The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1912-11-30
BILLINGS co.
TROUBLES


Courts Will Have to Say Who
is Entitled to Office. Can
Miss Marie Acker-
man Qualify !?
The election on November 5th did not
determine the officers who are to serve
in Billings county for the ensuing Two
years. Some very important legal
points have arisen since the convening
of the canvassine board last week and
without question some of the tangles
incident to cutting off the Golden Valley
territory will get into the courts. The
appointment of the board of commits
sioners for Golden Valley. the new
county carved out of the northwestern
one-fourth Of. the old territory, was not
made until after election, hence the
people of the entire county as it former
ly was, participated in the election.
Candidates from various parts of the
territory were duly elected on the face
of the returns. but the question now
arises as to residence. etc. Charles
McCloskey Of Sentinel Butte, now in
the new county. says that he can quail
ify as register of deeds in old Billings
by simply taking up his residence at
Medora. Good authorities. however,
say that he can not. Nels Nichols, who
is resident of old Billings. was given
some $50 votes by sticker and believing
that he is legally entitled to the Office
which George Burgess has so ably held
for some years. has secured the services
of Casey & Burgeson to look after his
interests. dz@.
The officers who appear to have been
elected on the face of the returns are !:
Ira j. Wilson, auditor; Arthur E.
Swan, treasurer: Thomas v. Porter,
sheriff Paul Lebo. clerk of court; r.
M. Andrews. states attorney; >Chas.
McCloskey. register of deeds; Marie
Alderman, superintendent of schools; !;
W. H. Hanson, commissioner 3rd dis
trict.
1t is said that Miss Ackerman holds
only second grade certificate and If
this be correct she cannot qualify and
the Office will then 60 to the candidate
receiving the next highest vote which
in this case is Miss Clara Evenson of
Gorham. Both are residents Of the old
county, so it is merely a question Of
qualification. The law says that per-
son to qualify. for superintendent must
hold a professional certificate. Miss
Evenson has this and If the other lady
has, it is not matter of record in Bill
linss county.
This is what the Medora Herald says
of the election tangle:
John Tester and W. H. Hanson, COM
missioners remaining after the seces-
sion of the country at the west, were
convened by call of the auditor Tuesday
for the purpose of appointing officers to
Gil out unexpired terms and for the
places for which oficers-elect could not
qualify. To make the full number on
the board for the purpose. County Judge
Paxton acted as the third member. Lit
tie was done until late in the day. when
they agreed on E. D. Peck as a member
of the board. representing the second
district.
j. X. Swihart was appointed to fill
out the unexpired term of states attor-
ney. As J. f. Arnold claims a resi-
dence in Billings county by reason Of
having brought his wife to his board
ing house before election, and refusing
to vacate, the board decided to delay
action until they were more sure of
their legal position. No action will be
taken on this until the meeting of De-
cember End.
After the board had completed the
canvass of the election returns Thurs
day, Attorney T. D. Casey of Dickinson
addressed the board in behalf of N. D.
Nichols, arguing that, as the regularly
elected candidate for the Office Of regis
ter of deeds, Chas.s r. McClosky. could
not qualify for the Office in this county.
not having made q resi- dence here pre-
vions to the organization Of the other
county, the certificate Of election should
not issue to him, but should certify the
election of MIR. Nichols as having the
highest. number of votes. Mr.. Nichols
ran for the Office on stickers. having
placed this means of voting in one or
two precincts, in anticipation Of the
other county dividing before election.
IN thot avont there midht have been q