Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-06-26

jury proved to the world that he had
no sympathy for William Hass or the
other immediate members of the ia
nlily on the bonanza farm. Had they
told the truth, they would have said
that A. c. Erickson would be more
likely to have functioned as William
Hass's attorney, as he is constantly in
Erickson's company when in Plenty
wood.
Attorney Slattery, at one time dur
ing his argument, said "My God, what
a mess of corruption has finally been
brought to the surface" and referred
to the Hass outfit as "a veritable can
Ger amongst the citizenry of Sheridan
] County"
Wanda Weeps During Arguments
Many times during the arguments
by attorneys Onstad and Slattery,
Wanda would weep and the tears
coursed down her cheeks. She was
not the only one who wept in that
audience, and both men ad women
were seen to wipe tears as they list
ened to the eloquence of these men
who spoke to that jury to clear Wan
da from the stigma of murder and to
make her q free women again.
Attorney Slattery told the jury "If
you believe William Hass then order
her hanged, but otherwise acquitt
her. In referring to his testimony
on the stand he said IF ever a man
went through labor pains on the wit
, ness stand, that man was Bill Hass."
He said further that the Hass out
fit will soon pull up stakes since the
public learned about this mess, and
finally wound up his argument by ask
ing for the acquittal of Wanda Hass
in the name of the motherhood of the
world, and that by the jury's action
in so doing they would denounce Sc
duction, inhest and rape, and release
woman from the bondage of serfhood
and granting and giving to them the
right of self protection.
To Demand Grand Jury
William Hass is reported to have
been very wrathy at the excoriation
delivered at the Hass family, and said
he would go before Governor Erick-
son at once, with a demand, backed by
positive proof, to have a grand jury
investigation Of Sheridan County
made without delay. He is alleged to
have said that the Producers Moose
gang would be shown up as never
before, as he wanted his name cleared
of any connection with this sordid ira
gedy. 1t is claimed that if he could
not get action from the Governor of
Montana that he would go to Wash
ington and demand action through
, Senators Wheeler and Walsh.
, This a who has backed the Pro
!, ducers News for almost their entire
existence, and who today is the heav-
: lest stakeholder in that paper is now
: facing a situation far different from
, what he could reasonably expect from
e the Producers News staff. From
Charles Taylor, who spent weeks al
! the Hass ranch during those days
when the abuse of Wanda was alleged
> ly being carried on, and who broke
bread with the Hass family for {
{ dozen years, he should expect othel
e treatment then what he receives
: Maybe William Hass has been pic
tured truthfully and again all tina
has been said about him may not bt
true. Whatever the case may be will
him, we do know that through hi
financial aid, that condition would no
have been in existence today. The.
would have backed him up as they dix
for a and years. Now to try ant
save their miserable hides from tn
abuse and beating which they ar
justly entitled to, turns upon thei
hacker, using the knowledge they hav
had of this drastic and sordid affai
for years, to expose it all.
That such a state of affairs shoul'
haxe existed in this county for year
is hard to believe, and we certainl.
hope that William Hass will fulfil
his threat, to get a grand jury her
to expose all he knows about the Pro
ducers News doings in past years.
Wanda was released from custod,
Immediately after the verdict wa
rendered by the jury. During all o
the time, with only about one day &C
tual confinement in the County jail
she has been accorded extraordinar,
courtesy by Sheriff Madsen, who ap
pointed Mrs. Kate Duggan as a spec
ial deputy sheriff to keep Wanda wit
her at her home and was Above