The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-07-03
Criminal Record Of
Jack Ayers

Jack Ayers
January, 1912. Charged with carrying
concealed weapons, under name o.
Frank Morgan, at Prince Albert
B. G.
December, 1912. Charged, as Leslie
E. Ayers, at Calgary, Alta, with
possession of explosives.
March, 1913. Charged as ]. Atkins al
Calgary, Alta, with carrying con-
cealed weapons.
June, 1914. Charged as William
Fisher, at Regina, Sask.. with break
ing and entering, and also possess
ing explosives.
October, 1917. Charged as F. J. At
kins, at Moose Jaw, Sask., with a
felony, and sentenced for four years
March, 1924. Charged as ]. ]. Reed
at Lethbridge, Alta, for stealing ap-
proximately s13O, 100000 in securities
and money.
In addition, Ayers as Smiling John.
ME Reed" was arrested as the ring
leader in at least one bank robbery in
the state of Montana, but he was ex-
tradited to Canada for another Of
tense. The records of the Montana
Bankers Association discloses that
Ayers and one Arthur Davis were the
alleged ring leaders of a group of 16
persons implicated in various bank
burglaries and robberies, including
those mentioned above.
Our investigation also discloses that
in 1925, for criminal offense at
Havre, Mont, Jack Ayers wrote the
clerk of court that Roy E. Ayers was
his attorney. The evidence further
discloses that Roy E. Ayers was the
attorney for one of the accomplices
of Jack Ayers in a Montana bank
burglary in 1924.
showing that Jack Ayers is not related
to Governor Roy E. Ayers.
Dr. John c. Dunn, on the 10th day
of February. 1889, at Lewistown,
Mont, testified as follows in part:
O. Have you been connected with
Governor Ayers in his political cam
paigns to any extent?
A. Yes sir, have.
Q. Were you connected with him in
him in his campaigns for
Congress?
A. | was.
@. And for governor of Montana?
A. Yes, sir.
DR.. Dunn further testified:
My recollection is that / met Jack |
Ayers at the governors home in Lew
stown at the beginning of the general
election campaign in the fall of 1886.
@. State whether or not you saw
lin frequently during that campaign?
A. I did, practically every day.
@. Do you know what part he took
n the fall campaign for Governor
Ayers?
A. He was the manager of his cam
align, statewide.
O. And as such did you come in con- ,
act with him, you being the presi-
ent of the Ayers for Governor club?
A. did.
@. And did he as manager of Gov
rnor Ayers campaign have any duty I
r perform any duty with respect to :
le delivery of money to you? c
A. He did. r
@. And that involved what? t
A. The Ayers for Governor club ac- @
punt in the bank was kept in my
anne and it was necessary for me to
gn all checks. p
@. And from whom did you receive q
oney against which the checks were p
avn? r
A. Jack Ayers. Il
@. Do you know whether Jack g
yers deposited in the bank money or II
Iecks to your credit as the said Of
;ial of the Ayers for Governor club? lc
A. He did.
@. Did he on more than one occa- CT
IN hand you checks as such official?
A. He did. BIZ
the witness testified sc
follows: in
@. Now, in January and February, m
81, while you were in the governors re
ansion did you see Jack Ayers in er
At mansion?
A. did. Sc
Q. And in what capacity did he
pear to be acting?
A. He acted as though he lived re
,re-answering the telephone calls 70
a annared IN he the contact man for 20