The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, August 7, 1919, Page 8

PAGES) LANGER GIVES WIDOW OF MURDERED MAN OPPORTUNITY TO PICK LAWYER TO PROSECUTE SLAYERS FOR STATE Attorney General Declares He Will Deputize in Behalf of North Dakota Any Counsel Whom Mrs. Bowen May Select—Trail of Townley Calumnists Found at Beach—Simpson Active in Matter—Attempt Made to Get Damaging Statements From Investigator. “| have decided to appoint a special prosecutor and to have that prosecutor selected by Mrs. M. K. Bowen, widow of the de- ceased.” —Langer. Insinuations that M. K, Bowen, mur- dered by Bert Taylor near Beach, Thursday evening, July 13, was the victim of political enemies who would ibe shielded by ‘Attorney Geutral Wil- liam Langer; and all props under the political propaganda structure reared iby the writers for the Townley-Brin- ton kept press, were today knocked galley west by orders issued by the attorney general in a letter to R. F. Gallagher, state’s attorney of Golden Valley county, wherein he places ev- ery power except the personal loading of a jury box in the hands of the widow of the slain Nonpartisan leaguer. Referring to the action taken and the letter which is printed herewith, Mr. Langer said: “I do not care what lawyer Mrs. Bowen may choose, ex- cept that he be a man legally permit- ted to practice in this state. She may engage Mr. Townley’s personal at- torneys, or Bishop Lemke or other league .attorneys. While I will turn over all power to whom ever she may select to prosecute the slayer or slay- ers of her husband | shall take an ac- tive interest in the case from tie le- gal sidelines and if there is a failure to secure justice will chen personally take a hand.” Townley Gas Barrage. Papers controlled by A. C. Townley and J. W. Brinton, have since the murder of Bowen last Thursday en- deavored to show that Langer was negligent in duty. Artists at the writ- ing profession have turned out beauti- fully worded propaganda aimed to dis- credit the attorney general. Insinua- tions have been made of various kinds, all aimed at the one purpose, the ‘downfall of the man, who by repu- tation, is the greatest law enforcing officer the state of North Dakota has ever known. Gallagher's Letter. State’s Attorney Gallagher of Gold- en Valley county has written a per- sonal letter to Mr. Langer, which is as follows: Beach, N. D., Aug. 2, 1919. Hon Wm. Langer, Attorney General, Bismarck, N. D. No doubt you have read in the pa- pers that a shooting affair took place in this county on the 31st of July. A coroner's jury was empaneled yester- day and found that the shooting was done by one Taylor and tha: three Others were present, all of whom have ‘been arrested on the warrant issued by the coroner on the findings of the coroner's jury. Whether the defendants murdered the deceased or not, the affair grew out of a local and neighborhood quar- rel. No question of politics was in any way involved in the matter, How- ever, a reporter of the Grand Forks American was here this morning and stated that the Governor regarded the matter as perhaps involving a fac- tional’ political fight, and the ques- tion has been put up by him and by Mr. Blank, the editor of the Progress, ina way to give me the understanding that they and others felt that every- thing would be done by the party op- Posing the league, to shield the ac- cused, I told them, as I have told everyone, that 80 far as this office is concerned, there is no politics in the matter. It is a question of whether | or not the man was wrongfully killed and that I welcomed the co-operation of everybody in the investigation of the matter to the end that if murder ‘has been committed, the guilty parties ‘be brought 1o justice. Will Not Be Convinced. However, I realize that with those who find a political issue in it, that nothing which I may do will convince them of my good faith, in the mat- ter. I would therefore ask that if you could spare one of your assistants I would be glad to have him come here and take charge of the prosecution and investigation of this whole affair. I should lke every citizen to feel that this affair was investigated and prose- cuted in a way that left no question but that impartial justice was done. Preliminary examination will no doubt be held in the course of a week or so. I shall be pleased to Union Dental Parlors Opposite N. P. Depot HE high cost of living is the (?) of the hour, Let this not cause you to suf- fer pain, sleepless nights and the thousand other ills that come from neglected teeth. It costs you nothing for ex- amination here and if your teeth are in perfect condition will tell you so. If they need attention we'll do the work efficiently and at one-half the price charged elsewhere. Come in today or phone for appoint- ment. hear from you in respect to this mat- ter, Yours truly, R. F, Gallagher. Langer’s Reply. The letter which Mr. Langer sent to State’s Attorney Gallagher in reply is clear, concise and conclusive and states in plain terms his desire to have justice meted out. The letter is as follows: August 4th, 1919, Hon. R, F, Gallagher, ‘State’s Attorney, Beach, N. D. Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your favor of yes- terday in regard to the shooting of M. K. Bowen. In view of the findings of the coroner’s jury. I am gratified at the arrest of Taylor and the other three men who were present at the time of the -shooting. I note also that ceriain persons have been unscrupulous enough to attempt to make people believe that politics are entering into both the killing of Bowen and into the prosecution of the parties responsible. I realize perfect- ly the position in which you tind your- self. No matter how earnestly, zeal- ously and energetically you might prosecute the defendants—no matter how good your intentions might be I agree with you, there would always be persons who would doubt your good faith in the matter. In accordance with your request I shall therefore take charge of the prosecution and in- vestigation ot the whole affair. The atfidavit of Mr. Frank Evans, the law enforcement officer of the Montana Cattle Growers Association, filed in my office last April, together with the investigation made ‘by the United States Agent at the request of United States District Atvorney Hild- reth, to whom the agent reported, copy of which report was sent to me, are conclusive proof as to the real facts. In view of your request 1 have de- cided to appoint a. special prosecutor and to have that prosecutor selected by Mrs. M. K. Bowen, widow of the deceased, to give that prosecutor all che powers that I myself would ihave if I was personally present, and to place at his disposition sufficient funds of the attorney general’s to- gether with all the rights to subpoena witnesses etc: I believe this would be the best way to handle the prosecu- tion. Will you please see Mrs. Bowen and state to. her that she can select her own attorney in accordance with this letter and will you please notify me as to what person she may select. Assuring you of my warm apprecia- tion of your attitude, 1 am. Yours very truly, WILLIAM LANGER, Attorney General. Pack Take Scent. Proof conclusive . that Paul Greer, special correspondent of the Grand Forke American, the Fargo Courier ‘News and other Townley papers, is and has been at Beach “covering” the M. K. Bowen murder with the intent to use every means possible to inject politics into the case to the harm ot the attorney general, is shown by the following conversation between Greer and Frank Evans. The latter is the special investigator and expert stock- man who spent 26 days during March and April, 1919, endeavoring to solve the alleged poisoning of M. K. Bow- en’s cattle, for the attorney gener- al’s department. Mr. Evans arrived in Bismarck to- day. On Tuesday Greer of the Grand Forks American-Courier News, Mar- tin Blank of the Townley paper at Beach, and Evans met in the newspa- per office there. Greer—‘I do not want to probe in- to what you know in this case for the mere purpose of printing it. But I want it for my guide so I will not go wrong in the future. I have stat- ed in my paper that Langer’s office had not done all it could have done in this case and I would like to know if there was anything in your report to Langer that would warrant him (Langer) in continuing the investiga- tion,” Evans—“As far as my report was concerned, Langer could do nothing else but drop the case. Personally I was not satisfied with the case but I felt that. Langer had done everything he possibly could.” Greer—"Did ~ou find any poison?” Evans—“No, I found what I thought was poison but the chem‘cal analysis showed that it was not poison.” The above quoted conversation is embodied in an affidavit made today by Frank Evans. Since Evans concluded his work cn the case the has been living on his ranch near Ekalaka, Mont. Sunday afternoon following the Bowen mur- der, he received a phone call from Mrs. Bowen’s brother. “Can you get to Beach by Wednes- day?” “Yes, but what for?” asked Evans. “Bowen has been killed in the barn, and they have four of the men in “Yes, I'll be there right away.” “All right, Mrs. Bowen wants you there for the trial.” Simpson Active. Attorney Leslie Simpson who had been retained ‘by Mrs. M. K. Bowen, tried to get Evans to make state ments relative to the happenings of last spring. Evans told him: “I was brought into this case orig- inally by the attorney general, and I feel that it would not be shooting square if I did not see (Mr. Langer first. But I want to telk you that I will do everything I can to help you bring to justice the men who killed Bowen.’ Auto glass, shield giass, from $2.00 up. Lamp glass, 25c each, special cut. It’s cut and fit on short notice. 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