The Bismarck tribune., 1937-12-09
Trial
May End Today
Government Argument compIet.
Cd at Noon; Murray Fur
nishes Fireworks
Federal Judge ]. A. Donhoe
began his instructions to the
jury at 2:23 p. M. Thursday.

Barring extraordinary circum-
stances the sensational opera star ex-
tortion case was scheduled to reach 1
federal court Jury here Thursday aft
ernoon.
At noon the government and coun-
sci for three Of the four defendants
had completed their arguments to the
jury. At 1880 p. m. sessions were to
resume with counsel for the fourth
defendant to analyse his clients posi-
tion after which rebuttal arguments
and the charge Of Judge ]. A. Dom
hoe Of Omaha were to be heard.
Verbal fireworks at Thurs d q y
mornings sessions were furnished by
J. K. Murray, counsel for George J.
Schultz, 72-year-old former North
Dakota prison guard, who Is alleged
to have conspired with Frank 8.
Fowler, former prison inmate and
now an Illinois prisoner. Theodore
Larson. N. D. lifer, and Peter Koteros
Of Buffalo, N. =, to extort money from
four opera stars.
Murray, contending that "this old
fellow" had not the slightest concep-
tlon he was doing any wrong or vio-
lating any prison rules by aiding Lar
son to dispatch and receive mail
without censoring, lashed at govern
ment witnesses and declared "the
personal ambitions Of q prison warden
and . postoffice inspector are the
sole grounds for this case"
Tdiotlc Fo0liShneeSs
Locking his arms and clenching his
fists, waving his l1alf-spectacles, Muir
rays voice rose and fell as he called
the testimony Of government wit
nesses pure bunk" and the case Of
the prosecution, "idiotic foolishness. ."
At one point describing his client as
"old Won Hindenburg the second" ,"
Murray asseEted none e the witnesses
the government Ind called from the
penitentiary could connect Schultz
with this fantastic rigmarole."
Terming the former prison warden,
Girdell Patterson, . personal friend"
Of his, Murray proceeded to brand
Patterson's testimony earlier In the
day Of combining Larson and Fowler
to the prison dungeon because Of the
alleged discovery Of gun plot and
escape attempt. as an "embellishment
Of the truth"
patterson didn't mention that gun
plot on the stand yesterday, did he?"
Murray questioned.
Patterson had asserted as . gov
ernment witness that shortly be-
fore July 8, 1895 prisoner had In
Formed him that Larson was planning |
to escape with the aid Of Fowler and
Schultz.
Tells Of Plot
The longtime Nonpartisan League
leader asserted that . scheme had
been concocted whereby Fowler. upon
his release, was TO procure pistol,
dismantle It and have Schultz SNUG |
gle 1t into Larson piece by piece. When
Larson had Q complete gun, he would
,ecure permission to 60 to town to
buy pair Of shoes, hold up his guard
md flee. Patterson asserted Larson
had 434 in cash on hts person when l
in violation Of prison rule.
Ridiculing Patterson's testimony.
Murray asserted Patterson had am
w " So0V SAsSA OS~~see~
with Rosa Ponselle IN
ropes he might be remembered In
Ter WILL"
Frank E. Wright, the postal In
pector who took statements from
arson, Schultz and Koteroes, was
allied "this hish-powered detective
rho has ambitions to be J. Edgar
Ioover the second" Murray con-
ended Wright had not dictated . true
epetition Of the statements Of the
men questioned but that they are
My the conclusions Of Wright him
elf"
saw Torch Singer
Turning on Lewis ]. Brennan, the
Iuffalo postal inspector who assisted |
he government In obtaining state
sent from Koteros and who testified
e obtained the photographs Of the
'onselle sisters introduced In eW-
ence Wednesday. Murray roared,
Why Brennan probably saw some
orch singers when he made his al (
(Continued on Pare TWo) Ia