The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1912-01-19

leased and DISCHARGED at ~ o'clock =.
m in police justice court OF the city OF
Bonesteel. He had been charged with
embezzlement by X. l.. Flisram, one
of the directors of the Farmers Co.
Operative association OF Bunestcel
The preliminary hearing was carried
on In vigorous manner and his ac.
counts were inquired into, which took
the biggest part OF two days and part
OF the night, and when Prosecutor
William Mcdonnell for the state, rest
ed and j. Il. Cash, OF the defense rest.
ed, they submitted their case to the
court without argument.
The court said in part that he did
not believe. after hearing all the evi.
dence on both sides, that II would be
fair to bind the defendant over to the
circuit court, that it would cause some
to criticise him no matter which way
he would act, and that it would have a
tendency to tarnish Mr. Stebbins'
name and his family, so he said you
are released and the case is dis
missed"
big CrOWuS dtttuutu lnt ntdllu6i
much interest was manifested.
While Stebbins was on the stand in
his own behalf he said that he would
repay all debts OF every kind to the
Farmers Cooperative association re-
Gardless OF their nature, be 1t short
age, oversight, neglect on his part to
balance the books properly or give
proper credits TO the customers OF the
said association He said he would at
tend to same Immediately
Additional information regarding
the incident was issued to The News
| by Stebbins in the following state.
ment:
The action in which w. p. Stebbins
| was charged with embezzlement was
| tried in the Justice Court of j. Nj. Big
gins Wednesday and resulted in the
acquittal of Mr. Stebbins. The COM
plant in this action was sworn to by
X. l.. Flisram, n director of the Farm
ers' Cooperative association of Bone
steel and charged Mr.. Stebbins with
having collected the sum Of $lO4.Sl
from }. K. Walker and appropriated
the sum to his own use, Mr.. Stebbins
at that time being the manager of the
| Cooperative association. The undis
puted evidence Nof S. NJ. and s. r
Lindley. president and assistant cash
| ier of the Security State bank OF Bone
steel showed that this sum was paid
to Mr.. Stebbins by Walker in the form
of a check and that on the same day
this check was deposited by Mr.. Steb
bins in the Security State bank to the
credit of the Farmers Cooperative
association and had never been in the
possession of Mr.. Stebbins longer thar
it took him to walk direct to the bank
and deposit it to the credit of his EN-
ployer.
The belief here is that this actor
was started with the intention o
bringing Mr.. Stebbins into bad reput'
land for personal reasons, there beins
no foundation to the charge at all. /
is thought by many to be the outcome
of a town fight and church in which
Flisram was on the opposite side from
Stebbins Mr.. StebbinS stands high II
church and social relations and hi
character or reputatiin has never be
| fore been aSsailed. He is n prominen
; member of the Masonic lodge here ant
himself and family nave always AM
, still are held in high esteem by tn
better element Of the business and sc
I cial interests of Bonesteel and Gregor
, county. Flisram, the complaining vii
mess in this action, is a well to q
farmer living near Bonesteel, and tn
general opinion is that his credullt
was imposed upon by unscrupulou
: lpersonal enemies Of Stebbins wh
t caused him to bring this action whic
held no merits whatever and resulte
o | in a complete vindication OF Mr.. Stel
! bins. The other members of the boar
, of directors OF the farmers associatio
had no knowledge Of the proposed az
. ton OF F1isram and deeply regret hi
I action in this matter. Public sent
: ment was strongly with Mr.. Stebbin
y and his friends feel that he has bee
I" done rank injustice by designin
personal enemies.
Mr. Stebbins is at present employe
y as manager Of the Albion Elevate
company at Albion. Neb.
-----------------------
Ala rIEooEa