Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-11-15
READY TO TAKE THE STAND.
Return of Treasurer Williams, of Bayfield,
County. After Two Years AbSenCA.


WAsdBURN. Wis, Nov. 3. - The re-
turn of Bayfield, County's absconding
treasurer, AL. 7. Williams, to face the
many charges brought against him, has
created startling sensation that will
keep Bayfield, County affairs in futter
for many weeks to come. The fact that
Mr.. Williams was the most popular
Democratic politician in the county at
one time addsa charming intere t to the
affair.
1t was about two years ago that irreg
ular transactions in Office directed the
attention of the Bayfield, County COM
missioners to the county clerks office.
Investigation divulged the fact that
county orders were being raised by the
wholesale, and that county funds appro-
priated for special purposes were being
misapplied. A thorough investigation
was in progress when Mr.. Williams
pulled up stakes and sought refuge IL
the obscurity Of parts of the West In
dies and of South America Except an
occasional letter written by him to
few newspapers nothing was seen nor
heard of him by Bayfield, County peo-
pie until Tuesday evening, when he
coolly dropped off the rear coach of
passenger train at Bayfield,.
He has not been arrested-not even
criminal charge has been brought
against him-but there are three suits
now pending in the circuit court, the
trial of which, by the aid of Williams
testimony, will be the most sensational
suits over brought up in Bayfield,
County The three actions are entitled
bayfield, County vs.. A. T. WilliSms, G.
I'll. Flynn, Charles K. Bell, M. Leland,
William Burns, A. E. Aune and A. E.
Aune, Jr.," and the amount sought to
be recovered is $10,559.01. District At
torney Colignon states that they will
probably come up in court next week,
and he is preparing for a hot time.
Williams bondsmen are much re-
lieved over the timely arrival of the
ex-official to testify in the cases. It is
one OF the mysteries of the whole
tlansaction-where all this money went
that Williams is charged with misap-
propriating. That he had some hackers
in the deals, is urged with much force,
and it is hoped that the vain surmisings
will be cleared up by what he has to say
on the witness stand.
In connection with the cases against
Williams and his bondsmen, it is inter-
esting to take the actions now pending
against the eX-treaSurer, A. Knight,
ana his DOnuSlhen. MI. hHlgnG is a.
brother of Col. John H. Knight. Ex-
Treasurer Knight and bondsmen are
sued in much the same manner as
Williams, ct al, and it is for recovery of
virtually the same monies.
Rights bondsmen are among the
most prominent men in Northern Wis
consin. Among them are Col. John II.
knight, Edwin Ellis, Thomas Bardon,
w. NJ Tomkins, and Alex. c. Fuller, all
of Ashland, and Frank Boutin, +. *.
Brigham, f. w. Dennison, Andrew
Tate, Irwin Leihy and O. Flanders, of
Bayfield,. Complaints have been
served by District Attorney Calignon on
all these gentlemen, but none have
answered up to the present time, with
the exception of w. NJ. Tomkins, of
Ashland, who is member of the old
established law firm Of Tomkins & Mer-
rill. The cases will not come up until
the next term of the circuit court.
Bayfield, County people await with in
terest the coming trials which will give
to the public Williams secrets regard
ing many transactions of the county's
eXtraVagant era