The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-15
Observation-Disclosures.
HOW FRIDLEY Was BoUaHr, WHO BOUGHT
KY HIN, AND WHAT WAS PAID. ~
BELLE PLANE. scoTr Co, Mss.


III, before the Covode COmmittee. Il
~ sbs BELLE PLANE, ScoTT Co, MIMI,
f June 4, 1860.
70 tie Editors Of ne Pioneer and Democrat.
During my recent 5sojourn in Minnesota,
my attention has, been. frequently called TO
the action of three Of your delegates to the
Charleston Convention. Among those three
Mr.. A. NJ. FR1DLEY stands prominent. AS
am stranger in this State, cannot un-
derstand the motives governing the actions
of your leading politicians with the accuracy
of an "old settler" but must confess that
was surprised to learn that in Minnesota,
where the Illinois Statesman is 30 univer-
sally popular, three prominent politicians
could be found to misrepresent the State in
so palpable manner in the late Democratic
am not practical logician, or deeply
versed in the abstract questions of " cause
and effect" but / frequently stumble upon
facts which, though trivial in themselves,
assume an Importance in my own mind,
when viewed in connection with other
matters. ...,.'..
On my way up the Minnesota Valley last
week, 1 stopped day at Belle PLANE, and
while there heard part of trial before w.
WnKIN, Esq, of Saint Paul, referee, in
suit between JOSEPH MOODY, plaintiff,
against GEORGE w. RArHBUN, defendant.
Messrs CHATF1ELD & BUEL for the plaintiff,
and GEO. BRADLEY, Esq, for the defendant.
There are several features about the case
decidedly rich, and one point in particular,
involving question of morality, in which
think the public are somewhat interested.
The suit is for a partition of the Grist
Mill property here, and the accounting for
the use and profits of the mill was the
prominent subject before the referee while
was present. 1;.f
The defendant contended that he was un>
lawfully ousted from possession, at a time
when the parties had an important contract
with the government to fulfill, thus forming
claim for damages against the plaintiff.
The contract in question seems to have been
negotiated with the government agents,
through one FRIDLEY. 1t was to supply
the agency with flour. The defendant being
on the stand as witness, the following
letter from MoULToN, an agent of the plain
tiff, was proved and read: 1'l a'--4 "o,
''ST. ANTHONY, January 3, 1860.
Geo. w. Rathbun, Esq :--.Doubtless you
have been expecting me up for some time, but
circumstance have transpired that rendered it
impossible to come. l have been to St. Paul
every day for two weeks on that contract.
FRIDLEY intends to leave for Washington every
day, and he is the only one that can figure the
thing through for us. He has got the thing as
hard affair you may depend. 1 expect there
will be about 5000 barrels, (perhaps not over
4,0OO) at not less than SIS. 60 per barrel not bad
is it, all things considered ? If the papers are
executed tomorrow, shall come up next day,
but not until they are done, for it will not do to
leave it now.'-( Concluding paragraph about q
stave machine.) Yours truly, = s"H
The defendant fur ther testified in explana-
ton of the contents of the letter, that MoUL-
TON was for some time previous to its date.
negotiating with some OF the government
agents for contract to supply the forts and
Indians with -four. That one FRIDLEY,
friend of Major CULLEN, was employed as
the negotiator between the parties, MouLroN
informing him (the deft) that FR,DLEY bad
great influence with those agents. and that
Major CULLEN had intimated to him (MouL-
ROM that be desired him to negotiate the
matter through FRIDLEY. That MouLroN
further informed the defendant that FR1DLEY
was to receive $1,000 for securing the con-
tract; and further, there was to be liberal
understanding in regard to the inspection
only that portion of the -four intended for
the officers and agents being required to pass
inspection, the rest could be of an inferior
quality, such as middlings or -four made from
middlings. That MoULroN afterwards in
formed the defendant that he had closed the
contract on the terms specified in the letter.
The defendant also testified that the contract
was worth, after deducting the $1,000 to
FR1DLEy, a net profit OF from eight to ten
thousand dollars. 81. s..og..a,t. t...e Is
On hearing this testimony, the question
presenting itself most iorcibly to my mind,
was, who is this Mr.. FR1DLEY who seems to.
be SO we'll yersed in figuring through" fat
contracts with the government Is be the
A. M. FRIDLEY of the Charleston Oonven>
ton notoriety? And has the administration
at Washington as much influence over him,
as he has with their agents here IF SO,
that "accounts for the milk in the cocoa mutt
The CoyoDE committee might find atrich
| field Tor labor in this vicinity. STRANGER
! SHIPMENT OF MINNESOTA FLOUR TO
| MAlNE.-A gentleman living at Elk river
has just shipped to Portland, Maine, via
the river lakes, and Grand Trunk Railroad,
one hundred barrels Of Minnesota -four.