The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-28

SOLICITATIONS.
The government will undertake to
prove Is overt acts, allegedly commit
ted by the defendants, Lanier told
the jury.
Zone Of these acts, we will show, re-
volved around the solicitation Of q
number Of persons in the highway de-
partment for q percentage Of their
salaries allegedly tor subscriptions for
contemplated newspaper I'll e
Leader" Lanier said.
"Post-dated checks were taken from
the employees checks to be paid out OF
money made available through the
federal emergency relief acts, and to
be paid over period Of IL months.
I'VE will show that many Of these
employees had been out of work for II
months. and were solicited It their
checks to stand against their unearned
salaries"
Defense Attorney George Thorp
objected when Lanier made the claim
that salaries Of $50 to 800 per month
were assessed - to $4.50-in many in
stances this income going to support
q home and children of employees"
Thorp claimed the statement was not
pertinent to the indictment. His
objections were overruled.
Sums collected from the employees
went into general fund at the Bank
Of North Dakota-to be known as
the Leader account" Lanier said.
"Ostensibly the money was to be
used solely for the purpose Of pro-
noting the newspaper; actually for
the purpose Of promoting the policies
and PHILOSOPHERS Of the present adj
ministratioli, insofar as 1t is headed
by Governor LANCER"
Governor LANCER and Oscar Chaput.
business manager Of THE Leader"
were named as those in actual control
Of disbursement of funds from The
Leader" account.
Erickson Contributed Nothing
I'VE will show that Oscar E. Erick-
son was ostensibly the owner and
publisher Of The Leader but that he
contributed not one cent to the pur-
chase Of the paper.
I'VE will show that the check book
Of The Leader account was placed
before Erickson, who was told to sign
the checks in blank; that the check
book was left in the governors office;
that the governor and Chaput filled
out checks signed In blank on The
Leader account, and diverted money
from that account to the personal
account Of the governor"
I'm all, we will show. q total Of
$4,000 was diverted from The Lead
er' account. A $500 check was taken
to the office Of q Bismarck broker and
applied to the account Of LANCER to
be used for . margin account Of
LANCER"
Twenty EIGHT overt acts alleged are
to be proved by the govern.
ment. Lanier said.
I'VE expect to prove all OF them"
he told the jurors. If We sustain the
charges, the government will expect
verdict-if we don't. we shall not"
All witnesses, with the exception Of
. few allowed to remain by stipula.
ton, were excluded during testimony
Of others from the court1 ooin by order
Of Judge Miller.
lAnier drew the picture Of govern
ment Jurisdiction by citing to the jury
the passage Of three government acts,
which made possible ALLEGATION Of ted.
eral funds to the State Of North Da-
kota.
Governor LANCER, 6 governmental
administrators Of federal funds, was
to disburse the money without dis
elimination, Lanier said.
The defendants combined to cor
ruptly administer and procure pro-
motion Of their own political interests
and to their own financial gain, con-
trary 70 the true interest Of the act,
In Q wasteful manner and prejudicial
to the act" IAnier asserted.
Charge Employees Threatened
intimidation and threats were made
In soliciting employees for contrihu-
lions, lAnier charged.
He declared that the government
win seek 70 prove that State Senator
Oscar i. Erickson, publisher Of THE
Leader" one Of the defendants but
not On trial now because Of illness,
signed . check book In blank and
tseepaA61 ~ 1Ha.n~. - 49, S.<naaGss.n>n. ~AA