Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-12
r Pushed Into n Corner.

= IA '"ho " f"
Q.-Isn't 1t a fact that when these former
bonds that were given with personal bonds
men from different points over the state that
the states money was given around over the
state as a recompense?
Al did not make these pledges, but OF
course people have criticised my bond and
said 1t was a straw bond.
Q.-You mean to say, Mr.. Meserve, that
the only income is s $500. What do you do
with the money in the treasury?
Awe keep it where we can put our
hand on it any minute. There was only
about 81, 900 cash April 1, but there is
about 5000, 900 school money now in the
treasury.
Q.-Do you not place this money where
you can draw interest on it?
A.-Now, you know what the law is In re-
gard to this money.
Q.-Will you answer that question, as to
whether or not there is any interest paid
you on school moneys?
A.-One-half of the time l have had 1t in
a bank, contrary to law, and the state has
got the interest. This school fund cannot
be invested except in certain ways.
Q.-Do you put the money in anything eX-
cept depository banks?
Al am not willing to tell the public
exactly where two or three thousand dollars
is. l think it is a matter of prudence that
when a man has to insure a certain amount
Of money himself and his bond.
Only question was simply to know
whether it was only 2 $500 that you received
and we would be more likely to allow you
the $1,000?
Al have answered. once or twice that
that is all the income l have.
Q.-Ycu get no income from outside the
school moneys?
Al do rot.
Q.-There is a question in regard to pay
ing for this bond that we must consider,
that is, If we have a right to do it.
A.-That is only a question of whether the
legislature reimburses me or not. That is
all.
Q.-Isn't it a fact that these surety compa-
MES have no property whatever in this
state?
Al think so.
This evidence was taken officially and
was recorded by the official stenographer.
The state officials were not sworn In the
regulation manner, they having held that
their official oats of office was sufficient.
The oath of office, it seems, did not keep Mr..
Meserve from making some peculiar admis-
sions and it did not prevent him from giving
an exhibition OF squirming when the ques-
tons led him into an embarrassing corner.
Edmisten Files Answer.
= Ex-Oil Inspector j. II. Edmisten has at
last filed an answer to the suit brought
against him by Edward l.. Simon of this
city for $500 0 damages for false arrest
and Imprisonment. Simon was arrested last
winter on complaint of Edmisten on the
charge or libel. On the way to Dawson
county, where the complaint was sworn out,
Simon succeeded in escaping the officers,
He returned to Lincoln and at once insti-
tuted damage proceedings against Mr.. Ed
misten. No further attempt to arrest the
man was made and the officer returned to
Dawson county without his man.
In the answer fled in the district court
here Edmisten admits that it is true thai
he fled a complaint in Dawson county
where his home is, in which he charged
Simon with causing the publication in the
Lincoln Call of a false, libelous and defama,
tory article in which he CEdmisten) wa.
charged with aiding, abetting and engineer,
ing a manipulation Of the ballots cast a
The election of 1896 on a proposition to in,
crease the number of supreme court judges
then being recounted by a legislative com.
mlttee. He says Simon escaped the Officer
and returning to Lincoln procured his owl
arrest and that SO far as he knows he Ii
still under the custody of the Lancaster
county sheriff.
He further states that the prosecution
is not enueu' put that the case IN Dawson
county is still pending, and that the prose
cution of the charge will be made as sooI
as the body of Simon can be brought befor,
the court, He says the proceedings wer,
begun without malice and that he has
Just and probable cause for believing tina
Simon caused the publication OF the charge
against him. He also adds that Simon ha
threatened him and his friends that if the.
would not do certain things or If they failel
TO pay certain sums he would publish wha
afterward did appear in the Lincoln Call
The damage suit has been in the distric