The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-11-15
When Official Arrives, He Finds Sher-
if is Hunting With Assistant
Attorney General.
CHARGES OF LONG STANDING
Filed Last Spring By Viggo Peterson
Who Alleges Gross Misconduct
In Office.

Andrew E. Fritz, public examiner
| for the state of Minnesota, arrived
in Bemidji today to Investigate seri-
Gus charges against Sheriff Alvin B.
Hazen, which have been pending
since last May.
A few days ago Sheriff Hazen
wrote Governor Eberhart calling his
attention to the fact that charges
were pending against himself and
asking that the governor take some
action.
Out Hunting With James.
The sheriff at the present time is
hunting moose in the northern part
Of the county with Assistant Attor-
ney General A. L. James.
Mr.. Fritz arrived in the city this
morning and was disappointed not
to find the sheriff in the city, but
he will remain until the sheriff re-
turns.
Peterson to Come.
In the meantime, Viggo Peterson
of Pnposky: chairman of the Beltrai-
mi board of county commissioners,
who last May filed the charges to-
gether with af1idavits, tending to
show that Sheriff Hazen has been
guilty of malfeasance and nonfeas-
ance in Office, has been summoned.
Mr.. Fritz said today that he came
to Bemidji at the request of the gov
ernor to make thorough invesuga-
ton of the sheriff's manner of con-
Quoting the duties of that Office and
as to his ability to continue such
work.
i
Reports to Governor.
Following his investigation. here
Mr.. Fritz will make his report to
Governor Eberhart and the chief ex-
ecutive will then be in position to
act, although the probable procedure
will be for him to pass the informa-
ton on to the attorney general.
At the time, last spring, when
Chairman Peterson filed his charges
with the governor they were passed
along, as is the custom in such cases
to the attorney general for ruling.
No Ruling Ever Made.
Despite every effort on the part of
Chairman Peterson no ruling ever
has been made by the attorney gen
erals office and the cry Of politics
frequently has been raised in connec-
ton with the affair.
George Authier, political writer IN
the MINNEAPOLIS Tribune says:
Dope Given Author.
Following the conclusion OF
the Dumas case in Beltram1
county. Governor Eberhart faces
another serious situation in that
section. Charges were filed by
the chairman of the board OF
county commissioners, Viggo Pc
terson, a Socialist. Whatever
Mr.. Hazen's action may have
been. the state found him use
ful and faithful servant in its
prosecution of the Beltraml
gang of fire bugs. The governor
has received letter from Sher-
iff Hazen, calling attention to
the fact that the charges have
been. made and asking, in fair
ness to himself, that an imme-
date investigation be made.
| The governor has decided to take
action. He will send Public Ex-
aminer A. E. Fritz to Bemidji
with instructions to make
thorough and complete investi-
CATION. The governor will be
guided by the public examiners
report.
Hazen Out of Case.
t. Mr. Hazen was unable to act dur
ing the Dumas trial here, the duties
of sheriff being performed by Cor
oner Ibertson, as the result of an af-
fdayit of prejudice filed by the de
Tense.
sumatra is famous the world over
for it's cigar wrappers, and tobacco
plantations have spread to neighbor-
ing isles.