The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-11-21
Forgery.

One of the most sensational affairs that
has ever occurred in the county. was
brought to our ears last week just before
going to press; but the charges were 30
grave and the parties implicated were so
we'll known and prominent, that we re-
Trained from publication, not desiring to
prejudice the participants in the eyes O.!
the public or the courts in which they
bad to be tried. At this writing, Thurs.
day, He. Arnold, county commissioner
from third district, II prominent teacher
and politician, and Robert Ewing, attor-
ney and notary public, late candidate on
the democratic state ticket for commits.
s'oner Of agriculture and labor, both
stand charged with forgery and are both
bound over for trial at the district court
being held this week. Mr.. Arnold has
waived examination, while Mr.. Ewing,
after charge of venue. from Justice
Armstrong to Justice Aylen, stood for
his examination. Bfanden johnson, u
prominent 1celander living in this city,
is participant in the affair, and did the
actual act, but claims that he did it un-
der the Misrepresentation and purs,,a-
sion of the others. He has made IL clean
breast of the matter and is the principal
witness for the state.
His sto:y. as told ut the examination,
before Justice Aylen, was nearly to this
effect; that OH the morning of the 18th of
November, Mr.. Arnold, who was with
the rest of the commissioners in the court
room, called him to one side and told
him that he desired to transfer some
property to his wife Mrs. Arnold;) TINT
the reason was, that her children were
getting the interest OH some money from
Michigan, and that in order to get the
whole of it, it was necessary that Mrs. a.
Should haye some property in her own
name; Arnold asked johnson if he would
help him transfer this property by AR.
mold deciding it TO Johnson, and johnson
to Mrs. A.; Johnson agreed to do it and
Arnold told him TO meet him at the
Winchester that night. In the mean
time, johnson, fearing that everything
was not all right, went to Deputy Treasur-
er Schafer, and afterwards to State Attor.
ney kneesllaw. and ask cd them lift would
be all right for him to deed the property
to Mrs. Arnold. They told him yes, and
kneeshaw added. that he should only
quit-claim and not make Il warranty
deed so he would not be holden for tax.
es or mortgages.
After supper, johnson went to the
4 Winchester, and after sitting there s
. while, saw Arnold come down stairs. q,
. over and have private talk with Ewing
, and afterward came over and spoke t.
him, saying wait little until com,
down again. Arnold went up stairs
came back shortly and then all three
Arnold, Ewing and johnson went up t,
Arnold's room. Ewing sat on the bed
while Arnold and Johnson snt on chairs
near table, OH which two deeds wer,
lying, Arnold asked johnson to sig,
. one of the deeds, but johnson objecte,
to it as being warranty deed, and tina
/. he could only quit.claim without him
self being liable, After some converse
ton between them, Mr.. Ewing suggested
3 that they could cross out the warranty
, clause, and after some talk. it was s,
done. Then as johnson commenced t,
sign, he said, But this is not the way
Sign my name, this deed is from JOSEPH
A Johnson" Mr., Arnold explaine,
/ that Joseph A. johnson was simply a,
imaginary parsonage, that there wa,
; nothing wrong in signing all imaginar,
name, that lie designated johnson u.
Joseph A. johnson, that he had long ag,
decided this land to this imaginar,
name. that he had always held the frs
deed to Joseph a. johnson, and proceed
ed to read the description of land, will
MIR. Ewing looking over the other to
SHOW that it was the same etc, etc. MIR
Ewing also told johnson that he cuul,
rely OIL MIR. Arnold's statements, etc
johnson also testified that the CONVERSE
ton, at times, was loud, that Arnold
once or twice, huslled MIR. Ewing fol
speaking SO loud. Finally johnson,
yielded to their arguments and desires
and signed Joseph A. johnson" to the
deeG'and Arnold and Ewing witnessed
it, while Ewing took the acknowledge.
ment and placed his seal which he had
brought with him upon il.
! Mr.. Ewings evidence in his own be-
hall, as to the meeting at the hotel was
corroborative as to the main facts of the
evldence of johnson. lie said Arnold
had come to his house that morning ap
parently, just for call. and seemed, in.
cidentally, to ask if lie had any blank
deeds, to which he replied. no; tllel