The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-01-11
TERRITORIAL NEWS.
THE BnrB1iRY STORY:
DENIAL FROM GOV. oRDwA4.

WASHINGTON, Special Telegram, Jan. L.
Gov. Orlway, who has recently arrived here,
was to- day shown dispatches sent out from
Blunt and various points In Southern d.
kota, charging upon oath Of one Gilchrist,
that Shaw, q member OF tho Potter county
board OF commissioners, had bribed or
attempted to b1ibc the governor In conncc-
tion with the organization OF Potter county.
The governor said that he never met Shaw
or held any communication with him rela-
live to the organization of Potter county:
that there had been four or five embryo
towns with high sounding names struggling
to secure the county seat Of Potter county;
that after. tho building season wus nearly
over, and each town had shown the number
Of impro ovenlents likely to DO made the pres
ent year, he decided to appoint us commits
'sioners Gen Mann of Gettysburgh, Gen. GIL
christ Of Appammatox, and Mr. Shaw of
Forest City, these being the points at which
tho greatest improvements had been
made. Gen. mann, desiring to retain
his residence in Chicago, declined
to serve as commissioner, and young man
formerly from Dubuque, who had lrought
good letters from Senator Allison and J, X
Graves was appointed in the place OF Gen
AanrL This young man, r. G. Krctch,ncir,
has a claim in the county," said the gov
ernor, but assured me i'll writing that his
claim was not in proximity to any town COM
petlng for the county seat, and that he was in
no way committed on that question: The
governor said he had no pecuniary interest,
lirect OF indirect, in Potter countcy; that he
had asked no pledges, OF even given advice
as to the location OF the county seat; that no
ATTEMPT HAD BEEN MADE TO BR1BE HIM
by Shaw, and the allegation made by Gil
christ that such an attempt was made ut
oierre on the 9th of November Is without
shadow Of foundation, since he (the gov
ernor) was hundreds of miles away from that
place ut that time. After the appointment
Of Shaw, and before his commission was de-
l1vered, rulors came to the governor indi-
eating that his commission ought to be with
held. These rumors were investigated, and
after being satisfied that they were without
foundation, Shaw's commission was for
wafded to. him. AS to the action of the
board, which seems to have divided after
1t was found that Forest City, (Which
Is upon the river, and said to
be the largest town. was selected,
the governor says he has no knowledge ex-
cept what he has seen in the newspapers.
10 Is confident, however, that the board If q
fair one, and will not load heavy debts upon
the people before another election, at which
time new commissioners will be elected and
permanent county seat settled by n popu-
lar vote This cry of fraud and corruption is
| raised in every county. The gove,no,
alleges it is raised by disappointed county
seat Spectators, and is eagerly caught up by
| newspapers in Southern Dakota which have
| the capital removal bill.
BISMARCK, Special Telegram, Jan. o-Ter
ritorial Auditor George L. Ordway, inter
viewed o-day by the Bismarck Tribune rela
tive to the affidavit Of Commissioner Gil
christ of Potter county charging Commits
sioncr Shaw with having bribed Gov. Oraway
and paying $4,000 of the briba to his son
George l. ordway, said:
desire to brand the whole thing as o malic
| ious falsehood 1 liaXc never received any bribt
i'll money land, or offer OF bribc, either for my
self or any one else; nor have l. directly or indi
rectly, had any correspondence or conversation
with any party or parties interested il
any town site or claim in Potter county.
! am further positive that Gov. Ordway never me
| sir. Shaw. who is alleged to have offered him
| bribc, mud never had any correspondence or con
versation with him relative to the organization
OF Potter county, or upon any other subject
Alr. Gilchrist, who makes the affidavit, jS thu
Why " WIG hppOlhtC/i tiih
ever saw the governor personally rclu.Ie to tht
| organization Of the county. Cs,Iirist stated Il
| the governor that tho appointments made woult
give the most perfect satisfaction to the peopl,
| OF Potter county, az one owned the town site o
Forest City, another the town site Cs hppamatoX
aild the third n claim half way between the riva
Iasptiants. Gov. Ordway was, as cycrybod,
knows, in WASHINGTON at the time lie is ALLEGED
TO 'laye been .,ribcd i'll Pierre, and the whoi,
| thing is lnal:ciousy and ridcnlously absurd.
From KEETcHMER AND SHAW.
Auditor Ortlway to-day received the fol
| lowing dispatches from Commissioners Shaw
| and kletcfinaer:
| Forest City, Jan 1.-(;eorge T.. Ordway: Gil
| christ attempted to hold by corrupt ways TIL
| county scat location in allegiance. His Rclicn,
vas to secure new point and sell lots. He at
tempted to bribe me, but failing, now seeks t,
| dcfame the governor by Shaw's arrest. Glchris
is one OF the most corrupt men In Potter county
The most prominent and influential men sustain
Shaw. Ryan, of Blunt, anti Ordway, has sen
| false and sensational reports TO Yankton ant
Chicago. tSfsllcdl, L. q. KRETCHMER.
Forest City, Jan. ], George Il. Ordway: Gil
christ has filed his affidavit charging me will
having bribed the governor to secure my appoint
| mens, an account Of which has no doubt reached
you. ON ali occasions brand the statement a
| being .s ihfamously false as the heart of th
man 1naEing the charge. At no time have
had any communication with Gov. OrdwGy
either oral or written, neither have paid to hin
or to anyone representing him any money O
anything Of value to secure my appointment
Gilchrist stat~d in an interview that pait
$ti 600 and thar it went through your hands.
shall stay by this suit until the last. The hear
ing comes OFT FriGay next at Blunt.