The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1886-02-26
The Train County Imbroelio.

OuNu 4SOOVo, VI DuAINu, CuAlIILldu OF inc
Trail county board of commissioners, comes
to the front in long letter in the Mayville
Tribune in explanation of the motives which
led to the recent tender of the designations of
himself and County Treasurer Anderson and
the subsequent withdrawal of the same. We
make the following extracts from the letter,
which is too lengthy to he copied entire:
1--WE come now further In with the 'coup'
My supporters on the board have been good
men-men who undoubtedly intend to do right
and be honest, but they are what yen might
call raw recruits; they would not stand fire
they broke and run-they went and consulted
with the county attorney. From operations
we had been carrying on, and from results
had always produced in my own peculiar way,
they assured me that they had perfect conf
dence IN my leadership and would fellow
wherever directed the march. After talking
with their counselor, instead of returning full
OF hope and vigor, and saying it was all right
to go ahead, aud joining in the pursuit for the
dear people, they came back with their heads
and jaws down, as sullen as bulldogs and as
stubborn as mules, and no arguments or ex-
planatiOn could make the slightest impression
on them, and the only look they had on their
face was that I had betrayed them and sold
myself out to the euemy, and was about to
capture the herring court. When it came time
for tho appointing board to meet the fierce
members of reform could not be found; the
sheriff was sent after them and reported that
they We're either hid in Shuttleworth's hay
NOW or in Pat Kelly's saloon. Very gener-
ously we waited till long after the time, and
ono member crawled out of his hole and
came in, when the auditor suggested that the
appointing board would then meet, lie broke
out like scared wolf Seeing the consterna-
ton it had brought to Hillsboro, and the deep
oifense they took at tho move, concluded to
withdraw all attempted designations and con-
tent myself with the discoveries made during
the brief period of even talking about the
office. For an hour or two it was supposed by
every one that my chances were SO sure that
they actually came to mo to talk business, and
I found out things that could only he known
by being the fellow to address. OF course
every one knows that there is n large amount
Of money at present reported to belong to the
county-seme $6O,00O. With all this vast
amount there are no county buildings worth
speaking of, a Jail that smokes, a courthouse
without back door. The money is worth
more to certain Hillsboro parties to loan out or
put in tax titles than it is in county buildings.
You could not turn county building around
and loen it as you can money. If anybody will
tell me what people are paying taxes for and
piling up money in tho hands Of speculators
Having 100000 piled up as corruption fund
in the county for few to speculate on and
quarrel over is worse than being that much III
debt and having to pay out in advance. Trail
county can agrec on every subject but two;
and one is, who shall have and handle the
county money; the other is where shall the
county seat go.
''These are subjects which split everything
wide open every time they are brought up.
Your neghbors will hiss you on to reform, till
one of these questions are reached, and then
they will either draw a revolver or hide In the
hay NOW. Until tho money paid in by the tax
payers is put beyond the reach and call of all
outsiders and jobbers, there is but little use Of
attempting thorough reform. You may chase
two or three around in the suppostion that
they have paid too much for bridge or got
too poor county buildings for the amount of
money spent, but these things sink into insig-
nifcance when we look at the fortunes made
and national banks built up out of the deposits
Of tho money. After finding very strong op-
position to my getting hold of the treasury,
and seeing its revelations, especially by those
I supposed were backing me, I must admit
that felt puzzled. I could not get it without
giving bonds to be approved by the board, aud
whether they thought would steal more than
my share or net is the question.
''There is one thing certain: When you touch
on the county money it is tender subject with
certain ones in Hillsboro. OF course, am
peafectly willing and wish the whole CON-
nunity to know all my thoughts and my
| position in reference to county matters.
1t is true that have bren an active and open
worker and made no secret Of my Intentions;
| but after the "coup" broke in and let all the
chickens out, and stoed in the auditors office
and saw poor old "bushy y-headed Pete Her.
bransen," as they call him, with his Norweg-
an shoes on, AMI notorious Doc Thompson;
when I looked down on those fellows and
thought Of the appointing board in the hay
NOW, I thought Of the scene in the Scriptures,
where the woman was taken in adultery, and
taken before her Lord to be stoned to death;
and He said, "Let the one without sin cast the
first stone," and when He was through speak
ing there was no one present-and He said,
"Woman, where are thine accusorsp' and
they were gone; and He told her to 60 and sin
no more. When looked at Pete and Doc as
tho appointing board, 1 thought saw them
both crying, and when the sheriff said their ac-
cusers were in Shuttleworth's hay NOW, I was
reminded Of the woman in the Scriptures, and
I called the bystanders as witnesses, and
spoke in loud voice and said, 'Behold these
men! have pursued them as thieves. was
after them to punish them with imprisonment
in the penitentiary. But now my pursuit is
ended. Put it there-I grant you free par
don." And they both arose with smiles on
their faces and shook hands heartily.
"From this on out wish to sayito the people
of Traill county that I retire from active de-
tective business. I will not vote for an oper
steal or allow one to be committed in my pres
encc. But am through chasing others OF
past charges Of corruption as presented to m,
by outsiders. If can't see it all and call it il
when the opportunity is willingly offered, 1t il
not worth while to make special point on
few and pay no attention to Others, exper