The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-06
FIRE INSURANCE
men ARRAIGNED
Messrs. Bechtel, Kerr, Sackett,
Campbell and Dearth Answer
to Indictments.
ALL PLEAD NOT GUILTY
!, AND GIVE $4,000 BAIL
Eight Bills Against Former Presi.
dent Bechtel, One of Bribing
Elmer II. Dearth.

r.. uGoo 3D. No %999rning, have you been ar
With this salutation, former officials
Of the Northwestern Life Insurance
company met their friends when they
assembled this morning at County At
in Judge 81. D. Dickinson g courtroom.
Messrs. ". A. Kerr, Fred J. Sackett,
Wallace Campbell and W. F. Bechtel,
all present in answer to bench war
rants, discussed their dilemma with
smiles and attempted witticisms, but
beneath it all there was tense serious
ness: The arraignment was postponed
until 2 pm. to give the defendants
time to secure bondsmen.
Shortly after 2 o'clock the prominent
defendants appeared before the bar Of
justice and one by one listened to in
dictments charging them with felonies.
All pleaded not guilty and their trials
were set for dates early in the term.
The Charges.
W. F. Bechtel is accused, in one bill,
of giving bride of 5000 to former
State Insurance Commissioner Elmer II.
Dearth, who is alleged to have approved
a false report Of assets made by the
company. It is alleged that the report
Of assets included $4,000 worth of Sc
curities that, instead of being in the
CUWpduy . pUSStSSlOu dS ItpOlUCu1 Wci0
| held as collateral for a large loan IN
Iowa. The former president OF the
company is also accused in seven bills
of grand larceny in the first degree,
each Indictment alleging a distinct en-
bezzlement of considerable amount.
Elmer H. Dearth, former state insur-
ance commissioner, is charged with re-
ceiving bribe of 5000.
| w. A. Kerr, former counsel and d.
rector of the company, is accused In
two bills Of grand larceny in the first
degree or embezzlement from the com-
pany.
Fred J. Sackett, former director, sss-'
rotary and treasurer, pleaded to i've
indictments charging embezzlement.
ident, is accused on two counts OF
grand larceny in the first degree or
embezzlement.
Dr. J. F. Force, former president Of
the old Northwestern Life association,
is in California with his family. The
other defendants say that he will prob
ably. come to Minneapolis at once.
i Bail Is Furnished.
Bail for each defendant was fixed at
4 So, 900, and bondsmen representing over
I a million dollars worth Of property
were on hand to furnish the necessary
signatures. w. L.. Harris and j. f.
Jordan qualified for Mr.. Bechtel's bond,
! P. D. Boutell and II. L. Glkie signed
Mr.. Campbell IS, and W.. L. Harris and
j. E. Gage are the signatories ON Mr..
Sackett 8 bonds. The same bondsmen
qualified for the bonds of the other two
defendants. - -
! Never has Hennepin county court
been graced by a more formidable. ar
ray of legal talent than that which
faced Judge Dickinson in defense OF
the five prominent defendants. Former
judges, county attorneys, United States
kofficia1s and others known among the
twin cities best lawyers were there
and gave promise of one of the fercest
legal fights ever had in this county or
state.
Victor Welsh of Welsh & Hubachek
appeared for Mr.. Bechtel; Ralph Whe-
, Ian of Koon, >Whelan & Bennett, rep
, resented Wallace Campbell; Charles w.
Somerby acted as Mr.. Sackett's coun-
sci; Judge Robert Jamison of Belden,
Jamison & Hawley, appeared for Judge
Kerr, and Pierce Butler, former county
attorney of Ramsey county, represented
Elmer II. Dearth. -.-...--.--~.