The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-10
ILLEGAL BILLS
WERE ALLOWED
County Officers of Beltrami Con-
cede Many Irregularities
State Almost Thru.
speciaI to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Bemidji, Mimi, May 1o.-The Bel
closed today. The prosecution has at
tempted to show:
First-That the printing was let in
1908 and 1904 to the highest bidder.
This is admitted by the defense, which
claims that the county's interests were
best subserved thereby,
Second-That the bills for printing
defense with a mass of expert testl-
mony. -,
Third-That various coroner's bills
were illegal. The defense shows the
instructions of the county attorney;
FourthmThat six prsoW7e ront woT TSia
is admitted by the defense, which
claims no loss to the county.
Fifth-That Commissioner Sibley
traded twenty-six pigs for twelve owned
by the county poor farm, the pigs being
about in equal in weight. This IS adj
mitted.
: Sixth-That the bills for. the Grass
completion of the ditch. The defense
shows the report of the county sur,
veyor certifying to the completion of
Seventh-That large bills were
allowed for the Kelliher-Beaudette
road, but that practically, no work was
done. The defense introduces evidence
Eighth-That Commissioner sibley
presented an illegal bill for trip to
Tennessee. The defense shows the rec
concentration of the public examiner
and authority from the county commits
sioners. On this trip Sibley collected
$500, which former Treasurer Shlnn
was short, and turned the money over
to the county.
Ninth-That miscellaneous illegal
bills were allowed. The defense, at
tempts to show that altho these bills
were technically illegal, the county was
really saved by their allowance.
Tenth-That Commissioner Yves
Wright signed a release to the defunct
Merchants bank before the entire
paid over to the county, The defense
admits that $3.50 out of the specified
amount of $1,000 was not paid, but
shows security to the county for this
amount.
r TIE semm nj ion consisting 3f VI TeAs
Van Dyke, Governor Johnson's exec
utive clerk, and G. NJ. Torrance of this
city, has won golden opinions from the
people Of Beltrami county for it's abil
ity and impartiality. The rulings OF
Chairman Mcintyre have expedited the
investigation and have been acceptable
to both prosecution and defense. R
A. Stone, assistant attorney general
has handled the case for the prosecu
ton with spirit of fairness and with
marked ability.
Feeling has been aroused however
by reason of the fact that County At
torney LIQUIDS resignation is still be
ing held by MI. Stone, it being as
serted that meeting of the county
commissioners should be called at once
to act upon the resignation and to cleo
a successor to Mr.. Loud.
Kelliher-Beaudette Road.
The defense this morning placed j
j. Jenkinson, contractor for the Kel
liner Beaudette road, on the stand. MI
a Jenkinson testified that he worked
crew Of eight men on the road twenty
seven days, cutting about twenty-fv
miles Of road.
He described the character of tn
country thru which the road ran, tn
timber varying from three to eighteen
inches in thickness and standing yer
spruce, birch and tamarack. Six camp
were built by the contractor along tn
route of the road. R. A. Stone, 70
the prosecution, subjected Jenkinson t
fierce cross-eXamination.
M. D. Stoner, county surveyor, testi
lieu DIS ~ inc VTdSS lake QlCCn. IN
commissioners are still holding bac]
$500 from the contractors, which
more than ample to complete the ditch
The work. was properly done, he sale
Most of the filings complained of wer
due to a culvert which the count
built and succeeded in having the Grea
Northern road move. The ditch wa
working as well as such bitches eve
work
William Holiday, workman on tn
Kelliher-Beaudette road, corroborate
the testimony Of Mr.. Jenkinson.