The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-14
SAYS GRAFTERS RUN
THINGS IN BELTRAMI
Public Examiner kerst Asks
Gov. johnson to Suspend
County Officials

protection of crime have run riot in
Beltram1 county for the past several
years, Public Examiner P. A. Kerst
yesterday filed a report with Gov
Johnson asking that three county off,
GERS be suspended, and that a commits
sion be appointed to investigate the
facts.
The officers who are charged with
fragrant abuse of their duties are
County Commissioners w. Wright and
+. o. Sibley and County Attorney H X
Loud. The commissioners are charged
with protecting lumber companies in
the matter of taxes. allowing public
work in which they were interested,
giving public printing to the highest
bidder and accepting money from the
county for private expenses.
County Attorney Loud is charged
with not taking steps to prevent crime.
failing to do his duty, holding back
money due the county from liquor
licenses and failing to give proper adj
vice to public officials.
Matt Cannon Filed Complaint
1t is upon the complaint of Mayor
Matt G. Cannon, killed at Beaudette a
Few nights ago, that the removal of
the county attorney is asked. From
the report it is now made evident that
the killing of Cannon was due to fight
between rival saloon elements Gam
mn W eao IiOt eillOWQ 10 nave q nQuOr
license, While others were given free
rein at Spooner. In his affidavit Gam
non goes at length to show that the
county attorney refused him a liquor
license, and that later he refused TO
prosecute J. b. Montague for shooting
at him at SpOOner. Montague is the
man accused by Cannon in his ante
mortem statement. of killing him.
Gov. Johnson announced that he
would appoint a commission to investi-
gate the facts. He said that he thought
he would not suspend the officials until
after ar investigation. 1t is likely that
the attorney generals office will take
charge OF the investigation when the
governor appoints the commission
Examiner Kerst also recommends
that the commission inquire into the
official acts of the sheriff, county ply
stefan and clerk of the court 1t is
charged that the county has paid GER
tain bills which the county physician
should have paid himself.
The most fragrant abuses set forth
against the county commissioners is
the awarding of printing to the highest
bidder. in road and bridge expendi-
lures, allowance of illegal bills, graft in
the Grass Lake Ditch, tax levies and
abatement of taxes.
1t is shown that County Attorney
Loud was at one time removed from
the prosecution of a case against a
lumber company, and reinstated. The
have been compromise in which both
sides benefited.
Examiner Kerst's Report
The report of Public Examiner Kerst
in part is as follows:
Gov. John A Johnson: In looking over
this report you will find that 1t is very ap-
parent that Wiiful neglect of duty, con-
spiracy TO defraud and the payment of
illegal funds Of the county have prevailed
FOR the last three or four years. One of
the most glaring Irregularities discovered
Is the utter disregard abuse and perver-
sion OF the law in the handling of crime;
apparently no effort has been made in
many cases to promptly and effectively
prosecute the perpetrators and bring them
to justice.
In my opinion the county attorney and
two OF the county commissioners have
made themselves liable to prosecution for
their illegal acts, and steps should at
once be taken to proceed against them for
the following reasons:
The county attorney-In that he failed
to prosecute cases when brought to his
notice (See statements of Cannon and
Bailey, was aware and connected with the
holding back of funds received from liquor
Licenses. and neglect in not examining
bills. and preventing the allowance of IL
legal and excessive claims.
Commissioner F. o. Sibley-In being
party to and receiving funds on Illegal
work on Kelleher & Beaudette road. and
refund of taxes to the st. Hilaire Lum-
Der company.
Commissioner Yves Wright-In appro-
priating TO his own use funds belonging
to the county, and. in various cases, be-
ing party to and knowingly allowing I'M
Just and Illegal claims (see Merchants
bank matter) work on the Kelleher &
Beaudette road, and refund of taxes to
st. Hiiaire Lumber company.
1t is also suggested that D. L. SyI-
yester, auditor prior to Jan. 1, 1905, al
lowed bills he must have known were
Illegal. The examiner concludes:
Recommends Suspensions
In view of the facts referred to which
are more infinitely set out in the sched-
ules; l submit to your excellency the ad-
Instability OF Immediately suSpending II. K.
Loud, county attorney, and Messrs. F. o.
Sibley and Yves Wright, members of the
county commission from their respective
offices. and appointing a commission which
shall proceed to take evidence submitted
to you. / would suggest that the commits
sion investigate the acts of the sheriff,
county physician and the clerk of the
court
The report proceeds in elaborate de-
tail as to the acts complained of. One
was the awarding of the county print
ing to the Bemidji Pioneer on Jan. 6,
1908. The Beltrami County News,
Blackjack Times. Tenstrike Tribune
ana turtle River zine Tree submitted
bids much lower, but were rejected.
The Pioneers bid was IS cents a folio
on all printing for the first insertion,
35 cents for the second and 35 cents
for the third. The other papers bid on
financial statements So cents a folio
for first insertion, II cents for the sec
ond and II cents for the third. All
other printing was the same as the
Pioneers bid.
This award brought protest sign
ed by a number of taxpayers, who
claimed the county was losing from
$1,000 to $500 a year on this bid, but
1t did not avail
On the KeIleher and Beaudette road
the examiner concludes:
Here was case where $740.57 of the
county funds was expended contrary to
law, and the county attorney and Com
missioners Wright and Sibley are. on the
face OF the above proceedings, liable for
neglect of duty. and Illegal appropriation
Of funds which constitutes a felony pun
ishable by forfeiture of Office and fine
and Imprisonment.
Concerning a bill of S90.15 allowed
Commissioner Sibley for a trip to Ten
nessee, Examiner KerSt says:
This whole bill Is Illegal for the reason
that there was nothing to show that il
was incurred in the interest Of the county,