Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-10-09
W. A HOTCtK1ss the Indro mr., o;oo1 |

and thus permitted HotchE ISIS 10 escape.
for the time being ut least, The couse.
quences of his detamatory attacks upon
good citizens, and he escaped by an abuse
OF that same authority which was ordain-
ed to protect the innocent and punish the
guilty. :: -.
We had hoped to keep this recital with
in the limit of the three subdivisions with
which we commenced, but there remain
yet to be specified several important facts
which do not admit of the foregoing
for they belong distinctive
ly, to neither head, and still they repre-
sent IN their nature and substance, the
combined characteristics of this citizen,
lawyer and judge. We, therefore, pro-
coed to cOllate them under the caption of
GENERAL CHARGES.
DURING the temperance crusade, he met
regularly with the prosecuting commit.
tee, and gave them legal advice as to the
manner in which they should proceed
WHEN R. I. Smith, as justice of the
peace, had one nj the liquor cases pend
ing before him for decision, Page, while
Judge, made a written opinion constru-
ing the law bearing upon the case, and
gave it to Mr.. Smith for his guidance.
AFTER the county prosecuted J. P.
Williams to recover $1279S, which he
had overdrawn from the county treasury
when he was Auditor, Page advised him,
in what capacity We do not know, that he
was entitled to the money, and afterwards
when the case came before him for a6iu-
dication, sustained the opinion which lie
had given to Williams.
He frequently went before the Board
of County Commissioners and told them
that certain bills presented for their &C.
ton were illegal, Notwithstanding their
legality might and was likely 10 be in
litigation before him.
der were finally driven out of the house
by Page, they found a home for few
days, with the family Of the Rev. e. D.
Belden. They had left at the Page place,
half dozen or more chickens, which
they had not succeeded in catching, and
for his kindness they told Mr.. Belden that
he might have those chickens. So one
evening, just as the fowls had gone to
roost, he went down there, caught them
and was returning home, when he met
Judge Page, who hailed him, lnquiring
what business he had with his (Page's)
chickens. Mr.. Beldcn replied that they
were fowls that had been given him BY
Rev. Mr.. Emerson, and that he was taking
them home as his own. Page SAID they
were not Emerson's chickens, that they be-
longed to himself, and that he wanted Mr..
Belden to keep away from his chicken
roost; but that since he had got them, ard
because he was preacher, he Page)wouId
make him present Of them Mr.. Belden
declined to be the recipient of Pages
munificence, and returned the chickens.
WE will relate but one more of these
small meannesses:
The Judge went out to Rice Lake gun
ming last fall, taking with him as a walt.
er a young negro, who had been In his
service quite while. In some way, just
as they were starting for home, the unfor-
tunate colored boy incurred the displeasure
OF his master, who, to vent his spite, caus.
ed the boy to make his way 10 the city on
foot, a distance of at least fifteen miles.
Here should appear a statement Of
expenses paid IN account of Pages ma
licious prosecutions, but it is left out fo,
want OF room. 1t will appear in the
supplement issue.-ED.1
To FOCUS public attention upon the glar
ing inconsistencies, falsehoods and Grim
inalities ofthis man, we recapitulate and
summarize the principal points herein be.
fore elaborated. In doing this, we find
him, first, bad citizen; quarrel
ling with a boy; abusing a woman
and driving her from her home; cal! ing
an aged and exemplary minister of the
gospel thief refusing to let poor man
come upon his premises to take away pro-
ducc which he had bought and paid for
suing one of his neigbbors four times al
remote places, and upon false charges get
ting an innocent civil officer bound over
for the purpose of disgracing him; chop
ping down the door of the public school
building in Austin; fighting with a hod
carrier; fighting in a congressional con
vention; and calling around him body
guard under the plea of fear of physical
injury, but really to disgrace his neigh.
bors, to bring reproach upon the good
name Of the city in which he lived, and
make himself appear to be martyr to thu
cause of good order and an honest admin
istration of county affairs.
AS AN Attorney, we find HIM abusing
his brethren Of the profession collecting
and holding money belonging to OTHER
persons; making false representation as
to the price Of lands for the sale of which,
he was agent, and getting money uniustly
thereby; making false atfldavits to pre-
vent civil officer from having the emol
uments pert aiming to his position; getting
money from client under false pretenses
trumping up charges against citizens, and
having them arrested without proving
even one of them guilty; beating and
threatening the county commissioners
stealing important papers in a civil suit
As Judge, by sneers, inslnuations
and inuendoes, he has Influenced improp
erly the action of Jurors permitted YER
dictto be rendered against criminal wher
that criminal was not in court has decid
ed case in which he was previously an
Attorney, and in one instance, a case in
which himself was the plaintiff; that he
unjustly and maliclOusly accused innocent
men, before Grand Juries, and abused
such Juries, because they refused to sup
plement his efforts to ruin his enemies
He has abused his judicial power by re
tusing compensation to officers of the
Court legally entitled to pay for services
by suspending an Attorney from practice
upon false charges presented by himself
and in an illegal manner; by atte!; pling
to dismiss jailer, and refusing compen-
sation for his services; for flung an officer
for contempt when he was guilty Of no
wrong by compelling deputy sheriff IN.
der the most humiliating circumstances,
to pay money which belonged to himself
to the clerk of the court, under the impu-
tation from the Judge that he had em6ez-
zled it. He gave coun sci to Justice of
Peace intending to influence his decision
in case pending; he advised the temper.
ance prosecuting committee as to the man
ner of their procedure, and he advised
others, in legal matters, that afterwards
came before himself for adjudication; he
admitted noted criminal to bail IN the
sum of $500 and held innocent men in three
times that amount ;and finally THAT he abus.
es the judicial power whenever by so dong
he may Cypress or injurc those to whom
he is opposed, or aid anG sustain the men
upon whom be relies for support. In view
of all these facts, we submit to the candid
judgment Ot the voters of the tenth dis.
trict whether this man represents any.
thing IN the nature Of private character,
professional integrity, or judicial honor,
which entities him to be supported at the
coming election? Does lie not rather
embody in his own person, and has he
not represented in his own career, the
elements Of character which totally dis
g.. - r. q