Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-05-21
FROM MURRAY. 1.r.
MuRnAY, /. r. May s. 1885.

1NShUAAb - - ~'AsSs ~ ASSOs
Ep. TELLEa, Lewiston, /. T.-Dear
Sir:-I desire through the aid Of your
columns to state few facts 10 reference
to the affairs ofs gentleman, well known
to you and tho citizens Of NcE Perce
county.
Irefer to L. T. Dvnwell, ex-shcrif Of
Shoshone county, and ! speak from :
full knowledge Of tbs facts relative to
the latter part Of his sheriff. term. /
am aware Of the reports that are being
circulated through his enemies, charging
him with dofalcatioh while discharging
his duties as sheriff, and deem It only
matter Of Justice to him, that the facts
! should be- stated in such manner that
all may have the opportunity Of inform
| ing themselves as to the merits of the
case.
l first met Mr.. Dunwcll about tho frst
of February, 1884, at Eagle City In the
Occur d Alenc mining district, whore he
came to attend to some important busi-
| ness connected with his Office as sheriff,
at which time the camp was in very
uncivilized and dangerous statc--lAwless.
ness aud even murder being rife, and the
necessity Of strict enforcement Of the
law was the only safeguard Of public
liberty. Mr.. Dunwell could not enforce
the law and execute the judgement and
penalties affixed by tho courts, without
the aid Of a suitable Jail, which he used
every endcavor to provide and finally
succeeded in doing. This county (Sho-
shone) was at that time and tor the ba!-
aucc Of his term Of office ia such state
Of financial depression that their warrants
were comparatively worthless, and no one
Especially in this part Of the county,,
would take them for board Of prisoners
or in payment for goods, as uecessarics
for the running Of the county Jail, or fol
anything at all. Mr.. Dunwell was there
. fore compelled to board hire, board d
prisoners, railroad fare, and all expense,
Of the county necessarily in the discharge
Of the duties Of his Office, in cash, and
! in order that the Jail should bo maintained
and that criminals should be brought te
Justice and held to await the action ol
the district court, he was compelled t
: spend the funds coming into his hand
from county revenues, to so defray thos'
expenses. or let the prisoners consigned
to his charge go, to repeat their dcprcda
tions or to refuse to go himself or sent
deputies in pursuit Of fugitiyes from jus
tice when warrants Of arrest were place,
properly in his hands
rI Very naturally then (and ! CLAIM
properly under the circumstances), Mi
n. Dunwell paid the aforesaid funds belong
ing to the county to SO pay those expense
Of the county, Which he would not hav
u done without the sanction Of higher au
thority could he have obtained such AT
], thority when it was needed, without enc
y less delay on account Of the remote loci
ton of the county seat at Pierce Git,
and II should not be overlooked also th'
not only county funds went to pay Il
its said county necessities but at the san
time the lawful commissions Of Mr.. Dui
well upon the collection OF licenses, AZ
his fees for the service Of papers out
the courts ia civil actions.
= Then in view OF these facts, what po
!" sible grounds can any one take as fou
, da'ion upon which to rest charge Of d
- f,lca,ion against Mr. Dunwell? He h
made his report to the board Of coun
commissioners showing what he did vii
the moneys received by him on accou
of Shoshone county the same shown
that he spent several hundred dollars
one time to deiray the expense Of
suit brought against Shoshone BY koot
nai county, as the boundaries Of sa
county, also at several different times
expended large sums in pursuit OF I
capped prisoners and fugitives from j,
,icc, in payment OF board
prisoners, all legal aud legitimate charf
against Shoshone county, and which !
body in this part Of the country wo,
receive or accept county warrants in pi
the the mest, especially as the commissioners
mill Pierce City seemed to ignore all bl
from this section and laid them over
til the new board had been elected a
were qualified to act upon them.
Mr.. DuuweIl has legal account agail
the county Of Shoshone for about s2,6
. 7 and the bill has been handed in to
- board Of commissioners and at the sal
time he ack uowledges and shows that
the funds of which has been the recipi,
L r..