The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-08-24
MUCH ADO ABOUT BONDS.
Something of a Breezy Racket Raised
About Rolfe's Ears last Thursday

Afew hours after the RIVER Press had
been ssworked off, last Thursday, something
in the nature of q sensation occurred in this
immediate vicinity, the particulars of which
may be briefly stated as follows:
That morning the Herman-Mee cases had
been concluded by the Nice brothers waving
examination and being bound over in the
sum of So, 500 each. The attorneys offered
any bond the Commissioner would ask, and
wien they suggested Mr.. w. G. Conrad and
Mr.. JOS. 8. Hill, the Commissioner said such
q bond would be entirely satisfactory. The
bonds were so drawn up, and later in the day
Messrs, Conrad and Hill went to the office Of
the Commissioner and signed the same, TAX
ing the necessary oaths in the premises.
So far matters progressed nicely, but dur
ing the day Herman was arrested for per
jury and bound over in the sum or s. LOCO ~
ESQUIRE Kanouse. Now it was Herman's
turn to rustic for bondsmen. One was easily
found in the person Of John Glass, but the
other was not forthcoming. After much
canvassing Peter Gallagher, Of Madison
| county, volunteered to stand for Herman,
| but as he is not q resident Of this judicial
| circuit. the sheriff, of course, could not &C
| cept him, and the matter ended by Herman
going to jail.
When Commissioner Rolfe heard OF this,
be sent for the Mees' attorneys and told them
that he would not accept Messrs. Conrad and
Hill as bondsmen. AS the sheriff had shown
a disposition to be particular he would be'
too; he had no knowledge as to whether or
not Conrad and Hill were worth a nickel,
etc. The Commissioner also commanded the
marshal to rearrest the Mees and put them IN
Jail unless satisfactory bonds were given.
This strange action on the partof Rolfe
raised the ire of the attorneys, and Col. Don
nelly gave the Commissioner a very plain
piece of his mind. Even Mr.. Settle, usually
as mild hammered as a summer zephyr, got
on q high horse, and could easily have been
induced to knock a chip off the Commls-
I%sioner's shoulder. The rumpus gathered
quite a CROWD upon the street, and the usual
amount of indignation was manifest. Inc
sympathy was all with the Mees, as 1t was
| felt that the Commissioners action was q
matter of retaliation and entirely devoid OF
right or justice. The matter was hnaliy
compromised by the acceptance OF !. Il
| Collins and w. s. Wetzel as bondsmen Tor
the Mees.
Mr.. Rolfe made G g%rieyous mistake in act
ing as he did. He had accepted Messrs.
Conrad and Hill as bondsmen, gentlemen
who represent at least $4,000, and then TO
reject them as as o retaliatory measure was
simply an act af folly one that shows him
up clearly in the light OF Q biased officer.
Sheriff Heuly could not accept Dir. Galia'
cher as bondsman because the law would
not permit it, and there were no grounds
whatever for the Commissioner 70 resort to
tie methods be did. The latter simply gave
himself away By showing thai be vas alto.
gether too Jealous in behalf Of Herman.
Herman remained in jail until Saturday.
when John Glass, Hirshberg g Nathan and
Louis Hoffman became his bondsmen, and
ell is again quiet on the Missouri.
~ Z-ETN @ &