The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-18
Here's Real History Of LANCER Case
sismARck MAN soWED SEED
Others Helped Bring Fruit to Harvest

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One Of the indictments was quashed
by Judge Andrew Miller at Fargo
The other was sustained.
Back into session at the request OF
Lanier came the grand jury. It had
only recessed at the end OF the first
round. New evidence was adduced
The government spent $50 In tele.
phone and telegraph tolls to get from
Los Angeles the text of an indict-
ment against three persons there who
had been convicted Of conspiracy In
connection with renting trucks to the
CWA. The grand jury voted an in
dictment almost exactly identical with
that In the California case. !. The
bud had bloomed and the fruit had
set.
To Bismarck on May % came Judge
Miller and the attaches Of his court.
Here, also. came 60 citizens. called as
prospective jurors in the greatest
legal fight In North Dakota's history.
But the real battle was delayed while
the defense sought, by more tech
nicalities. TO delay the trial. These
proved In vain. The decks were
cleared and the battle began.
How the smoke rose and the bull
lets flew was detailed In the columns
of The Tribune from day to day It
made interesting reading.
First there was the slow unfolding
OF the governments case. It as
tedious but the government laid its
groundwork for the consp r y
charge carefully. To Q friend one
of the attorneys associated with the
defense Is said to have remarked that
it looked puncture-proof. LANCER was
obviously worried.
. Results Are Disclosed
This done. things began to pep
up a little. What was done as re-
suit Of the conspiracy was disclosed.
The jurors were informed how state
employees. having once earned their
money. accepted" the opportunity
to donate five per cent to The Lead
er" then earn It back again BY at
tempting to sell Leader" subscrip-
tons.
What became Of the money was
disclosed by testimony that . large
part OF the $50 900 collected for 1.-THE
Leader" had gone into the account Of
Governor LANCER. The net was slow
ly closing. The fruit was ripening
rapidly under the heat Of the gov
ernment;s attack.
Finally, the government rested. Its
case was complete. Curiously enough,
only one Of the men who had signed
the original affidavits for the gov
eminent was called to the stand. He
was Seed-Planted Personals.
Subsequently Highway Car Frank
Vogel testified Personius was dis
charged because he talked too
much" Had he known, he might
have added that Personals had writ
ten too much But Vogel didn't
know about that then.
The defense took up the cudgels
It had been attempting to 'impeach'
government witnesses on cross-exam-
ination. in one case by showing that
one young man had served q term
In prison. The inference was that
hts word was not Trustworthy
Whether these tactics did the defense
any good Is doubtful. for subsequent
witnesses bore down" more heavily
in their appearances. The rumos
went the rounds that some felt the
young man with the bad experience
had been treated unfairly.
To the witness stand in their cwn
behalf came LANCER and his fellows
along with some who previously mad
testified for the government. All but
LANCER denied everything. Some ol
them were obviously disturbed wher
they took the stand. Some tripped
over their own tongues under cross.
examination by Lanier. The judge
had barred comments by newspaper.
on the appearance and attitude Of
witnesses while the trial was in pro.
gress. Nothing was said about these
matters publicly, for no one wantec
to risk contempt Of court, but thu
scribes knew. The fruit was growing
heavy on its stem. The harvest tint
was at hand.
Defendants Grow Desperate
Desperately the defendants tried K
knock the apple off the tree and keey
1t from failing in their yard. They
hadn't said this. They hadn't salt
that. They didn't remember this
They didn't remember that.
Finally, LANCER was put unde,
oath. Upon his own shoulders h,
took all the blame. He admitted
getting the money, defended his &C
ton by contending that it was owet
to him by the Nonpartisan League
There was no conspiracy. he said
because he was alone In his plans.
But the Jury didn't believe hin,
II 1t had. the verdict would have beef
one Of acquittal, for 1t takes two t,
make q conspiracy.
Then came rebuttal testimony. TIL
prosecution had few witnesses, chic
among which were those who toll
about sign which wasn't on the doc
OF the federal relief office whel
some Of the defendants said it wal
The government allowed that tn
sign was placed there months ate
the time that Harold McDonal
"blundered" into the relief offices I
demonstrate his mastery Of salesman
ship.
The defense made no rebuttal. Bot
sides rested. The battle was owe,
except for the final barrage Of fire
works contained In the pleas to th
jury.
Lsnier WAS cool, calm, confider
Is he outlined the evidence, aske
the jurors to DO their duty. f1arr
Lashkowit1. his first assistant, VI
more eloquent.
Thu defense attorneys began the