The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-06-28
Courtroom Crowded With Men and
Women, Who Get Glimpse of
Mayor Prisoner.
BEHAN TO 60 ON STAND
Munhall, Held on Same Charge, Also
Will Be Arraigned Here Tomor-
row Morning. r.

At the request of Assistant Attor-
ney General Lyndon A. Smith the
preliminary hearing of DR.. D. F.
Dumas, mayor of Cass Lake, charged
with conspiracy to burn and rob the
postofice building at Puposky, was
continued until tomorrow morning
at o'clock.
At that time he will be arraigned,
together with William Munhall held
on the same charge, before Court
Commissioner H. A. Simons, the pro-
ceedings to take place at the court
house.
James Delayed By Wreck.
The delay is caused by a mixup in
the attorney generals office. Alex
James, assistant attorney general,
was to have taken charge of the case
for the state but because of a wreck
was delayed and late yesterday af-
ternoon Mr.. Smith was assigned to
come to Bemidji.
He arrived here this morning but
was not familiar with the evidence
and requested that the case go over
untif;2 o'clock p. At that hour
he told the court that he had to ap-
pear in the United States Circuit
court at Fergus Falls tomorrow, and
that he believed it to be undesirable
to attempt the two hearings today.
He assures the court that Mr.. James
would be here in the morning and
with this understanding and in the
absence of any objection on the part
of Judge Spooner, who appeared for
DR.. Dumas, the hearing was con-
tinued.
State Fire Marshal Charles Keller
arrived on the same train with Mr..
Smith this morning. He will re-
main until after the hearing.
No Persecution Says Keller.
State Fire Marshal Keller said that
no persecution of DR.. Dumas or any,
one else was being attempted in the
cases which have been brought
against Dumas, Behan and Munhall,
but every effort was being made to
detect and severely punish the par
ties who have been guilty of setting
fires, especially in northern Minne-
sofa, where there had been alto
gether too many fies of undoubted
origin during the past year.
"The information which has been
furnished our Office is of such a sub
stantial character" said Mr.. Keller,
"that l have no doubt of the exist
ence of well-laid plans to burn many
buildings in this section of the state.
We shall certainly push prosecution
to the finish; and there will be no
let-up.''
When the case was called before
Commissioner Simons in his Office at
9 o'clock this morning there was but
few persons present, it having been
understood that it would be practi-
cally impossible to proceed at that
time. When the case came up at
p. m. the court room was filled,
many persons standing, many of
those present being women.
Crowd is Disappointed.
The crowd was disappointed as the
proceedings lasted scarcely longer
than three minutes.
DR.. Dumas, confident as ever, sat
with his attorneys, Judge Spooner and
A. A. Andrews.
Mr.. Smith asked that the case 70
over. ..t-.
"That is satisfactory to u.s." said
Judge Spooner for the defendant, and
then Commissioner Simons granted
the request.
Behan to Testy. s
Martin Behan, the wounded rob-
Der who failed to make his getaway
at Puposky and was arrested and
locked up here, has been subp0enaed
as witness for the state; and there
is much speculation as to whether
the testimony which he will give will
implicate Dr. Dumas.
Other persons who are expected to
go on the witness stand for the state
are: Detective Fielding, Sam Fuller
ton, Deputy Sheriff Matt Kennedy
of Cass Lake, Sheriff Hazen, Deputy