Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1908-10-22
N INTERESTING AFFIDAVIT
d. LYONS, the stesls 0ld.Tlmer
svesrs That John Storey Acted
AZ the Railroads Tool % tie
Noted Kldder County
Tax Case.

- -
John Storey, of Kidder county, does
the most of his campaigning by de.
pouncing his opponents IS sskaarpera-
tion men, it is we'll known In Kidder
county that he was not always SO Bit
ter against Interpretations" The
following atfidavit is by Mr.. P. J. Ly-
ons, resident in Kidder county for
more than twenty years, and for many
years a Steele business man we'll and
favorably known to the old-timers In
the north half Of Emmons county:
State Of North Dakota, a..
County of Kidder. 60
Patrick j. Lyons, being tirst duly
sworn, ON oath says:
Iwasa resident of Kidder county,
North Dakota, during the year 1899,
and many years before that time aud
. number of years after that time.
During the month Of March, 1899, the
tax agent Of the Northern Pacific
Railway Company came to Steele,
North Dakota, and offered me q con-
siderable sum-over olOO-tO sign a
galdocument he had In his posses
sion at the time, its purport being to
prevent the county commissioners Of
Kidder county from carrying out a
contract they had made two years
prior with Fred A. Baker, q large
landowner and taxpayer Of Kidder
county at the time, and q very able
and honorable lawyer, whom the COM
missioners had employed to assist the
states attorney, Charles II. Stanley,
in the collection OF the taxes due the
county for several years from the rail-
way company; the amount of taxes
aggregating over $4,000 in March.
1899 The case was then pending in
the United States court & MilWau-
kee, Wis.
The tax agent Of the railway com.
pany explained to me 1t that time
that II was necessary for them to have
resident taxpayer and freeh0lder Of
NADER county to commence the suit
on behalf OF the railway company and
against the county.
The tax agent further explained to
me that he could get qualified peti-
lloner to sign the complaint for less
money than he offered me, but pre-
lefred tog get me to sign It. refused
~ sign II for any sum of money or for
any other consideration.
The tax agent stated to me at the
llme that the Northern Pacific Rail.
WAY Va Company would employ j. w.
walker, OF Steele, to prosecute the
oase lor me; would pay all the court
.ps.s OF every name and nature, and
s vllal " would not cost me . cent. The
sum ne would give then and there for
signing the document would be net TO
me.
"A; A few days after this interview
WAN wan the tax agent OF the railway
company the suit Was filed ia the
clelk OF the courts ONCE Of Kidder
county, North Dakota, and John Sto-
y. candidate for the legislature from
lne 18th district, had signed It. and
~ reason OF such suit It embarrassed
.ae county a great deal, and cost the
S do.n.y many hundreds Of dollars to
h hehaie lne suit brought by Storey on
oe aaa OF the railway company.
ad Ana u, further say Of my own knowl-
e uu. !. = mat the Northern Pacific Rail
=, way Company did hire j. ". Walker
c ~ prosecute the suit against the
so;u,noy Tor John Storey, and that the
ff a.. company paid j. w.. Walker
i ~ =. SUCH legal service rs was rendered
c ~ v.,e SUIT, and that they did pay the
souIo costs incurred ia conducting
s w;.h SUIT an as they had agreed to do
i %,..a me II had signed the document
instead of Storey.
Gu, PATRICK ]. Lyons.
tb S;uo ,s.l and sworn to before me
IYo asv.i gay Of October, 1908.
NS S CHAs. II. STANLEY,
''sa'. +, Notary Public.