Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-03-06
BRIDE ATTEMPT
BIC SENSATION
Tobacco Agent Held Guilty by
Lower House.
STARTLING EVIDENCE GIVEN
Testimony to the Effect That Quite
a Number of Legislators
We're Lined Up.
Especial Correspondence.)

ooSSNo SOl11-
pany, on the charge of attempted
bribery Of legislators in connection
with a%nti-snuff legislation, has been
the sensation of the week at the cap
ltol. When the charges we're made
against Ness by several members the
house promptly named an investigat-
ing committee to probe the affair and
after hearing several witnesses a re-
port was submitted expressing the
conviction that Ness was guilty as
charged. The house approved this re-
port and Ness was placed behind the
bars until Saturday. when his case
was called in the district court.
:. \ =
The principal witness against Ness
was Representative Divet. He told
of the alleged advances made by Ness,
of his offering himself and Twitchell
$4,000 and later raising it to $500.
He is alleged to have represented
himself as an agent for the American
Tobacco company and acting through
a Mr.. Pettibone of Steele, this state,
known as a general lobbyist for the
Northern Pacific Railroad company
and Rice.
= = =
Mrs. Emma Mckenzie of Fargo,
house s~tenographer, was another i'm
portant witness. She, it appears, was
familiar with the alleged negotiations
between Vice President Rice of the
American Tobacco company and Ness.
Mrs. Mckenzie testified to having
given Rice advice as to the sentiment
of the legislature toward the anti
snuff bill. She mentioned Represen-
tative Twitchell as one of it's strong
supporters and when she was asked
to recommend some one who might
influence Twitchell to change his
views she recommended Ness. Later
she c%onversed with Rice over the tele-
phone. Rice was at Fargo and, fol-
lowing instructions from Ness, she ad-
vlsed Rice to come to Bismarck, as
his assistance was needed. She tes-
titled Ness told her he had thirteen
or fifteen members lined up, includ-
ing Twitchell, who would require
about $1,000. Also that he was in
hopes Of landing Divet. but he did not
know at what price. He said it would
take about $4,000 or $4,000 to
square it with the other representa-
tives.
When the case came up in district
court the name of NJ. j. George, chief
clerk of the house, was brought into
the affair. Later it was stated George
had not been working for or against
the bill on account of any financial
reward. AS before the committee
Mrs. Mckenzie was one Of the most
important witnesses. She stated she
introduced Ness to Rice, vice presi-
dent of the snuff company, as a man
who would be able to help kill the
bill prohibiting the selling of snuff in
this state. When asked what had be-
come of Lee Pettibone, who was sup
posed to have money to pay for the
votes, she replied: 81 do not think
he is in the United States Attor.
neys for the defense tried to make
her fix dates positively, but she could
not do SO, saying she had not expect.
ed she would have to recall events
and that the exact dates were not
fixed in her mind.
:. :. :.
Three important changes in the
method of administering educational
affairs in the state are likely to re
C11t frOr, tba u,nrl, Df +ID DJ,,o,+;o,o
commission. A trio of bills has beer
introduced in the senate, two Drevi
Gus measures having been introduced
and passed by that body and now be
ing before the house with a goo(
chance of passage. President F. L
McVey Of the state university was
chairman of the commission. Briefly
the changes sought to be brough'
about are the creation OF a state
4 board of education, a single board fol
1 the government of the Glendale
| Wahpeton and Bottineau institution:
l and a change in the personnel Of the
4 board Of control Of normal schools
/ Another important educational meas
4 ure, not originating from this commits
sion, would make it necessary for tn
superintendent of public instruction
to be a college graduate. This meas
ure has been passed by the senate
but will be fought in the house.
:. = =
About twelve bills relating to tn,
educational code, adopted two year
ago, will be introduced in the senate
These have been worked u by tn,
education committee of the senat
and are based upon recommendation
of the county superintendent of tn
state, who, through a lobby, sough
no less han 1T amendments to tn
code of 1911. Then there is the bill
providing that trustees of the severa
state institutions must file requests
= prior to the time of the converting O
the legislature, for funds which the
npfic{pata will bn poodal tho ,,..onor