Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-02
.BLACKMA|L Is CHARGED
N. Il. Heffner Accuses Former
Page County Attorney Of
Corrupt Practices
PAID TO SAVE INNOCENT SON
Heffner Says Defendant Accepted $3.50
to Quash Indictment Against Young
Heffner, Whom Plaintiff Claims Was
lnnocent-AlIeses That He Paid Sum
Thru compulsion and Fear.
Special to rimes-Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Clarinda, April "A case was filed
with the clerk Of the district court
last week by Attorney George H. Castle
Of Shenandoah which may prove SEN
sational. 1t is entitled N H. Heffner,
plaintiff, VS.. D. G. Sutherland, defend
ant. After setting out that during the
year 1904 the defendant was county
attorney for Page county, and as such
It was his duty to prosecute all Grim
inal cases where indictments had been
found, and that during October and
prior thereto an indictment had been
banding against George Heffner, the
petition proceeds to make q charge of
blackmail in the following language:
THAT said George Heffner was the
adopted son Of this plaintiff, and the
defendant, Sutherland, as county attor-
ney, was largely instrumental in hav-
Ing said Indictment returned against
him by the grand jury, altho the de-
PENDANT herein had openly expressed
his opinion and belief in the entire In
nOcence of said George Heffner OF the
commission Of the crime charged in
said indictment, namely, burglary, and
that such action on the part of the
defendant, Sutherland, was not in good
faith as an honest official, but was
done corruptly with an evil intent to
place said George Heffner and this
plaintiff in position Of apparent dan
ger for the purpose of extorting and
matchmaking both this plaintiff and his
said son out OF large sum OF money.
Bold Charge Is Made.
.rrhat when the said George Henner
vas about to be put upon his trial IN
said court by virtue of said Indictment
the witnesses for the state all being
present. the defendant, Sutherland,
made a corrupt and criminal charge,
and Of the indictment then pending for
trial against said George Heffner, all
al the cost Of Page county, in consid-
sArarion Of the sum of two hundred and
fifty dollars ($25O), to him in hand paid
by this plaintiff, said corrupt offer Of
the dismissal Of said criminal charge
against plaintiffs son being accompan-
led with a threat that If the criminal
case was not settled that he, as county
attorney, would prosecute the case
with great vigor.
"This plaintiff, to prevent public
scandal to himself, family and rela-
ffves, and to prevent his innocent son
from the humiliation and disgrace, as
well as a danger of conviction at the
hands Of an irate public officer, an
Hered by a refusal of this plaintiff to
submit to THE extortion and blackmail
demanded OF him, did on the 10th day
of October, 1904, pay to the said d. G.
Sutherland, county attorney Of Page
county, Iowa, the sum Of $3.50 for the
purpose above described, and that the
defendant, Sutherland, in consideration
of said sum, did request said court to
uuash said indictment and dismiss said
criminal action, on the ground, as
plaintiff is informed, that there was Sc
rious doubt Of the guilt Of said George
Hefner, and that there was not suffi-
Gent evidence to convict him, and said
court, relying upon said statements Of
the defendant Sutherland, as county
attorney, did quash said Indictment and
dismissed said criminal action.
Borrowed the $3.50.
."This plaintiff AYERS that he was
compelled to borrow said sum Of $3.50.
and to mortgage his home to raise the
money to pay the said blackmail to the
defendant Sutherland.
.Plaintiff AYERS that said sum OF
money was extorted from him against
his will and under the fear of the
threats Of defendant that he would
prosecute said indictment to a finish,
and that he paid said sum thru COM
pulsion and fear Of the defendant and
of his threats, and to prevent his in
nocent son from being prosecuted by
the defendant.
Wherefore plaintiff demands tudg-
ment against the defendant in the sum
of $3.50, together with s per cent there
upon from the 18th day Of October,
1904, and for costs Of suit"
Young Hefner was running restau-
rant in the town of Essex, next door
to millinery store which the owner
had deserted for the summer When
she returned she accused young Hef-
ner with breaking in and taking some
trifling articles, and she laid the matter
before the county attorney, Mr.. Suther-
land, who secured the indictment as
stated.