The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-01

Over objections of defense attorneys,
government witness in the trial of
Gov. William LANCER and seven 9TH
ers testified in federal court Friday
afternoon that Harold Mcdonald,
solicitor for THE Leader" state ad-
ministration newspaper. represented
himself as an employe Of the COVER
nor.
The witness was Ed Rychman, fed
eral emergency relief administration
employee. who said he was solicited
by Mcdonald. The government
charges that LANCER and the other
defendants conspi1ed to solicit fed
eral employees for political contrtbu-
tions for support Of THE Leader"
Rychman reiterated what two gov
eminent witnesses had told the jury
previously, that r. A. Kinzer, former
secretary OF the relief committee, had
told them there would be no pres
sure" from him on those who did not
contribute.
Rychman described conferences
federal relief employees had with NC
Donald about pledges to 1.-THE Leader.
Did you find out for whom ne
(McDonald) was working?" District
Attorney p. w. Lanier queried.
For the Governor
For the Governor" Rychman re-
piled.
"Iow did you find that out?" Lam
Ter asked.
lone OF our employees asked him
for whom he was working" the wit
ness answered as Thorp objected to
the examination. only to be over
ruled by Judge Andrew Miller.
After telling he gave post dated
checks in payment for his subscrip-
ton to THE Leader" Rychman was
asked by Lanier: AT the time you
gave these post dated checks did you
do that with the idea OF promoting
1.-The LEADER"
Il gave It," Rychman replied, for
the protection Of my job"
He then testified he had read in the
newspapers Of employees being dis
missed for failure to contribute to
THE Leader" and Il was not taking
any chance; my job was worth more
than 81" the amount per month ne
said he pledged.
Before Rychman took the stand,
the jury requested that the court re-
porter read from her notes testimony
given Friday morning by Mrs. Scott
and Miss Junge.
Juryman L. c. Hulett, Mandan.
arose as court resumed to state that
the jury would like to have one point
cleared up" He said the jurors were
not clear concerning the testimony OF
Mrs. Scott In regard to the reduction
Of salary.
The court ordered read the testi-
mony desired by the jurors.
Under croSs-examination French
said he had been sentenced to prison
from Hettinger county for attempted
extortion. Lanier then brought out
the fact that he was then only 10
years old. He now is "a.
First Worker Appears
Seventeenth witness to be called for
the government, 1. M. French, man
ager of the federal emergency relief
supply department
here, told Thursday how he was ap-
preached with solicitations to con-
tribute five per cent Of his annual
salary toward maintenance Of 1.-THE
Leader" administration newspaper.
He told the court he agreed to make
IL monthly contributions Of four dol
lars each, but paid only three. Each
installment, French said, was repre-
sented by a post-dated check. Despite
his failure to pay the remaining IL
installments on his pledge. he IS still
working as a federal employe. French
explained.
French testified he conferred with
r. A. Kinzer. one Of the defendants.
and then secretary Of the federal re-
lief committee, after he (French) had
first been approached by q solicitor.
He said Kinzer told him mo pressure
will come from this office"
On cross examination, Thorp en-
phasized that Rychman was influence
ed to pledge part Of his salary to THE
Leader" because he feared loss Of his
lob as a result Of what he had read
in what Thorp referred to as "opposi-
ton newspapers"
Government witnesses also testified:
That Langer's handwriting appeared
In the body Of q check which was one
OF q number signed In blank by Oscar
E. Erickson, publisher Of THE Lead
err:
That the check bearing the COVER
nor's handwriting also bore the &C.
count title THE Leader;
Checks Signed In Blank
That checks were signed In blank
In the governors office by Erickson,
and that the book containing the
blank, signed checks Was later seen
In Z drawer Of desk IN the COVER
nor's private office;
That Incorporation Of The Leader
was discarded, for the reason that
everyone who put up five per cent
would want stock In this thing:
That two Leader" accounts were
maintained at the Bank Of North Da-
kota; one. known as the regular
Leader account: . second. known 81
the advertising account:
That . cashiers check had been
purchased at the Bank Of North Da-
kota with . Leader" check, presum-
ably by Erickson:
That numerous complaints Of use
Of relief offices in the state for poll
tical purposes and solicitation Of po-
litical contributions from federal re-
lief employees were received ct Wash
inston;
That Governor LANCER Was told
that cant be done" b.. eheyrard
Ewing, fthid representative Of the re-
| lief adu11istration. regarding contst-