The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-11
ESCAPED BY
PAYING MONEY
MARSHAL OF LUVERNE MAY BE
CRIMINALLY CHARGED. .-.
Affidayits that He Extorted Money for
Exemption from a Criminal Prose-
cution-Sympathy with GamollnS
and Participation in Graft Also LAID
to His Door.
Special to The Journal.


Iuverne Mimi. Jan. 1t.-As result
OF disclosures made by various persons IN
the form Of affidavits, County Attorney -.
II, Garfield has in his possession 1acts
which warrant him in bringing criminal
action against the marshal OF LuVeIhe,
Dave Clegg. upon the charge or extorens
money for exemption from criminal pro
ceedings alleged to be pending against
one George Austin for stealing.
The afridavits three III number, were
made by Alfred c. Smith, a printer en-
ployed in the Luvsrne Journal office; wal
ter Jaynes and Warren Allen, before NIL
Garfield. as a notary public.
1t is stated in the affidavits that George
Austin. formerly employed in Armour d
Co.'S house In this city, but now
residing at ST. James. was charged WIN
stealing an overCoat, and that Warranl
for his arrest was alleged by Cless TO
have been issued and given to him 10
serve: that instead Of serving the alleged
warrant Clegg went to Austin ana toiu
him that he would not serve the warrant.
but would let him off providing ne PAID
him $40.
In his affidavit Alfred c. Smith, who Is
half brother Of Austin says he went TO
Clege and tried to get him to let his
brother off with So. which Clegg refused
to do: that he then aided his brother IN
getting the necessary $40 and that ne sa"
Austin pay the money to Clegg:
Walter Jaynes, IN his affidavit, cor
roborates Smiths statements In every par
ticular and says further that he also Wen'
F. to Clegg and tried to have him let Austlll
Off which he refused to do without pay
ment of the money but that he told him
that If he (Clegg) got the money ne "oulu
not serve the warrant Jaynes also says
he saw Austin hand Clegg the money. The
affidavit Of Warren Allen corroporates
+ both those Of Smith and Jaynes and FUR
thor alleges that he (Allen) saw the money
paid to Clegg.
Shortage in His Accounts.
L Ever since Clegg's appointment as mar
shall about two years ago, the aftalrs o.
the village have been allowed TO run II
+ what is termed wide open style
Gambling and graft have been carried OF
openly with apparently no effort on th'
part Of the officers to prevent 1t. The III
evitabe fruits of corrupt government ar
but too numerous. At the time OF III
change of municipal officers last spring
there was a shortage. alleged to De De
tween $500 and $500 in the village ac
counts I'p to that time it had been tn
custom of having the marshal collect tn
village accounts for electric lights AM
water During the preceding year. Clese
who was then marshal, had acted as col
lector. and at the time Of the annual CLOS
, ing of the books 1t was FOUND that ther
was q discrepancy of about S4O0 IN TN
5
tted as turned over to the recorder.
ID Owing to the recorders custom OF re
iceiving money collected without giving
80 receipt or counting the money, this dis
5crepancy was made possible. 1t still stand
and no action has been taken to place tn
blame. 1t is generally believed that IN
: Integrity Of the recorder is above question
"A more recent event indicative of tn
Iaxity or disregard to duty on the part c
. the marshal was shown In the recen
gambling raid when Clegg was brought
tprivate citizens into a room in which four
- teen men were caught red handed in tn
act Of gambling and all were perm1tte
to escape Strong suspicious Of friendshi
lbctween each Of the gamblers and Cleg
was aroused when, after the matter ha
been reported to the mayor, 1T becan
necessary for him to compel Clegg, unde
threats OF discharge. to enter the neces
sary complaints; and the further fact ths
owing to unnecessary delay on the pa
t,f the forced complaint all Of the gambler
'F except four were enabled to leave tow
before the warrants were out.