The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-25
ben ]. Ness IS
ARRESTED TODAY
Warrant, Signed byst q,
Divet, Accuses Him of -
Offering $500.
ASKED OPPOSITION
TO ANTI-SNUFF BILL
It is Alleged that He Made tho Offer
in the Interest of tho American To.
bacco Company-Wim be Afraiened
Late this Afternoon.
(By II. d. Paulson.) }

SDy I1s Us J6U1SOlsD
Bismarck, Feb. 25.-B. j. Ness
was arrested this morning charged
with offering = bribe of $500 to
Representative A. G. -Divet of
Richland county and Representa-
tive T. d. Twichell Of Cass coun-
-ty. Ness is formerly of Devils
Lake and Grand Forks. In the
complaint, signed by Mr.. Divet.
Ness is accused Of Offering $500
to Mcssrs. Divet and Twichell for
their support of the fight against
the anti.snutf bill. 1t is charged
that he made the offer in the in
terest OF the American Tobacco
company.
The offer. it is related, was
made on Sunday, Fcbruavv 23, at
q local hotel. Divet has been
strong supporter of the anti.snun
bill and Twichell also has been
for its passage.
Mr.. Ness was taken in charge
by Sheriff Barnes about II o'clock,
and will be arraigned this after.
noon before Judge Nuessle. OF the
district court, sitting as . com.
mittee magistrate. to face the
charge. A statement of the ar.
rest also will be made to the
house before adjourning this aft.
/, ern0on, and action OF some nature
probably will be taken by that
body.
The arrest of today has revived
stories of the free use Of money
two years ago against the bill,
when twas claimed that 9l0, 900
was employed in defeating the
purpose OF the measure.
Representative Diyct present.
cd statement In the form OF q
complaint to the house this AFT.
ernoon. charging that Ness offer.
ed the bribc OF $500 to himself
and to Mr.. TWichell, and that he
had also declared to DR.. w. NJ.
Barley, another house member,
that, for anything he would do
against tho anti.snuff bill he
would be suitably rewarded in
money. That the money would be
placed In tho hands OF q discreet
third person and given to said
TWfchcll. Is tho manner in which
It is claimed the transfer was to
be made. 1t Is also charged that
tho house informants, the three
members i'm question. each OF
whom signs the complaint, were
told that there were others out.
side OF the legislature who were
assOcfatlng with him in attempt.
ing to defeat tho bill, and that
members of the house and officers
of the house of representatives
were also concerned in the move.
ment. The names of such mem.
bcrs and officers arc withheld as
the infOrmcrs declare they have
no definite knowledge of their
guilt or innocence. The inform
ers asked that a warrant be is.
sued against Ness On charge of
contempt and that he be held in
the county Jail till the close of the
legislature ON the criminal charge
lodged against him in the district
court. Ness is being held under
$4,000 bonds which had not been
furnished up to 3 o'clock this aft
ernoOn. On the contempt feature
with the house making the arrest,
nc cannot get bail.
Upon motion tic speaker was
authorized to appoint a committee
Of five who will take charge of
the prosecution OF Ness before
the house. This committee will
draw a warrant Immediately and
Ness probably will bc brought be.
fore the bar of the house late this
afternoon. The declaration Of the
infOrmcrs that members of the
house and officers of the body are
said tn have been aligned in tho
movement against tho bill was the
big feature of the complaining
resolution.