Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-07-18
THE EDWARDS GANG A1pwoRk.

The Fargo Argus gives the following
as the alleged remarks of Judge Neon
nell in his charge to the United States
grand jury now in session at Fargo:
1 desire to call your attention to a
matter which is SO much talked of that
it cannot be longer overlooked. Only
q few days after 1 qualified, in going
on the cars from here to Grand Forks,
I was informed by a citizen, who will
probably be a witness before you, that
there was a conspiracy in the Devils
Lake land Office against the people.
The charge seems to be that the offic ais
there have conspired with some news
paper publisher to make exorbitant
charges for publication of legal notices,
which seems to require investigation.
Three reputable and well-known gen.
tlemen of this city were in the court
room and heard Judge McConnells
charge, and they state, as a matter of
fact, that the judge did not use the Ian.
guage quoted; that he did not use the
term "Devils Lake land Office" but said
"certain land office officials" This cor.
rection of the Argus report is made in
Justice to Judge McConnell and the land
officials of this district. No n famil-
lar with Fatty Edwards bad record and
disreputable tactics will be surprised
over this additional proof of his ability
to tell a deliberate lie.
That Judge McConnell's remarks re-
ferred to the land officers of this district
is probably true. There is no doubt
that the Judge has been led to believe
that a conspiracy exists here, and so be.
lieylng, 1t was his duty to lay the matter
before the grand jury. The "citizen"
who was kind enough to report the ex-
istence of a conspiracy resides in Devils
Lake. He has a grievance. He is sore.
He wanted the land officers to
do something the law prohibited
them from doing. They refused. In
stead of fighting the law he fights the
land officers. In fact, he is just o at
war with almost everybody. The first
time Judge Mcconnell decides a case
against him he will be at war with the
Judge. He won't fight the law under
which the decision was given; he will
fight Judge Mcconnell. Heights every
man who is unfortunate enough not to
4 know as much as he does. He airs his
spleen all along the line from here to
Fargo, and when he reaches that town
he goes to see his mutual friend Ed
wards, and Edwards condoles with him.
Edwards introduced him to Judge Nc
Cornell, and he poured his grief into
the judicial ear.
Edwards, too, has a grievance. He
don't like the INTER-OcEAN. The In
TER-OcEAN is doubtless the paper whose
publisher is referred to in Edwards re-
port of Judge McConnell's charge; yet
the three well-known citizens of Devils
Lake who heard the charge state that
the judge referred to no particular pub
Usher. Edwards hates the INTER-OcEAN
because it has exposed his r%ascality from
time to time, and because he knows it
will continue to lash him through the
world as a dangerous character. He
hates the INTER. OCEAN because the
1NTER-OCEAN is opposed to rogues; be.
cause it exposes social and political
"crooks," holds them up to the light Of
day and brands corruption" across
their brows. Judge Mcconnell will
know more about Edwards and his Dew.
lis Lake pal when he gets better &C.
quainted with them.