The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-25

bought an automobile. With Hecnan
Somerville, q boxer, he returned to
Wahpeton. Later with 6omervillc
and two other boxers, Ace Fittings
and Joe DearMent, he set out on a
barn stofming tour Of Canada, ap-
pcaring at rodeos and other shows.
Once the party visited the Prince Of
Wales ranch. as postcards showed.
Their tour extended through WASH
ington, Oregon, California, and the
southwest.
Boxers Leave Him
In Kansas City, two of the boxers
left Bjornsor, Somerville remaining
with him. In Kansas City, he bought
an airplanc for $l,6o0 and took some
flying lessons.
He was forced down at Shakopee.
There he called the Shank Air school
at Rebblnsdale and had the plane
fixed. He also took some more flying
lessons after coming to Minneapolis.
This accomplished, he gave up
aviation.
On March 4. Bjornson returned to
Wahpeton. There he met Leach ON
the street. He va said to have be-
come alarmed when he thought the
banker recognized him.
On March Z q missile came sailing
through q window at the Leach home
while Mrs. Leach was Ill. It proved
to be a piece Of coal. to which was
attached a note threatening the
banker with death II he prosecuted
the extortion charge.
On March 3 Bjornson drove to
Glencoe with Peter Lenzen, also Of
Wahpeton. At Glencoe he visited
Harold Larson, q former schoolmate.
He told the latter he ~ in trouble
but said 1t was owe another matter.
At his behest. according to report,
Larson was induced to take q note to
Bjornson's home. This note directed
the mother to turn over to Larson
certain clothes and a package. Born
son met Larson at Litchfield. There
he was said to have opened the pack
age, said to contain eighteen $500
bills. Larson was taken back to
Glencoe.
There followed a trip to the Aanlodt
farm near Wahpeton, where Bjornson
was said to have induced Oscar
Aamodt, a son, to accompany him to
Fertile, MINI. On March II the two
planned q trip to Minneapolis but
instead they went to Ell Paso, Texas
It was there that Aamodt first
learned Bjornson was wanted, he said
He talked the matter over with his
companion and it was agreed they
would come back to Minneapolis.
Bjornson was said to have expressed
fear of returning to Wahpeton. Be-
fore returning, however. Bjornsor
was alleged to have gone over tt
Juarez and had his final fling at q
roulette game and lost.
The two then came to Minneapolis
After visiting Friswold, they present
ed themselves at the station.
Exonerates Companion
Aamodt disclaimed any part in the
extortion or knowledge of where
Bjornson's money came from. It was
only after reading accounts in news.
papers at Ell Paso, he said, that he
knew Bjornson was wanted. Bjorn.
son also e~xonerated him, as we'll a.
others.
In fact, 1t was said because Of hi
desire to clear others Of any possible
blame that he was induced to make
a statement.
We'll, others are implicated and il
will 90 hard with them" Captain
Forrestal said.
Its a lie" Bjornson IS said to have
| retorted. There vas nobody else in
| volved."
Further questioning was then sale
to have led to the statement.
MORE-more-
Bjornson's statement in full fol-
lows:
Q. What is your name?
A. Gordon Bjornson.
G. How old r your
A. %.
@. Where is your home?
A. Wahpeton, N. d.
@. Are you married?
A. No.
@. Whom do you live with at
Wahpeton?
A. My parents.
@. What Is your business?
A. Farming, then I worked for a
| contractor at bookkeeping. and box
ing matches.
Q. Calling your attention to May
20, 1880, did you meet q man named
! o. A. Leach and his wife on that day
or during the night?
A. Yes.
Q. Under what circumstances did
you meet them at that time?
+. A. At their garage.
@, About what time.
A. I don't know but it was at night
Q. What did you say to them at
that time?
A. I don't know that either,
Everything IS a blank: everything
happened so fast.
6. Did you show them a gun.
A. Yes.
Q. Did you get in the car with
them?
Q. Where did you go7
A. Out west OF Wanpet0n.
6. (By Walter Gordon) as I un-
derstand it, you told us that on this
night you met MI. and Mrs. Leach
when they drove In the garage in the
rear Of their home at Wahpeton?
A. Yes.
Q. Were you alone then?
A. Yes.
@. Did you have a mask over your
face at that time?
A. Yes.
Q. You had a gun with you?
@. And you got in the car with
them?
A. Yes, but the gun vas not
loaded.
/. Q. And you told Mr.. Leach where
to drive?
A. Yes.
Q. Where did you tell him to
drive?
A. West out on the Morton road. I
think that's the name Of 1t.