Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-03-02
FETzER'S AFFIDAVIT.
made In the affidavit.

4
Most OF the officers mentioned by
Fetzer In his affidavit have been
communicated with by the board,
and all Of them ~emphatically deny
the allegations made by the convict.
Some Of the county clerks, have ad-
mitted that they did not follow out
the law implicitly in respect to hav-
ing absolute evidence as to the kill
ing of the wolves or coyotes, and
there Is no doubt that fraud has
been easily perpetrated in several
counties, without, however, impli-
eating the officers further than a
neglect of duty would implicnte
them. u
Fetzer's affidavit Is as follows:
James w. Fetzer being duly sworn.
deposes and says: That during the
months OF June, July, August and
September, October, November and
December in 1896, he was engaged in
presenting to the county clerk and
recorder of the counties of Fergus,
Choteau, Cascade, Teton, Meagher,
Gallatin, Lewis and Clarke, Jefferson,
Beaverhead and Sweet Grass, skins
OF coyotes which had before been
presented and punched, and obtain
Ing from the said clerks and recorders
OF said counties bounty certificates
for same. That the said certificates
were in most cases negotiated and
sold by him and are either paid or
presented for payment to the state
of Montana.
That during the above mentioned
period he presented to the clerk and
recorder of Fergus county skins to
number of about 433 and received
certificates amounting to about
$1,000. That in the above mentioned
lot of skins were included los which
the said Fetzer says were genuine,
In that he killed six of the animals in
the county of Fergus himself, while
ranchers of that county, which he
believed to have been lawful. That
the remainder of the skins presented
to the clerk and recorder were picked
up from the court house grounds by
said Fetzer and had been previously
presented by some other person and
had been punched. That his witness
before the clerk and recorder at Lew
town, Fergus county, was Sheriff
John d.. Waite. That said John ID.
Waite swore as required by the law
that to the best of his knowledge
and belief j. b. Fetzer Caught,
killed OF caused to be killed the ami
mails from which the skins were
taken" When in truth the said
Waite knew to the contrary and
that the said Waite saw Fetzer take
up the hides from about the court
house grounds and knew that they
had previously been punched. That
said Waite was then a candidate for
election to- the office of sheriff and
asked said Fetzer to vote for him,
which request Fetzer agreed to in
consideration of the service of said
Waite as his witness.
That he then proceeded to Fort
Benton, county seat of Choteau
county. That he picked from the
river bank in that town some 50 OF
60 skins which had been previously
punched and presented them to the
county clerk and recorder, receiving
certificates for them. That these
skins were presented In either Sep
TENDER OF October, 1896. That he
next proceeded to Great Falls,
no,ntr cnot nf Eoacodn county and
in September or October of that year
obtained from the county clerk and
recorder certificates for two lots OF
skins which had been previously
punched. That in October, 1896, he
proceeded to Choteau, county sea- OF
the court house grounds some So
skins which had been previously
punched and presenting them for
payment, received certificates for
same, which said certificates are
fraudulent. That henext proceeded to
White Sulphur Springs, county seat
OF Meagher county. and presented
two lots of skins, receiving separate
certificates for same. That n GER
tificate for IA skins was legal and
that it was sold to one Wight,
whose initials Fetzer does not re-
member. That all other skins pre-
sented by said Fetzer to this clerk
and recorder had been previously
punched and the certificates therefor
are fraudulent. That he next pro-
ceeded to Big Timber, county seat OF
Sweet Grass county, in October or
November, 1886; that he picked up
about the court house grounds a
number of skins, the exact number of
which he cannot remember, and pre-
senting the same to- the clerk and