The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-01-28
CHARGED WITH BRIBERY
Col. Melvin Grigsby, a South Dakotan
Accused of Accepting a "Fee."

~. USi"'H SfiSSpy d SousH 0dkoIaH.
Accused of Accepting a Fee"
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 21.-The de-
,artment of justice has nearly concluded
is investigation Of the charges against
Colonel Melvin Grigspy of South Dakota,
the United States district attorney at
Nome, and Attorney General Knox will
probably take conclusive action in the
case at an early day.
1t appeared today for the first time
what the real nature of the charges is.
Sworn statements ave been filed with
The attorney general, saying that Grigsby
received $1,000 from the Pioneer Mining
company as the price of refraining from
prosecuting the company. S,0s rigsby has
employed Thurston II Ballinger, lawyers
Of this city, to present his defense to the
department. of justice. but up to this time
the department officials who have the
matter in charge have not been satisfied
Of the innocence of the district attorney.
Among the papers in the case is the
sworn statement of Jafet Linderberg. in
which he declares that the fee. in QueS-
ton was paid to Tirigsby by himself in
order to retain him as his ounse He
swears that the money was not paid on
behalf OF the company, but by himself as
an individual Other evidence on file,
however, shows that the $4,000 in question
was paid over to Grigsby by the Pioneer
Vllullln GOHIpduS anu lOt- ny LttluSE Det6
as an Individual.
The district attorney admits that he re-
ceived $4,000 from Linderberg. but. OF
course, denies that it was paid to him for
any improper purpose. He says that he
was engaged as counsel. 1t Is not unusual
COR United States district attorneys to
engage in the private practice of law dur
ing their terms of office. and the depart
ment of justice does not discourage this
usage. &C.,
1t appears from the Information OBJ
tanned by the special agents that when
Grigsby landed at Nome on a certain Sat-
lrdaY III the summer of 1902 he Immediate
~ met representatives of the Pioneer Min
ing company. On the following. Monday,
as shown by this evidence. drfgsby APP
peared in the federal court in his official
capacity III connection with the Pioneer
Mining company's case, involving the title
If a claim in Glacier creek. A few days
later, and before the judgment in this
Ease was landed down, the $4,000 re
tainer'' was paid over to Grigsby, either
oy L.inderbcrg or by the Pioneer Mining
company. The department of justice
doesn't care very much whether the
money came from the Individual or from
The company; the important point ia the
object OF the 1t appears in the
testimony, anu is admitted by Grigsby,
that the SIC, Goa consisted of 5000 in cash
tilu so,VD III SIidISS OIL Tue IlOneer MINING
p
The department cannot understand why
the mining company hould have paid
GrigSby Sl0,0 600 for legitimate legal serv-
ices when 1t is shown py all the testimony
and records in the case that William IL.
Metson mad for some time been the sole
attorney OF the company, that he was still
acting In that capacity and that the COM
pany did not have an unusual amount Of
litigation in prospect. 1t is also regarded
as peculiar that Grigsby should be able so
promptly to secure so valuable a client
and to receive the substantial fee of Sl0,-
40 in advance.
Colonel GrigsbS narrowly escaped dis
missal last year on account of insubordi-
nation. He left Alaska for the winter,
despite the specific orders of the attor-
ney general. Aside from the disobedience.
40 charges against the district attorney
were seriously considered by the depart
ment last year. The present charges.
however. are chiefly s~uhstantiated by the
evidence obtained by the departments
own agents in Alaska during the summer
Of 1903.
District Attorney Grigsby ix now in
Washington.