Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1898-11-03
Mr.. BARTLETT RE-
PLIES.

Editor Courier:
Mr.. Fred Wilke In the last issue Of
the Sentinel makes certain charges
against me. which, II true should
condemn me in the estimation of all
honest psople. In my eleven years re.
sidence inGriggs I have avoided news
paper controversies, but the serious
ness OF Mr.. Wi'ke's charge is my
justihcation for asking for space in
your paper for reply:
Mr.. Wilke says he gave his note to
John Wagneron April Sd, 1884, for
s22O. This is true. hut he neglects to
state the very important fact that one
Julius G"hlke signed the note with
him as surety. And that when
Wilke failed to pay his note, that
Gohlke had it to pay, and did pay it
on Aug. 23d, 1888. It was this claim
of Gohlke against Willke, which was
sent me for collection by Snow Church
& Co.. of ST. Paul. in the spring Of
1894. At that time Wilke was execu-
tion proof. There were four judg-
ments on record against him that had
been standing for several years, ana
his personal property was covered by
mortgage. wrote Snow Church &
Co., to this effect, and told them the
claim could not be collected then and
advised putting it in Judgment. They
authorized me to accept SO cents on
the dollar. I made known this offer
to MIR. Wilke but he was unable to
settle. then advised him 10 confess
Judgment as it would save costs, and
he had no defense to the action. Mr..
Wilke says came to his place on
June oath, 1895, and told him was
going to sue him, ETC., and that the
note was not outlawed as under the
laws of Minnesota a note was good for
10 wears. Now 1 was not at Wilkes
place on June 24th, 1895, or on any
other day in 1895. 1t was on Aug.
23d. 1894, almost year earlier, that
was at his place, and secured the
confession of Judgment. The date of
the confession shows this. George
B. Clark, T. f. Warner and p. r..
Trubshaw we're with me. You will
notice that this was just six years
from the day Gohlke paid the note.
The claim was not outlawed when
Wilke signed the confession then
told Wilke would do all I could to
get this judgment satisfied for so cents
on the dollar, any time he could pay
it. held this confession in my office
from said 23d day of Aug. 1894, until
June 10Th, 1895, in order that Wilke
could settle and save a few dollars
Of entering and satisfying the judg-
ment. He failed 70 do so and on June
10th, 1895 Judge Rose ordered judg-
ment which was filed June Gath, 1895.
Wilke says CATER. had paid the
$40O he sent the owner $50 as HE pay"
Some time in January, 1893, o. w.
Kerr came to my Office and said he
wanted to buy the Gohlke judgment
against Wilke. Itold him I had MI
authority to act, but would write to
Snow Church & Co., which lid with
the final result that the judgment was
sold to Kerr Feb. 8th, and he paid me
for it Feb. 18th. 1 remitted the money
to Snow Church & Co., the same day.
After Kerr bought the judgment, L
knew absolutely nothing about what
occurred. Wilke did not pay me s4OO
as he says,snor any other sum, l had
nothing more to do with the collection
of the judgment than the editor of the
Sentinel and did not receive one dol
lar Of the money.
Many times since Wilke confessed
judgment l have tried to get him to
make some offer for it, and have told
him would do what could to get it
for him. He as repeatedly refused,
and said that Mr.. Purinton and Mr..
Glass had told him that he could not
be made to pay. There are two points
to Mr.. Wilkes letter. First: Did I
deceive him about the claim being
outlawed. Gohlke paid the note for
Wilke Aug. 23d, 1885,. Wilke con-
fessed judgment Aug. 23d, 1894.
There isn't lawyer in North Dakota
but what will say that the claim was
not outlawed. There its't man who
reads this but what knows it was not
'outlawed. Did deceive him?
Second: Did appropriate to my
self $3.50, or any other sum. My own
statement and the affidavits of those
who made the collection ought to be
sufficient answer to that. Besides
Mr.. Wilke has told several reputable
citizens Of Cooperstown that he did
not know that got any of the money.
ehas admitted this to me since his
letter was written.
The following affidavits will help to
prove that Mr.. Wilke is mistaken:
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA.