The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-07
SHERIFF IN TROUBLE.
Charged with Aiding a Prisoner to
Escape.

hrtapt.
Albany, y. Y. April 3.-Gov. Black
has made a requisition upon Gov. Pin
gree, of Michigan, for the custody of
Edwin S. Furgeson, the sheriff of Len
awee county, Mich, who is charged
with permitting Anton Christensen, ar
rested in New York city on the charge
of embezzlement, committed in Mich
igan, TO escape from custody after he
had been turned over to the Michigan
authorities by the police of New York
city. 1t is charged that the sheriff was
bribed to permit the prisoner TO escape.
Christensen is now held in New York rs
a witness. District Attorney Sampson,
of Adrian, is also under the New York
laws, amenable, his offense being the
liberation of Christensen after the
latter had been delivered into his GUS
tody by the police of New York city
without returning him to Michigan to
stand trial for alleged enlightenment.
New York, April 3.-District Attor-
ney Olcott has practically decided to
discharge Antony Christensen, the
Dane who is wanted in Michigan for
NifbNIlitiitSuts dS DOll lt dllU hON.
Black agree that the Michigan author
tiles, having voluntarily released him,
cannot eXtradite him, as he is not now a
fugitive from justice. Assistant Pros
ecutor Sampson, of Lenawee county,
Mich, will be put on trial under the i'm
dictment charging him with aiding
in the escape of a prisoner. Gov. Pin
Or nf Minhirat, n,,1
had an extended correspondence con
corning the merits of the case The
Michigan governor is satisfied that the
New York authorities could not legally
turn Christensen over to the Michigan
police. He believes that a serious err
ros has been committed by Prose
cutor Bird. of Lenawee county, in this
case, and has ordered an investigation.
Lansing, April Acknowledgement
Maynard has not yet advised Gov. Pin
gree what he should do about granting
the requiston of the governor of New
York for the person of Sheriff Fergu
son, of Lenawee county, who is wanted
in New York for aiding a prisoner
charged with a felony to escape. The
wanted for embezzlement The attor-
ney-general conferred with District At
torney Olcott, of New York. over the
long-distance telephone Saturday, eX-
planning that the Michigan authorities
were rs anxious as those of New York to
have the criminal laws enforced. lie
said that Sheriff Ferguson was good
officer, who, although he did wrong,
acted under instructions, and that it
would be unjust to take him back as
criminal. Then he said that the state
Of Michigan apologized to the state of
New York for the ill-advised and inn
proper conduct of the officials of Lena
and declared that the state of Michi-
gan repudiated it.
Mr.. Olcott asked on his part what the
Michigan people were going to do about
the requisition of Sheriff Ferguson, who
allowed Christensen to escape. The at
said if Mr.. Olcott would
rot turn over Christensen he was afraid
they would have TO keep Ferguson. Mr..
Olcott asked the encouragement to
take no action in the matter until let
ter which he proposed sending him to-
day, fully setting forth his views, could
reach Lansing. Mr.. Olcott said he did
not want to punish Ferguson severely,
but would, if he was returned here for
trial, ask the court to impose a nominal
fine. What he wanted to do was to es-
tablsh a precedent.