The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1912-09-28
GOLDEN VALLEY WINNER
review OF THE CASE

Attorney Geo. R. Robbins. a former
Dickinson and Gladstone boy, gave
the following review Of the division
cases in Billings county in the Evening
Times of Grand Forks:
By denying the application of Bill
lings county rehearing and renting
the record to the district court at Medora
for the entry of final judgment in the
near famous Golden Valley and Slope
county division case. the supreme court
on September 10Th, practically closed
the action, for there remains only the
making Of the final order for judgment
by Judge Templeton and the entry of
the judgment itself finding for Golden
Valley on the contest issues.
Following the entry of the judgment
the county auditor will certify the re-
suit to the secretary of state. who. in
turn, will make his certificate to the
governor, who will then appoint the
commissioners of the new county.
1t is expected that the city of Beach
will be the county seat of the new
county.
r. M. Andrews of Beach with Geo.
r. Robbins and Geo. A. Bangs of Grand
Forks have represented Golden Valley in
the litigation. Judge Engrud and W.
F. Burnett appeared for those opposed
to division.
In the spring of 1910 petitions were
presented to the Billings county COM
missioners to submit to the electors the
question of division of the county and
the erecting therefrom of the new coun-
ties of Golden Valley and Slope.
The petitions were Granted and the
questions were submitted at the general
election held in November. 1910.
Golden Valley obtained majority.
on the face of the returns, of about
eighty-fve and Slope of about us, but
three fourths of the precincts did not
return the vote OH these questions.
After the vote had been canvassed
and before the auditor had certified the
result to the governor, contest was
started by Christ Peterson, citizen o.
the county. The grounds of the contest
were that the canvassine board had re-
ceived improper returns; that sticke
ballots had been used and that some
precincts had not returned the vote
The county commissioners favOrinR
the old county neglected to defend ane
j. r. Waters. formerly of Grand Forks
| Will SUIllC OllCI CllALCllo VI DCdNAls SOOs
up the defense on behalf of Golden Val
ley.
The contest was heard by Judge TEN
pleton at Dickinson in February, 1911
and about sixty days later was decided
by him adversely to both Golden Valley
; and Slope counties. The holding wal
that neither county propositions had
carried.
An appeal to the supreme court was
taken from the decision Of Judge TEN.
ple.on by Golden Valley county ant
this appeal was heard by the supreme
court in the spring of 1912. 1t was ar.
gued by Geo. A. Bangs on behalf O.
Golden Valley. Slope county advocates
did not join in the appeal.
In June a decision was rendered by
the supreme court reversing the opinion
of Judge Templeton and holding the new
county of Golden Valley to have receiv-
ed the required majority of votes.
An application was immediately
made for rehearing by the attorney fo
Billings county which application has
been under consideration by the su.
preme court until September 18th.
The people of Sentinel Butte wert
active in making application for re-
hearing.
1t ls said that in the hear ing of tn.
division case the fatal mistake of thoss
opposed to division was in not having
on hand in court certain ballot boxes
which contained large numbers of th'
blanket sticker ballots. Permission wat
asked to bring the said boxes from Bill
lings county but the court decided tina
no additional time could be granted TO
collecting these ballot receptacles.
Casey 6. Burgeson of this city have
been retained by Beach to assist in
the location of the temporary county
seat and other organizations.