver Webb Oct. ~. tool
the stand at 2 p. m. today as the
trial reopened in district court.
She said that Potter was In q
drunken stupor before the shootina
and for almost two hours after the
shooting, refusing to aid the wounds
ed man and to answer questions.
Mrs. Potter said that the defend
ant was apparently intoxicated when
he came home at p. m. on the eve
ming of the shooting, continued ia
drink during the evening, and plan
ned to 60 on a hunting trip With
Webb late the night Of the shooting.
She testified that Potter cams
walking from the house with the shot
gun in his left arm and hunting boots
under hts right arm, as she and Webb
arrived at the Potter home in Webb's
car Immediately before the shooting.
The defendants wife denied hav-
ing made the statement. Ray, you
know I didn't" and that Potter had
said. Il don't care II I do have to 60
to JAIL" shortly after the shooting. A
witness for the state said that the de.
fendant and his wife had made those
statements.
Curious Crowd Court
Every seat In the Burleigh county
district court room was filled when
trial of Ray Potter charged with the
first degree murder of Oliver Webb
was resumed here this afternoon.
The fact that Mrs. Potter was ex.
pected to take the stand as the star
defense witness had apparently lured
the curious In large numbers.
When the trial opened Mrs. Potter
walking on the arm OF her husband
took seat by his side at the counsel
table. She appeared pale and was
heavily cloaked. She was the first
witness, her husband assisting her to
the witness stand.
She acknowledged the oath in a
barely audible voice.
She said she had been married Is
years and has three children.
Asked to Speak Louder
Several times she was admonished
to speak louder as the questioning
proceeded. The Potters have lived
eight years in Bismarck, three in their
present home.
She said she had worked at the
state capitol and before that at q
local department store.
She said her, husband ate lunch at
home on the day of the shooting OF
Webb and that she did not see him
again until p. m.
When he came home, she said, shs
was at home with the serving mais
and that Webb and M. j. BARLEY hal
arrived shortly before her husband
During the hour after her husband
came home Mr.. and Mrs. Donald
Snyder came to their home, she said.
Webb brought them in his automo-
bile.
She said her husband apparently
had been drinking heavily when ho
came home. She said she noticed it
because he usually came home sober.
She couldn't say If any drinking was
done at her home before the Snyders
came but that there was drinking
afttrWard.
Her husband, Webb, and Snyder,
she said, were talking of going hunt
ing. Her story of the activities OF
the various members of the grour
during the evening was the same e.
that previously told by other wit.
neSseS.
Webb took her and Mrs. snyde.
down town, she said. She went to hel
sisters room, using the back stair
way, her sisters room being near the
back.
Her sister was not at home, she
said, and she sat odwn and read .
story. Her sister returned at 10
o'clock.
She saw her husband about 1O:30
o'clock, she said, when he came to
her sisters apartment.
They heard him in the hall and
investigated. She said he was very
intoxicated and she started to take
him home. They walked.
"Webb Was Drinking
When Webb came to the Potter
home at 8 p. m, he had been drink
ing, she said. but couldn't say II Bart-
ley had been drinking but that
Snyder had not.
After getting home her husband sat
down after making q trip to the
kitchen. Fifteen minutes after get
ting home. she said, Webb walked
into the house and said, There you
are. you old fool, where have you
been?"
The men talked but Webb was un-
able to get any response. Webb was
hungry and Mrs. Potter offered to
make sandwiches.
He wanted hot sandwiches SO she
went down town with him to get
some, stopping ct her sisters place.
They spent few minutes ct her 81.
ter's place, she said.
Returned Home
Webb, she said. moved very sloAly.
She returned to her sisters, she said.
to get her gloves. She insisted ~
could make hot hamburger sand.
wtches ct home 20 they went @ tha
Potter home.
Returning home, she said, ahA eoh
out Of the car. Potter came down tla
steps. It was dark and cold. -
saw Potter was carrying : g,m ana
boots. ~
She heard . shot hut did mol -
the flash. The gun was rnder -.
ter's left arm. Potter s left-hnnf1651
Potter said nothing after tha
shooting. she said. ana she shook ~
and told him Webb was shot.
MrS Potter denied flatly that HI
husband had cursed Wehb q that II
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