The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-09-15
GRAND JURY
Gets EVIDENCE
Indictment Of Cass Lake Ply
stefan Is Expected.


Delbert F. Dumas, mayor of Cass Lake,
Is making his rounds upon the sick,
the grand jury of Beltrami county ia
listening to witnesses produced by the
state which the commonwealth ex
poets to result in an indictment against
the physician, charging attempt at ar
son and safe robbing.
This is the first step of the court
proceedings in the long drawn out
drama following the arrest of DR..
Dumas on June II after night at
tempt had been made by Martin Be-
han and Mike Davis to rob and burn
the postofioe at Puposky, near here,
The yeggs were surrounded by armed
officers of the law, Behan being
wounded and captured, while Davis
escaped
Assistant Attorney General Alexan-
der l.. James, State Fire Marshal Kel-
Ter, Assistant State Fire Marshal Sam
Fielding, Pinkerton detective, all of
ST. Paul, and E. E. Mcdonald, appoint
ed special attorney at the request of
the attorney general, and Thayer
Bailey of Bemidji, involved in the case
from the beginning, comprises the at
torneys and officials here to represent
the state.
Judge Stanton Opens Court.
Judge Marshal A. SpoOner, chief
counsel for DR.. Dumas, former mem
Der of the district bench, was in the
courtroom when Judge G.. w. Stanton,
who opened the fall term of court
here, delivered his instructions to the
grand jury, but his presence was due
to another case. Cases on the civil
calendar were in his care and he was
merely an interested spectator
Attorney A. A. Andrews of this city
has been engaged as another assistant
counsel for the state in the Dumas
case.
1t is expected that an indictment
will be returned against DR.. Dumas.
He will have a few days in which
to prepare for trial and at this time
it is thought that just another week
will see the famous case under way.
The grand jury first listened to at
torneys, who explained the status of
the case against DR.. Dumas, and a
number of witnesses were heard,
among whom were: John Larson,
proprietor of the saloon on Third
street in which it is alleged Dumas,
Smyth, Behan and Davis laid the
plans for burning the Puposky post
Office building and robbing the safe,
Homer Dugas, manager of hardware
store at Cass Lake, where DR.. Dumas
is supposed to have purchased sup
ply of dynamite about the time Of the
Puposky affair, and Ole Ferguson OF
Cass Lake.
There still remain to be examined
several important witnesses for the
state, including Martin Behan and
several others.
Large Amount of Evidence.
It is said the state will present
large amount of evidence for the con
sideration of the grand jury.
In his instructions to the grand
jury Judge Stanton was emphatic.
You have been selected for very
important duties, he said and the
welfare of the country and of individ-
uals demand that you do your duty
impartislly and fearlessly. Yuu
should not be swayed in the least by
any wrong influence. The law knows
70 friends. Bear in mind that it is
your duty to return indictments
against guilty persons, but be sure
that a probable crime has been com
mitted."
prominently in the case because Of
the attorney generals decision not to
consider charges made against the
sheriff made by Viggo Peterson, chair
man of the Beltrami board of county
commissioners, on the ground that Dr.
Dumas friend was conniving to have
Hazen removed, was present in his
official capacity.
County Attorney Torrance explained
to the court that as he had at one
time been counsel for Martin Behan,
one of the men accused of being i'm
plicated in the Puposky affair, and
that therefore he was placed in po-
sition where he could not act as
prosecuting attorney before the grand
jury in the investigation of charges
against DR.. Dumas, he suggested that
local attorney be appointed to act
for the county attorney.
The court named e. 4. Mcdonald of
Bemidji to act in place of Mr.. Tor
rance.