Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1913-05-30

would be provided if necessary. Jim
Shea was suggested as the stakeholder
but Twichell objected to Shea.
Twichell and Divet contended that
$4,000 was not snoungh money, in view
tof the fact that the company had $1o,-
600 to spend, and that they should
have at least $4,000 for it appeared
that it would depend upon them to 10
the largest portion of the work, but
Ness told them there were other
members who would have to be taken
care Of. $500 was practically sug.
gested as a compromise, but Twichell
said that Ness told him they would
have to wait till Monday to get enough
to make up the $500.
While Ben J. Ness was on the wit
ness stand the larger portion of the
day he told straight story Of the
affair alleged to have occurred last
winter when it was said that there
had been an attempt to bride Twicb-
ell and Dewitt, both members of the
lower branch of the legislature to in.
duce them to assist in the defeat of
the snuff bill known as senate bill
No. SO.
When questioned by Attorney Sink
Ter for the defense he told of how his
"blood boiled' when he called at
Twichell's room at the Grand Pacific
hotel and found Dewitt there, and re-
Numbering that it was Dewitt who pre-
pared the specifications in the Cowan
trial two years ago, in which the store
at Devils Lake was attacked as a
place where the prohibition laws of
the state had been violated and as
a result he had lost over "$12.000" in
business. Ness stated on the stand
that he was of the opinion that Twich-
ell and Dewitt were men of practically
the same type, and he believed that
they were looking for money. He
Thought he saw a chance "for re-
venge" and he proceeded to put them
in the position Of being willing to
accept a bride. He said he led them
to believe that he was a representa-
tive Of the American Tobacco company
and that they could receive at least
So, 500 for their services against the
bill from either Mr.. Rice OF Mr.. Petit
bone fo1 their services against the
bill.
Yesterday afternoon when cross ex.
amined by the Attorney General for
the state all attempts to break up
Ness story failed. After repeated at
tempts on the part Of attorney gen.
eral Ness positively denied that he
had ever told Twichell or Dewitt that
he was authorized by anyone to pay
them $500 for their services.
Ness related when questioned by the
attorney general his business career
as far back as 1901. wv
He testified as to meeting Twi"hell
on February % in room 400 at the
Mckenzie hotel, which room was the
headquarters of Messrs. Miller and
Taylor both members of the house.
and also when he was in Bismarck, OF
George Hart Of Ryder, who was can
didate for the appointment of game
warden. He also told of those pres
ent drinking a bottle Of beer. He
told of Hans Miller taking quart
bottle half filed with whiskey from
the dresser drawer, and that Miller
took a drink, and went out, leaving
Twichell and Ness alone in the room.
Ness told Of while he and Twichell
were in the room alone that they I'm
ished the whiskey that Miller had lett
and that afterwards Twichell searched
the dresser drawers for more wh;s-
key, after which they both left the
room.
Ness says that later he met Miller
and told him that the "boys" were
looking for more drinks, whercuron
Miller gave him a quart Of No. s,
National club whiskey which he took
to Miller's room, pulled the cork and
took drink for himself. went out and
told Twichell he had found the "pack
age" that he had been looking for.
In reply to the attorney generals
questions Ness said that he had never
had any animosity towards Twichell
he had supposed that he and Twienel'
were friends but when he found Dewitt
j.: Twichell IS room at the Grand Fa.
e::ic hotel the thought occurred to him
that they both wantel n. 'neg.
>css admitted bein., acquainted with
rr Barley, and knew he was chair.
man on public health, but that he did
not tell DR.. BARLEY there was any
money for him, or that he (Ness)
was interested in the defeat Of any