The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-09-30

On the motion of Attorney Cen
eral Simpson, which was, concurred
in by County Attorney Chester
McKusick, just before adjournment
this forenoon, Judge Wright nollied
the indictments which had been re-
turned by a grand jury last June
against County Auditor Jonn Will
mann and Commissioners w e 3
Wright, F. O. Sibley and A. w.
Danaher.
Attorney General Simpson said
that he desired to bring to the
attention of the court some matters
which had been pending in Beltrami
county for some time past, and that
he believed that he, as attorney gen.
eral of the State of Minnesota, had
a right to make motion on these
matters.
It was only fair, said the attorney
general, to call the attention of the
court to the fact that in the month
of June, 1909, the grand jury which
was sitting at that time returned
several indictments. Two of these
were against John Wilmann, the
present county auditor, and one
against Yves Wright. F. O. Sibley
and A. w. Danaher:
A member of the Office of the at
torney general had been present with
the grand jury when these indict-
ments were returned, and Mr..
Simpson thought it was only fair to
say to the court that, at his sug-
gestion, the fact of the indictments
being returned was not made public
and that he thought that at that
time it was not advisable to issue
bench warrants. He had taken
such action because of the nature of
the indictments.
The indictments returned against
County Auditor John Wilmann was
for not reporting certain fees re-
ceived by him; that County Auditor
Wilmann had, in fact, failed to make
such report. Mr.. Simpson said that
he did not know that the county
had any interest in those fees, nor
that the pnblic had any interest,
and Mr.. Wilmann had been charged
by the grand jury with an offense-
failing to file his statement in detail.
The second indictment against
Mr.. Wilmann was, substantially,
failing to follow the lawful direction
of the public examiner. This law.
full" direction was not given by
the examiner, but by his deputy,
Mr.. Kahn.
Mr.. Simpson stated that the
other indictments to which he
wished to call the attention of the
court was that returned by the
same grand jury against County
Commissioners Wright, Sibley and
Danaher, wherein it was alleged
that the commissioners had allowed
a bill which had not been fully
itemized. This bill shows that work
had been done by team, indicat.
ing the number of days work; bu,
because the bill failed to state the
kind of work the grand jury had
seen fit to return true bills against
the commissioners.
If l was county Attorney" sale
Mr.. Simpson, II would move t.
anull these indictments. Now, a:
attorney general, I do move tina
these indictments be annulled.
AS to the county commlssi oner
being indicted for failing to itemiz'
the bill, I am free to say if thes'
held good, the members of every
town board and city or village coun
Gil of the state would be subject II
indictments"
Mr.. Simpson said that as matte
of public economy owing to tn
condition of the county, these indict
ments should be anulled. Further
more, he believed that it is impos
sible to secure convictions on tn
charges set forth in the indictments
At the time these indictment
were returned, said Mr.. Simpson
Beltrami county was in debt an,
the county was trying to float a.
issue of bonds to take up this out
standing indebtedness. 1t woul'
have been impossible to have hoatee
the bonds had the indictments bee