The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-29

My name is Esther Johnson and am the mother
of Floyd Johnson, who about the month of
November. 1927 convicted of the crime of murder in
the first degree and sentenced to the penitenary in
Bismarck for life thereon.
l am also the mother of Archie hereinafter re.
ferred to and my deceased husbands name Fred
johnson. My husband died on the 9Th of September
1929.
Before my husbands death. he had talked with
one Dell Patterson concerning the effort to obtain
Floyds release from the penitentiary and my under
standing is that Patterson had advised him to employ
William LANCER but my husband concluded that it
was useless to employ anyone at that time for that
purpose.
On October Is. 1929 about six weeks after nv
husbands DEATH Dell Patterson came to my home in
Donnybroo and told me that William LANCER was in
Mnot and that if wanted to see him, could prob
the employment of LANCER before that time, nor had
| talked with Patterson about endeavor to obtain
the release of my son. Floyd
On October 18th, l came to Minot suggested
by Patterson and went to the Grand Hotel and was
there introduced to William LANCER by Patterson.
Thereupon. my son and myself went to with
LANCER and talked this matter He told me that
it unfortunate that he had not been employed to
start something the first year Floyd was in the
penitentiary that would have hurried matters up.
He also told me that there provision of law.
whereby Floyds sentence could not be shortened
changed until the expiration of Onehaf of his life
expectancy and that in order to obtain his release
this section of the law would have to be
changed
Floyds release. but that it would take lot of money
and there were others he would have to enlist in the
matter He asked me what could pay him and told
him did not know and then he told me that he would
take 100000 cash and 100000 the release of
my son, Floyd. l told him thought that was too
much and he said he ought to have more. Then he
wrote out two checks-one for S1,O0O.OO dated Octo-
Der 18, 1929 and for S1,0OOOO dated December l.
1929 and signed these checks and they were after
wards paid through the bank. He made up contract
to cover the other payment of 100000 and signed
that. read the contract over at the time but do
not remember what in it and he did not give me
copy of it.
He told me also at that time, that he had talked
with my son. Floyd. and that Floyd had told him
that he thought that his father had set aside some
money to be used in the procurement of his release.
do not remember whether he said this money was to
be paid to LANCER not.
This money which paid to LANCER, was the pro.
ceeds OF an insurance policy received by upon my
husbands death.
did not hear anything further from LANCER and
in the summer of 1880, went to see him in his of.
flee in Bismarck He did not tell me at that time that
he had taken steps towards procuring the release
of my son, Floyd. asked him for a copy of the con-
tract and he told me it mslaid, but that he would
send me but he has not done SO and have never
heard from him since in any manner, and so far as
know, ne has done absolutely nothing toward the
lease of my son, Floyd.
| am widow and have child dependent up.
on me for support and living with me. have no in
come except from my farm.
hereby certify that the above is true and cor.
rect statement of my dealings with William LANCER
ESTHER JOHNSON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, E. /. Brad
ford, Notary Public, this 18th day of July. 1882.
E. l. BRADFORD.
(SeaD Notary Public, Ward CO.. N. Oak.
My commission expires April is. 1884.