The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-08
PrObcrS Are Irked
By Lawyers Smiles
Bangs and Thorp Rebuked For
Grinning At Testimony
BY Architect
INTIMIDATION IS CLAIMED
Attorney For Investigators OBJ
jects to 'Ridicule Of Wit
ness BY Whispers

Charges Of intimidation" and
"ridicule" Of witness were hurled at
q member Of the capitol commission
Wednesday by members of the legis-
lative investigating committee during
examination Of Joseph Bell DeRemer.
one Of the state capitol architects.
The accusations were made by e. r.
sinkler, counsel, and w. J. Flanagan,
Of the investigators. against George
L. Bangs, Grand Forks. member Of
the capitol commission. and the COM
missions counsel, Geo. w. Thorp,
Fargo.
sinkler stopped his questioning of
DeRemer to call the attention of the
committee to whispering between
Bangs and Thorp who were listening
to the proceedings from the jury box
In the district court room here where
the hearings are being held.
Immediately w. ]. Flanagan ad-
dressed Chairman w. E. Matthaei.
chairman Of the committee. He said
he resented the intimidation" and
''ridicule' Of the witness by whispers
and smiles after each answer of the
witness DeRemer.
Thorp assured the committee it was
not the intention Of either himself or
Bangs to ridicule the witness and said
the investigators could expect mo
more conduct to offend you"
Sinkler had just asked DeRemer
when he first discovered that Holabird
and Root. associate architects, had
not drawn the plans and specifica-
lions for the capitol SO that brick
could be used.
well. Of course, knew that from
the -" And here sinkler interrupt
ed. turning to Bangs and Thorp.
Turns Upon Bangs
IT you don't cut out the intimida-
ton ;" he said. with Bangs inquir-
ing. intimidation"
Flanagan spoke. "Mr. Chairman"
he said, II don't believe 1t Is good pol
icy for us to go on with this examina-
ton. Every time the witness makes 4
statement we have these gentlemen
whispering In each others ears and
smiling and perhaps inferring by that
action that there Is something ridicu-
lous In the statements made, and [
object to it most strenously at this
time"
Thorp explained. we have a right
to communicate with each other with
reference to the effect Of this testi-
mony."
Flanagan asked. do you think you
have q right to sit in the jury box
and do the things you are doing? I
think We have proper place In the
court room for such counsel"
II don't know what you consider
the proper place." Thorp answered.
I'VE don't want to quarrel With you
or be Offensive at all"
~ don't want any more Of that In
timidation going on the way that It
has been or I will object again" Flan-
nigan emphasized.
II am not in position to express
myself" replied Thorp. adding, there
will be no more conduct that will Of
fend you. sir, and our communications
with each other. II permitted at all,
will be as quiet as possible. That IS
all have to say now"
Appearing on the stand before De-
Remer were H. T. Murphy, Bismarck
insurance man, and g. H. Lincoln,
cashier Of the state treasurer's office,
Murphy being examined further re-
garding commissions for policies he
had written, and Lincoln questioned
regarding the balance Of capitol funds
on hand on various dates.
Objected to Changes
DeRemer was on the stand nearly
an hour, questioned regarding con-
tracts, specifications, "unit prices,
and letters he had written objecting
to certain phases Of the changes In
plans.
He said he learned Of the division
Of the general contract into three
parts during . meeting Of the archi-
tects, capitol commissioners and con-
tractor In Chicago.
DeRemer told einkler and the COM
mittee he had written . letter to
Frank L. Anders. secretary OF the
capitol commission, Holabird and
Root at Chicago, associate architects.
and w. =. Kurke, Fargo architect, OBJ
jecting to the type Of contract and
telling Of his 'unsympathetic atti-
tude" with its terms. He said It al
lowed too small . margin between
cost and maximum Of expenditure
and added that II he had been .
member OF the commission he would
have rejected al bids because Of the
uncertainty" Of price.
DeRemer said he thought any
changes In plans should have been
made before the contract was signed
when It WAS understood certain
Continued On page 1ive)