The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-02
FORMAL NOTICE OF
SUIT BY WIDOW IS
SERVEDONL LANCER
Attorney Issues Statement As
serting Action Is 'PoIiti-
cal Frame-Up'
fBy The Associated Press)

by The Associated Press)
Formal notice has been served on
William LANCER. Republican nominee
for governor. that he is being sued for
$4,000 by Mrs. Esther johnson of
Donnybrook. 1t was disclosed late
Tuesday by the >Burleigh county sher-
ifs office.
LANCER Wednesday issued state
ment to the Associated Press, through
his campaign headquarters. declaring
the suit is "a political frame up" and
q last minute piece Of political prop
aganda'
Mrs. Johnson alleges she paid Lam
ger $4,000 to bring about the release
from the state penitentiary of her
son, Floyd, a life prisoner, but that
LANCER had failed ito render any
service or to do anything with respect
thereto
The complaint, presented to the
Ward county district court at Minot
states that Mrs. Johnson was solicited
by Dell Patterson. then a member OF
the North Dakota state senate, "tc
see and employ" LANCER "for the pur-
pose and to the end of obtaining the
release" of her son from the state
penitentiary.
Mrs. Johnson alleges in the COM
plant that on October 10. 1929, she
was introduced to LANCER at Minot
and was told by the lawyer that, un-
der a state law. no application fol
pardon or communication of sentence
could be presented to the state par
don board nor acted on by it "for a
long period of time and that the
law would have to be changed.
Was Asked $4,000
The Womans complaint states that
LANCER told her he could obtain her
sons release within reasonable
time" and that to obtain the youths
freedom lit would be necessary to do
a great amount of work and see a
large number of people," She asserts
in the complaint that LANCER asked
$4,000 for his fee, but on expressing
her inability to pay this amount. it
was agreed she pay the lawyer $4,000
in cash and $4,000 when and if the re-
lease of her son was obtained.
Mrs. johnson said she gave LANCER
two cheeks drawn on the First Nation
al bank of Donnybrook, N. D.. one
bearing date of October 18, 1929. for
$1,000. and another bearing date OF
December l. 1929. for 81 900.
The complaint further alleges that
LANCER drew up a contract which she
signed. that on July 8, 1882, she mott
fled LANCER she desired to cancel
this contract, and that LANCER refus-
ed to return the money.
Mrs. johnson states her husband
died September 5. 1929, leaving her
the proceeds of $4,000 insurance
policy. She alleges that business al
fairs of her family. up to the time OF
her husbands death. were entirely lr
his hands, and that "she has had
little or no business experience"
Langer's statement was issued tc
the Associated Press through John
Nystul. state campaign manager 10Y
the Nonpartisan League, and termed
the suit a political frame-up. II
said he had nothing to fear in mat
ter in which I have sought only to do
my duty to client
What LANCER Says
The statement reads:
The civil action brought against
me is very obviously political instru-
ment. well timed and aimed to have
adverse effect in this campaign.
The people of the state will easily
be able to understand the purpose OF
this last minute piece OF political
propaganda. 49,,
This instance proves so well thai
the opposition, so fearful OF the ex-
cellent Endorsement given our ticket
in June, has been driven to panic II
manufacturing something, regardless
of how wild, to defeat the ticket.
LAS to the merits Of the complaint
in this case, !. is sorrowful lndlct'
ment of the oppositions attempt tc
find some real issues. have nothing
to fear in a matter in which l have
sought only to do my duty to client
This political frame-up clearly
proves the opposition's bankruptcy OF
issues which has driven them &c
ccncoct this piece of righteousness tc
discredit me.
This incident should be warning
TO the people of the state that cur op-
ponents. interests, fearful OF olu
stand for honest government, Will
stop at nothing to defeat us. l an
confident that the voters will not be
led astray by such last-minute politi-
cal trickerv"