The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-25
23-Year-Old Gives
Self Up to Police
And Relates Story

Self Up to Police
And Relates Story
Continued from page one)
lowed orders, tossing out a pail filled
with currency. the statement said.
Bjornson said he then came to Min
neapolis and deposited about $24,OOO
of the money in q bank and bought
an automobile. He later purchased
an airplane for about $780," the
statement said.
Left Wahpeton March 3
He said he lett Wahepton the
morning Of March 8. It was on that
day Detective Gordon arrived at
Wahpeton, planning to arrest Born
son.
Bjornson said he went from Wah-
peton to Glencoe, Mimi. and there
met a youth named Howard Larson,
whom he sent back to Wahpeton to
get money and clothes for him. Lar
son returned with $1,000, he said.
Bjornson said he now has about
$l;700" Of the money lett at the bank
and 81, 900 invested in stock. He said
he had only Sill with him when he
surrendered.
He objected. police said. to signing
the statement.
Sitting in police headquarters
Wednesday the chcstnut-hai boy
appeared to be exhausted. His eyes
were red and swollen and his large
rough hands were continually in A
ton, now rubbing his knees and then
pushing his hair back from his face.
He was wearing q red-brown suit, a
bright tie and q shirt with a badly
rumpled collar. He seemed to be
frightened and continually refused to
add anything to his signed confession.
When questioned after he signed
his confession Bjornscn refused to
say anything except Il have been IN
Texas and Mexico for the last two
weeks but I don't want to talk about
this business any more" He was not
permitted to see his brother. =
Says He Worked Alone
Police continued to question him
about accomplices in the plot but he
steadily maintained that he worked
the whole scheme out alone.
Arnold Bjornson, the brother who
came to accompany Gordon home
Wednesday. He acted as If he were
dazed and had no idea how to handle
the situation.
Gordon had everything he want
Ell" he said, lat least We knew OF no
dissatisfaction on his part. When he
went away W. were surprised and OF
curse when we began to hear the
stories about his taking SIS, 600 In q
kidnapping plot we were shocked"
Bjornson characterized the story OF
the extortion and threatened kidnap-
ing of Mrs. Leach, wife of the bank
er, as gross exaggerationS." He said
lie had been hitch-hiking in Texas
and came back to Minnesota as soon
as he heard rum0rS he was being
sought.
He walked into police headquarters
with O. H. Friswold. Minneapolis and
Oscar Aamondt. Halstad. MINI. Upon
returning to the state. Bjornson said
he went to the FriSw0ld home Tues
day night.
After Friswold showed him news
paper clippings concerning the search
for him, Bjornson said he decided to
give himself up Immediately
The story of the ~extortion vas dis
closed 10 days ago by Arnold G.
Forbes, Richlard county states attor-
ney at Wahpeton, who said that on
May 20. 1880. a masked man forced
MI. and Mrs. Leach to drive out In
the country. There the man demand
ed 5000 under threats Of kidnap-
ing Mrs. Leach. and her husband
agreed to pay So. ZOO.
Threw Out Money
The next night Leach threw out q
package Of bills at a designated spot
along the highway to Fargo. N. D.
Eight days later the Citizens National
bank, Of which Leach is president was
robbed Of $6,700. In the course Of the
insurance company's investigation Of
the banks books, it was discovered
Leach had drawn q check for SIS 5000
against his personal account.
Under a pledge Of secrecy, Leach
told the investigators Of the circum-
stances and the affair was not made
public until several weeks ago after
Bj0rnSon left. Wahpeton.
A reward Of $1,000 vas offered for
Bjornson'S arrest by friends of Leach
after a warrant had been issued for
him charging extortion and attempt
ed kidnapping.
VIM Plead Guilty
Bjornson told Detective William
Meehan he was willing to waive x
tradition at M and plead guilty to
q charge Of extoftion. A companion,
also sought by Burns Detective COM
pany agents in the case, surrendered
with Bjornson..
Bjornson had made good his escape
into Mexico. it was revealed, but lost
$1,000 in {. gambling house at Juatex
playing roulette. and decided it was
hopeless to continue his flight:
II came to Minneapolis instead OF
Wahpeton because I'm afraid they
would hang me up ut 'Wahpetoh,"
Bjornson told Walter 8. Gordon,
manager Of the criminal department
Of the Burns Detective Agency, today.
B~joriison's brother, Arnold. and his
attorney. n. A. Heder. Wahpeton, ar
rived Wednesday. Sheriff =. 8. Nc
Twain and states Attorney Forbes,
Wahpeton, were On their way here to
take custody Of BjornsoY.
For 10 months Btorrson has moved
about from place to place. according
to those who checked his where
abouts.
Last May. according to them,
Bjornson came to Minneapolis and