The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1930-04-11
Wanda Hass Murders Uncle Hugo

! not more than five years. All OF
the HasSes wishe this also. Hugo
himself forgave ner and it seems
as if the State of Montana is also
willing to be lenient and hush the
matter up.
SIG For Seven Years Work
In 1921, Wanda Hass left the
i employ of the Hass Brothers.
Whether she was bound to them
until she was of age by contract
by her parents, it is not known,
but is suspected, for she left them
shortly after she was twenty-One.
She has told friends that she re-
ceived for this seven years ser
vice, upon leaving, the sum of
$4,000. Whether this amount was
all that she received outside of
board and clothes is not clear. It
is said that the Brothers had a
mortgage on the farm of Wanda's
father, near kenmare. 1t may be
that credits were made TO him.
However, Wanda says she only got
SAG.
Held In Duress.
When Wanda Hass, fourteen
years old, came to the Hass farm,
she could not talk English. She
never had a girlhOod, and never
knew anything but hard and con-
tinuOus labor. She SAYS that she
was forbidden to talk or associ-
ate with anyone, outside of the
family under penalty of punish
ment. Her only associates were
Grandma Hass and the few neigh
Dor ladies that called. And that
she was not allowed TO leave the
farm unless in custody of one of
the Hasses. When other girls
We're young and happy, going 10
parties and having their beaux.
and going TO school, Wanda Hass
knew only unremitting toil-there
was no school for her-no Wanda
never even had a friend or a chum.
Employs Attorney Rankin.
SIX years after she left the
Hass farm, after six years of Sc
oret negotiations between them
concerning affairs of which out
slders had no mowledge-for
Wanda Hass, like all the Hasses.
Is tight Tipped when any matter of
a private or family nature is con-
cerned-in January, 1927, Wanda
employed a lawyer. She employ
ed Wellington D. Rankin of Hell
ena, now United States District
Attorney. VIM. Hass made two
trips to the capital. During the
first visits, which lasted more
than week, he was in MANY pri-
vate conferences with Wanda and
her attorney. He returned to
Outlook and went back to Helena.
Hugo did not go tho he was called.
Some settlement was made. and
William and Wanda left. VIM.
HaSs, now admits that $500 was
paid, and Wanda says that she
got that amount at that time less
Sl2OO which she paid the LAWYER.
But 1t is rumored that the $500
was only the first payment on
a contract of settlement, signed BY
William and Hugo Hass providing
for the payment to Wanda Hass
OF $4,000. And it is said that
the Hass boys after making a
couple Of payments, repudiate6
the contract and refused to nav
further: and it was the violation
OF this solemn contract, and an
arrogant and scornful attitude as
sumed BY William and Hugo to-
wards their niece that laid Hugo
low In death. and which William
himself escaped that day because
ne had gone to Scobey after trac-
tor repairs-for as Wanda loves
Hugo, IN more than a usual way.
she hates Bill Hass with all of the
passion of a wronged and betray-
ed woman-she grinds her teeth
when his name is mentioned. and
the look Of a demon transforms
her usually calm blue eyes.
What Is the Mystery?
And what is behind all of this?
What. besides what has been re-
lated, that would cause Wanda
Hass to hire a lawyer? What is
there that would cause Bill and
Hugo Hass to pay Wanda $500.
at one time, $500 another. and
contract to pay her 10000 more g?
Is that what comprises the mys-
terry behind the Outlook murder?
Wanda has made a statement.
but refuses to sign it, and the
County Attorney suppresses it, es-
peclally that part Of it pertaining
TO the motive behind the killing.
Ugly Rumors Rife.
In want of definite information.
ugly run1ors are rife, vet runors
calculated TO explain the mystery
that impelled Wanda Hass to take
Bill Tobin's revolver and shoot
the man she loved.
There are sordid tales current.
that when Wanda was sixteen she
was abused-that she gave birth
to a boy at the Hass farm twelve
years ago, the matter being kept
secret, and the babe sent to an
institution at Twin Bridges, Mon
tana, where he now lives, a big.
growing boy; and that a year or
so later another child was born IN
the middle Of the night, and that
it died and was buried BY lantern
light IN the grove at the farm
and it is limited that the death
was not natural; and that this is
also a guarded secret: because.
ugly rumor SAYS Vim. and Hugo
Hass were involved.
RumOrs Explain Motive for Deed.
II this be 50, it explains why
Wanda was kept under constant
surveillance. and forbidden to
speak 70 any one, during all of
those dreary years: It explains her
hiring q lawyer, and the payment
Of $500 one time, and 81 500 at
another. and the alleged agree