The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-03-20
DONIS'
BROTHERS HELD IN
ALLEGED ABDUCTION
Girl, 20, ForcibIy Removed From
Jamestown Home, Is 10.
Gated at Dickinson
THREE OTHERS INVOLVED
Authorities Discover Young
Woman at Home Of Attor.
nsy for Defendant

Dickinson, N. D., March 20.-(F-
Kathrine Donis. pretty 20-year-old
key witness in the Gibson murder
case. was found here Wednesday fol-
lowing the arrest Of her two brothers
on charges Of forcibly removing her
late Tuesday from the home Of Mrs.
Blanch smithberger, jamestown vel
fare worker.
Joseph and Jerome Donis. brothers Of
the girl. were arrested here IS hours
after the abduction was reported ut
Jamestown. and were returned to
jamestown by Sheriff Martin Homuth
Of Stutsman county.
The men were given preliminary
hearing at 1880 p. m, Wednesday, be-
fore Justice Frank Kellogg ut James
town on charges Of kidnapping, and
placed under bond Of $4,000 each
which the men were unable to imme-
diately produce. They were remanded
to Jail. and the case was continued
until 10 m, Friday.
Found 1t Lawyers H0me
Kathrine was found at the home
Of c. H. Starke, Dickinson. attorney
for Joseph DoniS and Mrs. Gladys
Gibson, who faces trial In June for the
fatal shooting two years ago Of her
husband, Nathaniel, = rural mail car
rier, whose death 1t first was attribut-
ed to suicide.
The girl was taken into custody on
q material witness warrant by Deputy
Sheriff Irving 0erlich, States Attor-
ney Theodore Kellogg, and q. ].
Manning. Dickinson police commits.
Sioner.
starke, who commended The girl
was not abducted. but claimed she
had been ILLEGALLY heA4 IN custody"
at the Smithberger hons at James
town, at first refused 70 produce
Katharine, kellogg Gajd, but later led
the authorities to his home altar po-
lice had kept . watch posted there
during the morning.
Katharine Is being held - Q ma
terial witness in the Gibson caso In~
der the warrant, Kellogg said. a.
though denying Sho was being held
In custody In any manner ct tho
Smithberger home.
Three OtheeD Inveavo6
Kellogg also claimed there Wero
three other persons In the car In
which Katharine vas Eahen away
from jamestown ct 3:36 p. n. Tues
day, In addition to the Donis broth
ers and the girl. He said names Of
the other three, Ill women. are
known to the authorities and that
charges may also be filed against
them.
Starke declared that the Donis
family was worried" about Katharine
and that the two brothers merely de-
cided to 60 to jamestown and bring
her home. Starke characterized the
story told by Florence Smithberger Of
Katharine,s screaming and resisting
seizure as stage setting"
States Attorney Kellogg denied
Katharine had been in custody 1T the
smithberger home, stating she had
decided to remain there employed as
. maid until the trial on her own
volition.'
Miss Donis was taken from the
home Of Mrs. Blanche Smithberger
Of jamestown late Tuesday by the
brothers.
After talking with her briefly on
the porch Of the house, during which
time Miss Donis said mo- emphatic
ally several times. one Of the brothers
picked her up bodily and carried her
to an automobile parked nearby. The
young woman screamed for help as
the car sped away.
Stark county authorities, who said
they could ascribe no motive for the
brothers act, asserted Joseph Donis
had been . paramour Of Mrs. Gibson.
He now Is out on bond on statutory
charge involving l6-year odd daugh-
ter Of Mrs. Gibson.
The death Of Gibson Was recorded
q suicide, but last December authori-
ties uncovered evidence they asserted
showed the woman had slain her hus-
hand. She at first confessed, authori-
ties said, but later repudiated the
confession.
Continued ca Page TWo)