The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-06-30
Attorneys Complete Examina.
ton of Witnesses and
Launch Arguments
SHAFER CAUSES SENSATION
Testimony Partially contradicts
That Previously Offered in
Embezzlement Case
The case OF John Gammons, former

The case of John Gammons. former
secretary Of the stats industrial COM
mission, charged with embezzlement,
is expected to go to Burleigh coun-
ty district court jury Friday evening.
Testimony was completed at. 2 p. NJ,
Friday and opposing counsel began
their arguments to the jury. Each
side was expected to take about an
hour and half.
Highlighting closing developments
In the case was the denial Thursday
afternoon by Former Governor
George F. Shafer that he had auth
orized Gammons to do certain things
as commission secretary and his adj
mission, under cross-examination
Friday, that he might have signed
minutes containing such authorize
ton.
shafer, whose testimony partially
contradicted that OF three defense
witnesses, had said Thursday that he
Contradicting testimony Of three
defense witnesses In the embezzle-
ment trial Of John Gammons In
Burleigh county district court, For
mer Governor George F.. Shafer
Thursday afternoon testified that he
did not sign resolution authorizing
Gammons to employ Mrs. Gammons
to perform special bookkeeping work
for the North Dakota industrial COM
mission in connection with the SOL
diers' bonus fund.
Called to the stand as states
witness, Shafer testified further that
prior to a time early in 1888 he had
no knowledge that the former secre-
tary Of the industrial commission had
been paying expense items from his
separate account In the First Ma
tional Bank of Bismarck.
Cpntradicting other defense testi-
moay, Shafer. who was an ex-officio
member of the Industrial commission
from 1923 to 1888, said that Gammons
had not talked to him about employ
ing Mrs. Gammons for the special
work. He further declared that he
had never approved proposal to
place $4,000 of the military history
fund on certificate of deposit In the
Bank OF North Dakota and that
Gammons had not told him that he
had placed the $4,000 on c. d.
Admits Possibility
Under cross-examination Friday
morning, however. Shafer admitted
it was possible that ne mad signed
minutes authorizing employment Of
Mrs. Gammons. He declared that 1t
was the practice of the industrial
commission members, as it was for
several other boards Of which he was
a member, to sign the minute books
several months or even for year
or more" after the meetings took
place.
The secretary, he said, would bring
the book around to the members of
the commission, even leaving the book
with the members, to get their sigma
lures. Under this procedure, he said,
he could have overlooked such a reso-
luton In the minutes.
Though he testified Thursday that
Gammons did not tell him $4,000 was
being placed on c. d., under cross-ex-
animation Friday morning he declar-
ed that he knew the money was plac.
ed on c. d.
Had Discussed ACCESSIBILITY
Gammons had discussed with him,
he said. the ACCESSIBILITY Of setting up
a new bookkeeping record but reiter-
ated that he had no recollection that
the commission authorized employ
ment Of the defendants wife for the
work.
The state called former governor,
Walter ]. Maddox, to the stand Fri
day. He testified he was governor
from Aug. %, 1928, until January,
1929. following the death of former
Governor A. G.. Sorlie.
He said he had no recollection Of
signing In December, 1928, a resolu-
ton authorizing Gammons to with
draw certain interest accruals for
payment Of special claims. Neither
did he recall signing resolution re-
garding pay for Mrs. Gammons. He
said he did not know that Mrs. Gam
moiAs was employed for any special
work.
Continued on Page Two)