The Dickinson press., 1884-01-12
TERRITORIAL NEWS.
THE BRIBERY STORY.

DENIAL FROM GOV. ORDWAY.
WASHINGTON, Special Telegram, Jan. l.
Gov. Ordway, who has recently arrived here.
was to-day shown dispatches sent out from
Blunt and various points in Southern Da-
kota, charging upon oath Of one Gilchrist,
that Shaw, a member of the Potter county
board of commissioners, had bribed or
attempted to bride the governor in connec-
ton with the organization of Potter county.
The governor said that he never met Shaw
or held any communication with him rela-
tive 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 the building season was nearly
over, and each town had shown the number
of improvements likely to be made the pres
ent year, he decided to appoint as commits
sioners Gen. Mann of Gettysburgh, Gen. Gil
christ of AppammatoN, and Mr.. Shaw of
the greatest improvements had been
made. Gen. Mann, desiring to retain
his residence in Chicago, declined
to serve as commissioner, and a young man
formerly from Dubuque, who had brought
good letters from Senator Allison and J. K.
Graves, was appointed in the place of Gen.
HAtsAAh. L. SoohS A1uA, l.. \. AAICOSl1A4Cl4,
has a claim in the county, said the gov
ernor, but assured me in writing that his
claim was not in proximity to any town COM
peting for the county scat, and hat he was in
no way committed on that question" The
governor said he had no pecuniary interest,
direct or indirect, in Potter countey; that he
had asked no pledges, OF even given advice
as to the location of the county seat; that no
ATTEHTpT Han pEEN MADE tn pprnr IJr>y
by Shaw, and the allegation made by Gil
christ that such an attempt was made at
Pierre on the 9th of November is without
. shadow of foundation, since he (the gov
ernor) was hundreds of miles away from that
place at that time. After the appointment
Of Shaw, and before his commission was de-
livered, rumors 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
warded to him AS to the action of the
board, which seems to have divided after
it 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.
He is confident, however, that the board if a
fair one, n will not load heavy debts upon
he people before another election, at which
time new commissioner will be elected and
; permanent county seat settled by a popu-
az vote. This cry of fraud and corruption in
saised in every county. The governor
alleges it is raised by disappointed county
seat spectators, and is eagerly caught up by
in Southern Dakota which have
a grievance against the governor for signing
the capital removal bill.
BISMARCK, Special Telegram, Jan. 2.-Ter-
ritorial Auditor George l. Ordway, inter
viewed to-day by the Bismarck Tribune rela-
tive to the affidavit of Commissioner Gil
christ of Potter county charging Commits
sioner Shaw with having bribed Gov. Ordway
and paying $4,000 of the bride to his son,
George l. Ordway, said:
I desire to brand the whole thing as a malic-
GUS falsehood. I haxe never received any bribe
II money or land, or offer of bride, either for my
self or any one else; nor have /, directly or indi-
.ectly, had any correspondence or conversation
with any party Or parties interested in
am further positive that Gov. Ordway never met
MIR. Shaw, who is alleged to have offered him a
bride, and never had any correspondence or con-
versation with him relative to the organization
Of Potter county, or upon any other subject.
Mr.. Gilchrist,. who makes the affidavit, ig tho
only one OF the commissioners appointez that
cNcI StiW Vic SOScILOI personally Feld~/t TO UnC
organization Of the county. G4S1rist stated to
the governor that the appointments made would
give the most perfect satisfaction to the people
Of q Potter county, as one owned the town site OF
Forest City, another the town site of Appamatox,
and the third a claim half way between the rival
aspirants. Gov. Ordway was, as everybody
knows, in Washington at the time he is alleged
to have been bribed in Pierre, and the whole
thing is maliciously and ridiculously absurd.
FROM KRETCHMER AND SHAW.
Auditor Ordway to-day received the fol-
lowing dispatches from Commissioners Shaw
md Kretchmer:
Forest City, Jan. 1.-George l.. Ordway: Gill
christ attempted to hold by corrupt ways the
county seat location in allowance. His scheme
was to secure q new point AID sell lots. He at
tempted to bride me-, but ia ling, now seeks to
IS one of the most corrupt men in Potter county.
The most prominent and influential men sustain
Shaw. Ryan, of Blunt, anti Ordway, has sent
ialse and sensational reports to Yankton and
Chicago. [SignedJ, Il. G. KRETCHMER.
Forest City, Jan. 1, George L.. Ordway: Gill
christ has filed his affidavit charging me with
laving bribcd the governor to secure my appoint
.nent, an account OF which has no doubt reached
you. On all occasions brand the statement as
being as UNANIMOUSLY false as the heart of the
man making the charge. At no time have ]
nad any communication with Gov. Ordway,
either oral or written, neither have paid to him
II to anyone representing him any money OF
anything Of value to secure my appointment.
yiilchrist stated in an interview that l paid
5000 and that it went through your hands,. l
snail stay by this suit until the last. The hear
ing comes OIL Friday next at Blunt.