The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-05
HELENA GROWLS
More About the County Irregularities
Other Paragraphs.

Special Correspondence of THE MINER.
HELENA, December 2.-The criticisms o
the Helena press ON the Grand Jury report
] have been OF q non-committal character
The Independent. after assuming a mede o
praise as to the effect Of its action in brac
ing the jnry through it's columns, concludes
with the Communications: well done COCO
and faithful servants" and rests there
The Herald also praises the action OF tht
Grand Jury and is willing t. let the matter
drop. As a matter of fact, there was q
strong element in the Grand Jury anxious
for an indictment in several instances
where indictments should have been found
but the parties eliminated held the balance
OF power in the personnel OF the jury. and
in spite of the strenuous efforts OF the mi
nority carried the day.
Mr.. Chessman, the foreman Of the jury
is County Commissioner. Cuthbert's
brother.in-law, and also fathered the
Court House bill through the Legislature
THE END NOT YET.
The end is not yet. So far, in spite Of
the strong sensure, the County Commits
| sioners nave not resigned, and the only
course left open is for the taxpayers t"
| call q meeting FOR the purpose OF obtaining
an Injunction and step further erection
until the demands of the Grand Jury have
been complied with and a strict examina-
ton made into the matter. AS a whole.
| the Grand Jury have shown a want OF
backbone, and the undercurrent Of public
opinion is, hat their report Acknowledges
the production of evidence sufficient to
have indicte d them, and, as they cannot
now be removed, it is absurd to suppose
that a maj whose actions they centured
as "unsavory, arbitrary, and unreasonable
dictatorial," ETC., would be likely to vacate
his official position, especially as it would
deprive him of the privilege Of drawing the
next Grand Jury and place him at the ten
der mercies of a jury over which he would
have no control.
The whole scandal lies in a nutshell, and
may he resolved into a simple problem.
viz Is it possible to Guild a $25O,OOO
court house for $13S, OOO'
The architect not only was clever enough
to get the County Commissioners to accept
his design, but also clever enough to induce
the present contractors to undertake the
work, the STRAW bid' put in ut the sug-
of the County Commissioners cut
ting a figure in the transaction.
THE CoNTR factors INNOCENT, MAY BE.
RYAN & Brunton. the contractors. were
possibly fooled in the matter. and to use
a slang expression, "bit off more than they |
could chew"
The architect is a smart man, ~undoubted-
y, and has used the county officials and
to considerable purpose. As
he matter stands at present, 1t will cost
he county, in the opinion OF competent
architects, some 100000 before they are
through, the superstructure' being lar too
leavy for the present foundation and liable
20 cave in before completion, in which case
t would be laid to the site.
THE NEW AssAYER.
Mr.. Spruille Braden, the assayer in
charge OF the Helena assay office. is not
making himself as populor with the COM
nnnity as he might. A letter from Boise
lily, Idaho, where he was formerly en-
jagged as an assayer, to Il prominent cltl
OF Helena, speaks OF him as a man OF
10 particular political convictions, and is
1ot hattering as to his ability as an as
ne made there, one of over $50 and trust
ng that he would nave to pay for it.
COUNTY IRREGULARITIES.
The gross irregularities committed ythe
Probate Court, referred to in the Grand
Jury report, embraces the following: Two
from Unionville were called to !
H.lcna and stayed here two days. The
acting clerk in j Judge Joe Davis's absence,
raised these warrants, and upon discover!
offered to refund the money to County
Treasurer Baldwin, who refused to accept
it. Not having been regularly appointed,
The responsibility was thrown upon the
Judge, and it is whispered that a strenuous
effort was made to find an indictment, but
AMATEUR HEATRICALs.
4 number OF amateurs are rehearsing
Guy Mannering,' for the benefit Of Miss
Helen Clark and for the purpose of giving |
this lady an opportunity OF appearing in
The very ambitious part of Neg Merrilles.
Great things are expected of the lady, but,
like all amateur theatrical performances. it
doubtless be marred by the caste.
is a very heavy one: and far above
the ability OF the average amateur.
Loco. |