St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-24
1T HAS TWO SIDES.
The Traverse and Wilmot Accounts
OF the Roberts County troubles
Vary Materially.
Our Wilmot Correspondent Willing to Back
His Assertions by Two Hundred
Aifidavits.
Especial Telegram to the Globe !

Special Telegram to the Globe
THE wlLIoT VERSION.
WILMoT, OAK, Dec. 23.-The following
Is correct account OF the trouble in this
Roberts, county in relation to the county
seat matters:
The county was organized In Julv, 1884.
The commission appointed by Gov. orlwav
located the county seat temporarily at Tray
erse, plated upon land owned by two Of the
commissioners, and situated within half
pile OF The Minnesota line. At the last
election, the same being the first general
election after the organs Ation Of the county
the question OF the permanent location of
the county seat was submitted to the people
The towns OF Traverse and WiImot were
voted Tor. Traverse received 255 votes. and
Wilmot $50 votes, out OF a total of GA vote,
cast in the county. Upon this question the
canVassIng board, composed of w. K.
Weaver, county clerk, an appointee of the
commissioners, and an importation of
Gov. Ordway; A. W. BaIlon, also an an
oolntee of the board, and Charles Crissey. of
the commissioners and an owner of the
townsite of Traverse, and one of the firm OF
Becker, Claiborne & Co of Browns Valley.
Minnesota, met on Nov. Ii, 1884, and pro-
eeeded to canvass the votes In order To
count the votes in such q manner as TO give
Traverse majority of them for the county
seat, the canvassing board threw out the
returns from Lake and Garfield towpsbins
after doing which Traverse was shown to
have received thirty-three majority. Lake
township was thrown out on the
ground that the Judges of
election there adjourned for dinner upon
election day, ana Garfield upon the verbal
statement of a citizen OF the county that he
was at the polls aud did not see the Judges
and clerks sworn, while the poll hooks showed
the contrary. mandamus proceeding was
immediately instituted by the citizens of the
county against the eanvassing board, but it
was euashed upon technical grounds. A
second suit of the same nature failed, for the
reason that service could not be obtained
upon the canvassing board, who had abscon-
ded. The county officers, who had been
counted out by the action of the canvassinc
board, then qualified and by command Of the
commissioners and the officers entitled by
law to the custody of the records, the sheriff,
accompanied by posse, went to Traverse on
last Saturday morning and removed the rec
ords and safe to Wilmot. They were orderly
aud quiet, though determined. They were
not drunk. as appears from the accounts
published in the Pioneer Press, nor was any
private property taken or any wanton injury
committed. This Is a correct account, and
can be supported by the sworn statement OF
200 men.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.
LATEST FROM TRAVERSE.
TRAVERSE, Oak, Dec. 23.-Things have
been at about standstill to-day. Last even
ing Deputy United States Marshal Johnston,
Of Fargo, arrived here with warrants for tue
arrest OF the persons who overhauled the
mail. This morning, accompanied bv Sher-
i'll Cummins and Deputy Pelham, the mar
shall started for Wilmot. He has just re-
turned with four prisoners, H. H. Houghty,
Albert Deoves, X. Knudson aud w. w. Doves.
He will take the morning train for Fargo.
The adiutant general of the territory arrived
on this evenings train. He is sent by the
governor to consult with the sheriff of this
county in regard to furnishing troops The
men under the command of the sheriff are
willing to assist him in serving his payers
and think themselves suffi GENTLY strong to
do so. The sheriff hesitatts to attempt this
with citizens of the county alone, as it surely
means fight. He thinks the presence Of
troops would save bloodshed. The deputy
msrshal said he found Wilmot filed with
armed men, and advised the sheriff not to
attempt using the force at hand. as it would
bring on a regular battle, with the odds
against the attacking party, hut wait for the
troops, whose presence he thought would
save fight. The citizens of Traverse are
becoming indignant at the delay. Business
is entirely suspended. \ sufficient force Is
here to defend the town against an attack