Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-12-11

Mason's statement before the district
court as could be gathered. Judge Win
chester had ordered the stonographer to
allow no n excepting the states attor-
ney to have a copy of the testimony, but
the court having since rescinded that
order, the TRIBUNE is enabled to pub
fish the testimony in full as it was taken
down by the court s~tenographer and re-
produces it along with his testimony in
the justice court yesterday.
MAsoN's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Mason: First I desire to say that I
know I did a gross wrong in failing t. be
here and am sorry for what l done.
But l will state the reason why I failed
to be here, and 1t is this: Some short
time previous to election, a few days, a
gentleman asked me in the store if I
would help him out IN his election-he
was running for office. He wanted to
know if [ was Wiling to do anything he
asked me to do. I told him I was willing
to do anything reasonable. He said
that he wanted to use Mr.. Swenson and
get his vote in the election. I said-I
am willing to help you in any way that
is honorable. So he requested me to
wait there. and a short time
The Court: Wait, where?
Mr.. Mason: In his store.
The Court: What store?
MI. Mason: MI. Healy's store. on 9Th
street. And SC I waited there a short
time and Mr.. Swenson came in and all
went into the Office and had an interview
xr-:kl ,.-aa{ BIZ - -..l H. --1.al 49, l..
had not in fact always carried me.
The Court: Who asked you this?
Mr.. Mason Mr.. Healy. Let me
have groceries and money. I said
you have. He said, are you will
ing to do what I want you to
do in this case? I stated I was willing
to do anything honorable and reasona-
BILE. He says-wlll you fail to appear
against Mr.. Swenson if I want you to do
SO? Will you do what l want you to do?
Finally I said-I will. So I didn't take
into account-didn't suppose but what
he would take care of me, in fact be hon
orable and square all around. He said
he would, so l called in there and asked
him for some money that I wanted, so he
called in the clerk and told him to let
Mason have some money, the money he
wanted. So he went out and gave me
SIS. I spent a little there, perhaps over
a dollar, and went out. SO I always had
made a point when I agreed to do any
thing where anything was involved, to
do as agreed. I knew Healy in the cleo
ton needed votes and I was going to
help him all I could. I knew the other
man when he would come before the
court was in a boat. I promised not to
appear, so I just concluded, I will go on
and do as I agreed to and take the conse-
quences. The Monday, the day before
the court convened, I called 10 at the
store.
The Court: The day before court? The
23d of last month?
mason: Yes, the Odd of the month,
[ was called into the store and had been
previously subpnned, had two subpenas
served on me, first to appear on the 18th
aud then later, by the sheriff here, and
he told me by the Merchants block that
the court did not convene till the Oath
of November. L was aware of all that
and I was also notified by Mr.. Register
that court would convene on the 24th,
but Notwithstanding that, I went in
there the 23rd.
The Court: Went in where?
Mason: To MI. Healy's store, and
had an interview with Healy. He said:
You know the understanding in regard
to that neutrality-suspicious.
me, Mr.. Sw~enson's-and I said: Did Mr.
Swenson vote for you?
The Court: Who was present.
Mason: No one but myself, to my
knowledge. We we're in the office. OF
course it was a matter not to be talked
about on the streets, so none would hear
it, so we went into his office, and he was
quite busy-more work than he could
manage. I told him I would take hold
and help him out, SO l was working
there till l o'clock and was going to get
some dinner, and told him T would be
back at 2 o'clock and help him, went
across the street, piled a little wood,
and he called me into the Office and Mr..
Swenson and we there had a short inter-
view.
The Court: This was Monday after
noon, before the first day of court?
Mason: Yes your honor, the 23d of
November between l and 2 o'clock. So
the thing was talked over, and he
says, you understand the agreement now
what Mr.. Swenson wants, and l don't
want it to go out that I am connected
with it at all. I said: That is all
right.
The Court: Who said that-that he
did not want it TO be known he had any
thing to do with it?
Mason: Healy. l locked the door and
we we're closeted together and Mr.. Sven
son offered to give me $50. I said I
would not take any money, but I had
agreed to do it and I would do it, and 1
had a little note down there on a chattel
mortgage, and it is due and past due. I
paid $50 on it last fall and paid some on
it at different times, and I have a note in
my pocket from Lawyer Newton, and it is
in his hands for collection. [ showed
him the note, so he knew my state ment
was correct, and I says, if you will help
me out on that I will help you out. So
be says, can you be here at 5 o'clock? I
said, 1 will go and see Lawyer Newton
and see what the amount is. Then he
says, can you meet me here by 5 o'clock.
| went to Newton's office and met Mr..
Harris, and waited some little time and
Newton did not come; so I thought I
would go and see O'Shaughnessy myself;
that was the man who hold tho roto onI