The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-02
FORT BENT0N'S MORALS
Disciples Of the Free Love Faith TO Be
RaSped.
ABOUT THAT TREASURER
The Head OF Navigation to Furnish
a Field For Valuable Work of
a Grand Jury-BrIef
Mention.

GREAT FALLS, April IA special from
Benton says: Sheriff Mclaughlin has
been busy for the past two days serving
subpoenaes for the grand jurors who are
summoned to appear Tuesday morning.
For many weeks the press and people of
Choteau county have been demanding
that grand jury be summoned. Judge
DuBose arrived from Lewistown Friday,
and learning OF tho alleged state of
affairs, at once determined to call grand
jury. 1t is commonly rumored that
several departments of the county govern
ment and the acts of petit jurors in the
past may not bear even casual investiga-
ton, unless efforts are now being made
result in righting things before the in-
vestigation.
A moral wave to which all communities
are subject has struck the town and it is
probable that, if the grand jury displays
great zeal an epidemic of marriages will
be observed before tho jury's report.
What has been possible in the past for
mon to thus avoid punishment for imita-
ton of the Mormons or free love and
whether they may do so under the present
regime remains to be seen.
1t is reported that the bridges between
Benton and Lewistown have gone out.
A letter to friend here conveys the in
formation that w. II. Buck, one of the
founders of the Benton Record. is private
secretary to Recorder John w. Golf of
New York city.
Mrs. John w. Tattam has been seri.
ously ill for fortnight and her condition
is thought to be critical.
II. Ewing of Great Falls has been at
tending court for the past week.
Il q En1arson of Great EaIIs Z. Z. A.
city.
The STANDARD correspondent called on
a citizen of Fort Benton, who is in Great
Falls to-day. and learned from him that
the principal object of the summoning of
the grand jury referred to in the above
dispatch was TO investigate affairs in the
county treasurer's Office. This gentle
man, who is a prominent politician of
Choteau county, and thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with affairs in county circles, said:
ION the fourth day of last month the
county commissioners met in regular ses-
sion, and among their duties was the
checking up of the quarterly report of the
treasurer. AS the treasurer was about to
enter in upon another term the commits
soners demanded that he produce the
cash which his accounts showed he should
have on hand. He offered to go to the
bank for it, but the county commissioners
themselves went to the bank and secured
from the cashier a sworn statement of the
amount on deposit by the treasurer at the
close OF business on Feb. %, 1895. This
statement is now on file in the county
clerks Office and shows that the treas
urer's credit by the bank was nearly 5000
less than his report showed he had on
hand.
1.-the commissioners made statement
of the proceedings and submitted it to the
county attorney, with a request to take
proper action. The treasurer protested
that there was an errer and ask ed that an
examination of his books be made. The
commissioners engaged the services of
w. Z. Rector, an expert accountant of
Helena, and few days ago he reported
to the board that there was a shortage of
about $3.50; but the treasurer's attorney
appeared and presented a certified check
for the amount which the expert said was
due.
between the two meetings Commits
sioner tanning had resigned and Jere
Sullivan had been appointed to succeed
him. AT the meeting at which the experts
report was presented the treasurer's Office
was declared vacant, as the treasurer had
hied no bond on or before March |
70, and ex-Commissioner Lanning's namo |
was presented for the treasurership, but |
he was defeated by vote of 2 to 1. The
name of the treasurer just removed was
presented and he was chosen, Commits |
sioner Barton alone voting in the mega
tive. He was ordered to file his bond and |
did so.
The fact that a man on whom such |
suspicion had rested should be chosen
10 position of trust, caused many TO |
whisper of somo influences, and if a fear
less grand jury is chosen the truth will be
The people are indignant and
make no secret OF their belief that some
institution has a pull which
the grand jury should investigate"