Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1904-12-27
SHERIFF BENNER
UP AGAINST IT
Dashine Cascade County Officer A.
rested for Passing Numerous
Worthless Checks.
SEVERAL THOUSAND IN DEBT
A Butte Saloon Keeper Starts the
TrOuble--Benner Unable to Sc
cure Bail in Butte.

Great Falls, Dec. 21.-- Two warrants
for the arrest OF Herman Il. Benncr,
sheriff of Cascade county for the past
four years, on charge of having Sc
cured cash for worthless checks, are
now in the hands of officers, the
charge in each case being grand
larceny. Mr.. Benner was in Butte
Monday, but when the officers were
looking for him last evening, they re-
ported they were unable to find him
1t is reported that warrants for
his arrest ON similar charges have
been issued elsewhere in the state
and in cities outside of the state,
and complaint accusing him of
having passed a worthless check, was
filed in this city, in Justice Stafford S
court, but was withdrawn in conse-
quencG OF efforts of his friends To
protect him.
1t is believed that his indebtedness
amounts to thousands Of dollars, and
1t is believed he is without resources.
All his property has been sold or
mortgaged and all moneys due him
from the county Or state to the date
OF expiration Of his term of office
have been assigned to creditors. 1t
is reported also that he is indebted
to many in Great Falls, Helena, Havre
Shelby, Spokane Seattle and
have been threatening to make
trouble To-. him. FOR several weeks
his checks have been rejected by
both banks of the city with which he
had done business. and 1t is known
| that ABOUT two months ago, repre-
sentatlycs OF those Interested in trust
funds that he had began to press
HIM hard. and forced him to make
settlements after a considerable sac
rifice.
| tie made desperate efforts at that
| time to raise money and has since
| been promising to redeem paper that
he then issued, but he has failed to
do so, and the climax came when he
went 10 Butte, for which city he dc
parted Sunday morning. Soon after
his arrival in Butte, .Iere Clifford. a
saloon man OF that place, made com
plaint against him. alleging that Ben.
ner passed worthless check for $50
| on him September q. warrant
was then issued and Mr.. Benner was
taken into constructive custody by
| the Silver Bow county officials and
every opportunity was given him to
make good. Mr.. Clifford stated last
night that he had not heard of any
settlement being made by Sheriff
Benner, and SO far as he was concern
ed, the matter was now in the hands
OF the county officials
Yesterday Il complaint was filed in
Justice Harrington's court at Butte
against Mr.. Benner. The complaining
witness in the second case is Charles
McGarvey, formerly a deputy under
Sheriff Quinn OF Silver Bow county
Mr.. McGarvey alleges that Sheriff
Benner secured about $3.50 from him
and in return gave him a check on a
Great Falls bank and il was returned
dishonored.
| Mr.. Benner was in Butte during tn.
/ Ia h,,f hn hx, ~, ~,
officers in the evening and the attempt
to serve the warrant upon him failed
Saturday night. Benner passed q
check for SIS at c. e. Davis jewelrs
store, in this city, having made Il
purchase and the check was rejected
Monday Mr.. Davis made inquiries
and found that other checks had also
been passed by Behner Saturday
night, and that he had attempted e
pass others Sunday morning, just
prior to his departure for Butte Mr.
Davis then went before Justice SAT
ford and made complaint, but the
justice declined to issue warrant
until the county attorney had passed
upon the charge preferred, and Mr.
Berry took the matter under advise
ment until yesterday. Last evening
two OF Mr.. Benner's friends settled
with Mr.. Davis and the complain,
was withdrawn, but few minute.
later word was received that Benne1