The Dickinson press., 1902-04-19
ME-
Repudiated by County Off
Gals and Others Whose
Names He Had Fraudu-
lently Used This Week.

Bold Piece of Rascality Which
Falls to the Ground and
c. F. M erry Falls Into In
significance.
c. F. Merry sounded the death knell
to the last particle of wen luke-warm
Friendship that he may have had in Dick
inson when he attempted by stealth and
fraud to make it appear that most of the
Stark county officials, a banking house
and two ex-members of the legislature
were willing to recommend him to the
public. The murder was out on Tues
day afternoon when our ex-sherif and
ex.representative, Frank Lish, by chance,
saw Capt. J. G. Saunders, and told him
that he had just signed Merry's letter of
recommend ton, following the example
of the county officials. The Captains
blood began to boil, for he was not
recommending Merry for anything and
knew that the other officials were not,
and he started in pursuit of the culprit.
Capt. Saunders is slow to anger but in
this instance he could scarcely refrain
from using force on the b~razen-faced
Merry who WINGED and trembled like an
aspen leaf under the tongue lashing that
he received. The news spread like Wild
fire and in a few minutes the other
county officers learned that they had
been the victims of this prince of forgers,
and there wa a hot time around the city.
One of the next officials Merry met was
Sheriff Goodall. Under the scoring from
this official Merry also cowed and trem-
bled and begged for a chance to patch
the matter up; but those who saw the
manly sherif's fist under Merry's nose
were inclined to think that if he was
granted the privilege of any patching it
would be of the kind that doctors usually
do. Other officials were just as severe
in de%nouncing Merry.
1t was also learned that Merry had at
tempted to get one Of our leading general
merchants to sign the letter. on the
strength of his. frauduently obtained list,
but this man told Merry that he already
knew too much of his rascality and that
he would have nothing to do with him.
With this Merry gave up the attempt to
get any more business men, and pro-
ceeded to publish and circulate, in the
eastern part OF the state, his fraudulent
letter.
Early Wednesday morning the follow
ing letter was issued to the public which
explains itself:
REPUTATION OF c. F. MERRY BY STARK
COUNTY OFFICERS AND CITIZENS.
DICKINSON, N. D., April Is, 1902.
The undersigned, county officers of
Stark Co., and business men, all residing
in the city of Dickinson, N. D.,have had it
brought to their attention that one c. F.
Merry,hailing from this place,is circulat-
ing a petition, or letter of Endorsement,
recommending the said c. F. Merry to
the public, and purporting to have been
signed by us, and purporting also to bear
date of April IA, 1902.
We take this means of notifying the
public that such letter of Endorsement,
or petition, as of such date, is fraudulent
and a forgery. We make this statement
in order that the public may be informed
that such pretended letter or indorse-
ment, as we'll as its author, c. F. Merry,
is repudiated by us:
John Riessbeck, county auditor.
J.. S. White, county treasurer.
J.. G. Saunders, clerk Of court.
w. F. Burnett, register of deeds.
John w. Goodall, sheriff Stark county.
Chas. Kono, county Judge.
Dakota State. Bank, J. L. Hughes.
cashier.
Frank Lish, ex-sherif and ex-member
of legislature 3lst district.
Alfred White, ex-member legislature
31st dist.
The original of the above is securely
locked in the PRESS Office safe.
Believing that Merry was making some
use of his forged letter of recommends
ton east of here, the Press editor went
to Bismarck Tuesday night. and, sure
enough, Wednesday morning revealed
the fact that he had a damnable circular
letter in print. He was particular to
whom he mailed this letter in Bismarck;
but by making copies, all interested par
ties were supplied, and in addition to
this all the daily papers of the state were
advised. and in this way Merry was FORE
stalled and no one was fooled, the Off
calls letter of reputation covering all of
his territory and more.
Following is the text of Merry's letter
and our comments thereon:
NOTICE
To the Press and General Public Of North Oak:
This Letter is issued in contradiction of the ar
ticles in the Dickinson Press Of April 5 and Il,
The following are true copies of the originals
now in my possession.
G.. F. MERRY.
Dickinson, N. D., July /. 1892.
Received from G. F. Merry, secretary, and M.
1. Ayers, treasurer, Of the Odd Fellows and
America, ali tho furniture. books, moneys.
mortgages and property OF every kind belonging
to said associations, and this receipt is in full q
directors Of either Of said associations.
A. 3. NUaENT. President.
J,J. NIERLINa, Secretary.
Regarding Merry's defunct building
and loan company very little importance
attaches. A. E. Nugent, like Merry,
was a promoter and long ago left the
state. j. Nierling probably thought he
might as we'll receipt and take charge of
what was left and try and save a little
from the wreck. We can say here that
the latter gentlemen is a member in
good standing in a secret order from
which Merry was summarily expelled
just after his check forgery in St. Paul.
For a few weeks M. l.. Ayers was, in
> name only, treasurer Of Merry's COM
, pany. He received no compensation for
! %innocently aiding and abetting a fraud
! by the use of his name, and has nothing
: but feelings of remorse for having been
drawn into the scheme Of a dishonest
y man. He has not done so foolish a thing