The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-11-03
FALSEHOOD SHOWN.
Complete Refutation of Demo-
cratic Charges Against Mr..
Won TobeI.

cratic Charges Against Mr..
Won TobeI.
In view Of the charge made by
some Democratic papers hat Hon.
Rudolph Won Tobel; Republican
candidate for Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court, was indicted by
the Grand Jury of Fergus County,
1t is deemed desirable TO make an
exact statement of the facts.
In the early history of that county
MIR. Won Tobel was appointed Pub
lie Administrator and filled the Office
for about two years. At that time
the laws of the territory required
that Public Administrators should file
on the first day of every month a report
OF the estates remaining in their hands.
1t is well known that this law was a
little more than a dead letter and that
probably not one Public Administrator
in ten complied with its requirements.
In December 1889, the Grand Jury
of Fergus County returned two indict-
ments against Mr.. Won Tobel; one for a
failure to file his report on the first
OF October and the other for a like fall
ure on the first Of November of that
yerr. The indictments were found I'M
der section 927 of the Complied Statutes,
which read as follows:
"Any district, county or township
officer whether elected or appointed to
such office, who shall fail or refuse to
perform any duty by law required of
him as such officer shall be guilty of
mlsdemeanor, and on conviction shall be
fined in any sum not less than fifty nor
more than one hundred dollars"
At the time these Indictment were re-
turned, the Grand Jurors stated to Mr..
Frank E. Smith then as now County
Attorney, that if Mr.. Won Tobel filed
his accounts and they were found to be
correct, it was their wish that the indict-
ments should be dismissed. Mr.. Won
Tobel subsequently filed his accounts
and they were found to be in all respects
true and correct, and th%ereupon, on
motion of Mr.. Smith as County Attorney,
the court granted a nolle prosequi in
.both cases.
1t will be understood that The offence
charged was purely technical and did
not involve any reflection upon Mr.. Won
Tobel's official integrity. During his
incumbency of the office there was never
any question raised by the authorities of
the county or by any person interested
in any estate administered by him that
involved a charge of the misappro-
priation of a single cent. On the con-
contrary, it is fully attested that he, per-
formed his duties with strict fidelity and
to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Further than this the character of Mr..
Won Tobel's clients in the county of
Fergus and the Importance of the bust
ness entrusted to him a.e a sufficient
guarantee of the estimate in which he is
held. In 1894 he was selected as the
nominee for joint member of the Legis- |
lative Assembly of Fergus and Valley
counties, and polled one of the largest
votes ever given for any candidate in
Fergus county. AS a member of the
Fourth Legislative Assembly during the
session of which there was some talk of
corruption on the part of certain men,
bers, there was never even a whispered
hint as to the integrity of Mr.. Won Tobel.
In 1896 when the Democrat Legislative
ticket in Fergus County was elected on
the issue of free coinage, Mr.. Won Tobel
was the candidate of the Republican
party and was defeated by only thirteen
majority, running considerably ahead of
his colleague on the ticket.
Mr.. Won Tobel's standing as a men,
Der of the bar of Fergus county has al
ways been of the highest, and Hon. Dud-
ley DuBose, for ten years judge of the
Tenth Judicial Circuit, was a warm per-
sonal friend and took occasion to rec
ommend him highly to his friends. 1t
is not to be doubted that if lie were IN
the state at the present time, he would
make a statement refuting the malicious
charges made against Mr.. Won Tobel by
the Dem ocratic press.
MIR. Won Tobel was strongly urged by
the most prominent business men of his
judicial district to become a candidate
for judge of the District Court, but he
declined on account of the magnitude of
his professional business and the fact
that the position would require his fire.
quent absence from home.
The statements here made are given
on the authority of Mr.. Frank E. Smith.
and will be confirmed by the most prom
inent citizens of Fergus county without
regard to political affiliations.