The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-11-22

PRESENTED WITH GOLD WATCH
Attorneys and Court House Officials
At Fairmont Have a Nice Time
With Friend.

Attorneys ana court house OnlclalS
at Fairmont had Sheriff Elmer E.
Ward of Martin county indicted yes
terday and when the popular officer
was brought by Sheriff-elect Carver
before Judge Quinn he was made
the recipient of a beautiful mono
gram watch, which bears the follow
ing inscription: "In appreciation of
fourteen years faithful service as
sheriff of Martin county, MINI. BY
the court and officials"
An Indictment was prepared and
a bench warrant was issued for Sher-
iff Ward and when he was arraign-
ed before Judge J. M Quinn, the
Indictment twas read as followst
The s"Serious" Charges.
"The grand jury of the bar of
Martin county, Minnesota, duly and
legally irnpanelled, and having
charged and sworn according to law
and otherwise, gives the court to
understand and be informed, to-wit:
THAT the defendant, Elmer E.
Ward, late sheriff of said county,
yeoman, has wickedly, wantonly and
contrary to the custom of the realm,
planned and purposed to abscond,
and unless prevented by the timely
order and action of the court will
abscond and depart the realm, and
moreover had planned and purposed
to abdicate the high office of sher-
iff of said county, and to quit the
official companionship of many and
divers other officers of said county.
without having received due and
proper notice to quit, and without
the consent of the freemen, voters
of said county.
Contrary to the time-honored Gus
tom of all the officers of said
realm and county from time imme-
mortal prevailing, since the memory
of man runneth not to the contrary,
and against the peace and dignity
Of all regtlar officials, and prays
that he, the said Elmer K. Ward,
may be Immediately apprehended,
and dealt with according to law
Attorney Is Appointed.
AS the prisoner" had no attor-
Eey, the court appointed A. r. Allen
the new prosecuting attorney, spoke
and demanded that the full penalty
be inflicted. Attorney Allen then
spoke for the accused, and eloquent
ly implored the leniency of the
court. reminding him that this was
Mr.. Wards first offense of the kind,
and in fact it was the only time
on record that an officeholder in
this county had voluntarily given
up his office without the consent of
the voters; that while such an I'M
heard of procedure no doubt de-
served severe punishment, yet he
trusted that the court would gener-
ously temper justice with mercy.
County Attorney Palmer moved that
sentence be pronounced.
The court then pronounced the
sentence, before doing so in his re-
marks passing from humor to seri-
BUSINESS, and referring in a feeling
manner to the pleasant relations
which had always existed between
the sheriff and the other officers
during the fourteen years of his
service; reminding him that he had
"given every official act your best
effort" and expressing hope for his
future happiness and prosperity
wherever he might decide to cast
his lot.
Presented With Watch.
Judge Quinn closed his sentence"
by calling upon Sheriff-elect Carver
as his first official act to receive
from the court token of apprecia-
ton and the highest regards which
he was to place upon the person
of the outgoing sheriff.
The judge thereupon placed in the
hands of Mr.. Carver a beautiful
monogram watch which was slipped
in Sheriff Wards vest pocket. The
recipient of the gift was deeply af-
fected and his features expressed
his appreciation better than many
I'D