The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-09-11
Communication,
Editor of PIONEER EXPRESS.

Ed1t0r OF PIONEER EXPRESS.
SIR: AS it appears from information l
have received that many good and well
meaning men in the county lave been
misled and hoodwinked by the ring
leaders of the vile and criminal organic
alton formed in the neighborhood of st.
Thomas, in this county, for the purpose
of defying prosecution for the crimes
they have committed III stealing timber
from the lands of Mr.. Tucker in AIinne-
sofa; and as understand that many of
the aforesaid parties have been induced
to join the said organization under false
representation, to the effect that if they
came forward and gave their testimony
like men, as many of them would really
like to do, they would be guilty of COM
pounding crime. For the information of
those who have been so unfortunately
misled by the vile gang before referred
to, Iquote the following extracts from
the revised code of Dakota in reference
to compromising crime.
"Chap. II, Sec. 1S4. Compromising
Crimes;-Every person who. having
knowledge of the actual commission of a
crime or violation of statute, takes any
money or property of another, or any
gratuity or reward, or any engagement
or promise therefor, upon any agree
ment or understanding, expressed or i'm
piled. to compound or conceal such crime
or violation Of statute, or to abstain from
any prosecution therefor, or to withhold
any evidence thereof, is punishable as
follows:
). "By Imprisonment in county Jail
not exceeding one year. Or by fine not
exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars,
or by both, such fine and imprisonment
where the crime or violation of statute
compounded is a crime punishable by
imprisonment i'll 4 county Jail or by fine,
or is misdemeanor, or violation of
statute for which pecuniary or other
penalty or forfeiture is prescribed"
Sec. 1855. Compromising persecution
Every person who takes any money or
property of another, or any gratuity or
reward, or any engagement or promise
therefor, upon any agreement or under
standing, express or implied, to compound
discontinue or delay any prosecution then
pending for any crime or violation OF
statute, Or to withhold any evidence i'll
aid thereof is guilty of misdemeanor."
Sec. lS7. Suppressing evidence.-Every
person who maliciously practices any
deceit or fraud, or uses any threat,
menace, or violence, with intent to pre-
vent any party to an action or proceeding
from obtaining or producing therein any
book, paper, or other matter or thing
which might be evidence, or from pro-
curing the attendance or testimony of
any witness therein, or with intent to
prevent any person having in his
possession any book, paper, or other mat
ter or thing which might he evidence in
such suit or proceeding, or prevent any
person being cognizant of any fact
material thereto, from producing or dis
closing the same is guilty of INSIDE
meanor."
These men who have 50 unfortunately
been misled into joining the aforesaid
miserable organization, will sec that in
that act they compounded crime, and
that when they gave their names to, and
became the dupes of two or three trick
sters whose natural home is the peniten-
tiary, they became guilty of the crime
they sought to avoid and are subject to
punishment accordingly.