Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-22
MESERVE'S LINE OF DEFENSE
Suggestion that He May Contest Douglas
Oounty's Jurisdiction.
PAUL LESSEN A CANDIDATE FOR eovtRNoE
Chairman Lindsay Expects Soon 10
Can Republican state Central Conn
mittee Together Nebraska's
One BaIed straw school.
tFrom a STAR correspondent.)

LINCOLN. Feb. 21.-(special.) Ut is
earned on good authority here that former
Treasurer Meserve's main defense against
the Douglas county grand jury indictment
will be on the grounds Of venue or jurisdic-
tion. II is commended by the friends OF the
accused that even II a judgment OF guilty
is returned II will yet be possible for MT.
Meserve to save himself. and in explanation
OF the declaration they call attention to
that rule Of law which provides that a
rimInal prosecution must take place In the
county where the crime was committed.
An Investigation Of the transactions of
the former treasurer with the Union Stock
Yards bank has demonstrated that there is
reasonable doubt that the crime alleged
was committed in Douglas county. The in
terest money paid by the South Omaha bank
on the $50. 900 deposit Of state school money
reached Mr.. Meserve In a roundabout way,
IL the conclusions OF the state legal oficials
are correct, and three counties are brought
into the consideration. They are Douglas,
Lancaster and Redwillow.
II is asserted that the South Omaha bank,
at the end Of each month during the time
the school money was on deposit in the in
stitution. credited the First National bank
OF MoCook with $3.50. From Information
obtained by the attorney general there is
HTOuuQ IOI L19 DeileI lnht the Dhnk IN tuTu
credited Mr.. Meserve with $3.50 each month.
II is claimed that this is the way Mr..
Meserve received the interest money from
the South Omaha bank.
Paul Jessen's Candidacy.
The name Of Paul lessen of otoe county
has been added to the list Of republican
candidates for governor. His candidacy
SO It Is reported here, was oficially an
pounced this afternoon by a Nebraska City
republican newspaper. Mr.. lessen was one
Of the leading Hayward supporters in the
senatorial contest Of 1899 and last year in
the republican convention was one Of the
foremost In favoring the condemnation oil
the BARLEY parole. He has been frequently
mentioned recently as a candidate for the
gubernstorial nomination and the announce.
ment made In Nebraska City today, there
fore, Will not be a great surprise.
Republican state Central Committee
Chairman H. c. Lindsay expects soon to
issue q call for a meeting Of the repub-
lican state central committee for the pur-
pose Of fixing a time and place for the
state nominating convention. He was In
Lincoin this week and would have issued
the call had Secretary Mallalieu been In
the city.
Inc proNhItiuB beuVlmeut Secmb 10 Oe
in favor Of an early convention" said Mr.
Mallalieu. The advantages Of beginning
the campaign early are numerous. II will
enable the candidates to do more e~ffectivt
work and will likely do away with the prac'
tice Of holding two conventions In q
county. Persons / have talked with re-
garding the matter think that both candi'
dates for county ofices and delegates to tn,
state convention should be named at tn,
same time. When the state convention IL
held late in the year many Of the counties
have q convention for no other purpose
than to name delegates.
81 expected this week to issue . call fol
a meeting CT the state central committee
but because Of the absence OF Mr.. Mallaiieu
who 70 In Colorado, decided to wait a while
I may see him within the next week o.
90 and n 80 will probably determine whel
to call the committee together"
BaIed straw schOoIhouse.
In q book soon to be issued from tn,
department Of public instruction will be
description Of the only baled straw school
house known to have been constructed Of
Nebraska soil. Such buildings are numer
Gus on the plains Of other western states
49, - e. - - Al. - -. n..- hail