Dying words from man convicted of North Dakota’s worst mass murder suggests he was protecting real killers

Turtle Lake episode 2 top cover image — Henry Layer confessed to murdering eight people, seven from the same family, in 1920. But now experts say he might have been protecting the real killer. Photo courtesy: The Murdered Family with edits by Emma Vatnsdal.

By Tracy Briggs

April 14, 2021 at 9:00 AM

Listen to Turtle Lake Murders episode #1

Listen to Turtle Lake podcast episode #2

TURTLE LAKE, N.D. — It’s a secluded place you can’t easily find off the beaten path, in a valley between small rolling hills, protected by a seldom-opened chained gate. A couple of weather worn farm buildings, a broken fence and a couple of trees dot the landscape. It looks a lot like many abandoned farmsteads in rural America. But this one is different. It is the site of North Dakota's worst mass murder, 101 years ago.

TurtleLakefarmstead — The Jacob and Beata Wolf farm today. Most of the buildings have been torn down. The building in the center is a grainery that can be seen in the background of the funeral photo. Submitted photo.

In a four-part series, Forum Communications is looking back at a crime so horrific that newspaper editors of the time ran out of words to describe it — “without parallel,” “brutal,” “revolting” and “mysterious," were among the adjectives they used.

In episode one of The Turtle Lake Murders podcast, Reporter Tracy Briggs described the specifics of the murders of Jacob Wolf , 41; Beata Wolf, 35, their five daughters ranging in age from 3 to 12 and a teenage farm hand on April 20, 1920. Neighbor Henry Layer confessed to all of the murders.

Turtle Lake Murders - Coffins — This photo of the family was taken Wednesday, April 28, 1920, at the Wolf family farm several miles north of Turtle Lake in McLean County, North Dakota. The picture was most likely taken before the funeral service for the seven members of the Wolf family and their 13 year old farm hand murdered by gun and hatchet. Emma Wolf, the only member of the Wolf family to survive, is the baby in white just to the right of the second coffin from the left. She is being held by her aunt, Christina Hofer, her mother's older sister, who later adopted her. Photo courtesy: State Historical Society of North Dakota

In episode #2, experts dive deeper into why some are now saying it appears the wrong man might have been convicted and ended up dying in prison. In fact, when one looks closely, the state didn’t have a strong case against Layer.

NDSU Archivist John Hallberg told WDAY news in 2015, “The evidence that linked Mr. Layer to this, there really wasn't any physical evidence actually connecting him to the crime, he confessed after grilling.”

" (He) told me that if I would not say what he wanted he would beat my brains out. I then gave up, started to cry, and said that I would do and say what they wanted."

-Henry Layer on how law enforcement officials got him to confess to killing 8 people in 1920.

Was Layer beaten and coerced?

The "grilling", according to Layer, was pretty intense.

In an affidavit he signed after he went to prison, Layer declared his innocence. He says he was questioned well into the early morning hour, was cursed at, beaten, and made to stand until he got dizzy and fainted.

"They repeatedly told me that there was a mob outside, and that my only chance of saving my life from being strung up on a telephone pole was to make a confession and have them get me out of Washburn." - Henry Layer affidavit on coerced confession.

Turtle Lake murders-Henry Layer.JPG — Henry Layer was a neighobr of the Wolfs. He confessed to committing the crimes over a dispute over Wolf's dogs hurting his cows. Photo courtesy: The Murdered Family

Even so, Layer maintained his innocence and said he eventually broke.

"He sat down across the table from me and related to me just how the murder happened and told me what I would have to say, then he got up and shook a billy club in my face and told me that if I would not say what he wanted, he would beat my brains out. I then gave up, started to cry, and said that I would do and say what they wanted.." - Henry Layer affidavit on coerced confession.

Law enforcement officials denied Layer’s allegations; however, later affidavits from the prison doctor and barber suggest Layer had been beaten.

"My eyes have seen, but my hands are clean."

-Henry Layer uttered this phrase, in German, shortly before he died seemingly to say he did not commit the Wolf family murders, but he knew who did.

Inconsistencies with Layer’s confession

Vernon Keel, a Turtle Lake native and author of a 2010 novel about the crime, “The Murdered Family,” points out several inconsistencies with Layer’s confession, including the timing of when the murders happened, the positions of the bodies and the answer as to why he didn’t kill Baby Emma, the 8-month-old survivor. (To hear more confession issues, listen to the podcast at the top of this page).

While some people might have thought Layer was completely innocent, others believe he might have either had accomplices or may have just witnessed the crime and was protecting others.

Turtle Lake stick — A stick marks the place in front of the shed where Jacob Wolf's body was found. Henry Layer's confession about where all eight bodies were seem to contradict what really happened. Photo courtesy:The Murdered Family

German from Russian professor Dr. Tim Kloberdanz says in the German Russian culture of the time, group loyalty was very important. He says Germans had been the target of hate campaigns following World War I, so they learned to stick together through thick and thin.

"He always professed his innocence in a very indirect way,” said Kloberdanz. “He said in his German Russian dialect, “'Die Auge hen sehne, aber die Haende sind saube. My eyes have seen, but my hands are clean.'"

In other words, Kloberdanz says, he didn’t do it, but he saw who did.

After extensive research, Keel has come to a similar conclusion.

Turtle Lake murders-book — Vernon Keel, a native of Turtle Lake, and an accomplished professor of journalism at the University of North Dakota and elsewhere wrote a book about the murders in 2010. The book is in limited print, but still available digitally. Photo courtesy: The Murdered Family

“Let me put it this way," Keel said. "Information in the legal and historical record, much of it on the book’s website, supports the view that a rush to judgment resulted in a forced confession from the neighbor farmer who did not commit the crime but likely knew who did."

It’s impossible to figure out what really happened all those years ago without looking at the bigger picture. It also helps to take a look at the political climate of the day. Did anti-German sentiment in North Dakota and in the United States following WWI play a role in the commission of the crime, and did the famous or infamous fiery politician involved in the case force it through the legal system for his own political benefit?

That’s tomorrow on The Turtle Lake Murders.

Other stories by Tracy Briggs:

Tracy Briggs: 'Help Wanted-Male' vs 'Help Wanted-Female' ads might be why women were burning their bras

No 'what ifs?' for John Thompson 29 years after his arms were ripped off in North Dakota farm accident

Drinking and living down by the river, 'Catfish Charley' saved a child's life

T he entire Turtle Lake Murders podcast:

Mystery still surrounds North Dakota's worst mass murder; who might really have killed 7 members of one Turtle Lake family? - Episode #1

Dying words from man convicted of North Dakota’s worst mass murder suggests he was protecting real killers - Episode #2

Was North Dakota's worst mass murder a hate crime or politically charged lies? The Turtle Lake Murders Episode #3

Whatever happened to baby Emma, the only survivor of her murdered family? The Turtle Lake Murders — Episode #4

1/5: The Jacob and Beata Wolf farm today. Most of the buildings have been torn down. The building in the center is a grainery that can be seen in the background of the funeral photo. Submitted photo.

2/5: This photo of the family was taken Wednesday, April 28, 1920, at the Wolf family farm several miles north of Turtle Lake in McLean County, North Dakota. The picture was most likely taken before the funeral service for the seven members of the Wolf family and their 13 year old farm hand murdered by gun and hatchet. Emma Wolf, the only member of the Wolf family to survive, is the baby in white just to the right of the second coffin from the left. She is being held by her aunt, Christina Hofer, her mother's older sister, who later adopted her. Photo courtesy: State Historical Society of North Dakota

3/5: A stick marks the place in front of the shed where Jacob Wolf's body was found. Henry Layer's confession about where all eight bodies were seem to contradict what really happened. Photo courtesy:The Murdered Family

4/5: Henry Layer was a neighobr of the Wolfs. He confessed to committing the crimes over a dispute over Wolf's dogs hurting his cows. Photo courtesy: The Murdered Family

5/5: Vernon Keel, a native of Turtle Lake, and an accomplished professor of journalism at the University of North Dakota and elsewhere wrote a book about the murders in 2010. The book is in limited print, but still available digitally. Photo courtesy: The Murdered Family

By Tracy Briggs

Tracy Briggs has more than 35 years of experience, in broadcast, print, and digital journalism.