The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-05
and
The LYNCHING
ATTORNEY GENERAL WRITES
THE FORUM GIVING HIS VIEWS
OF SHERIFF E~RlckSoN's CON-
DUCT AT THE WiLLlsToN Az
FAIR.

The Forum Is in receipt Of a conn.,
munication from Attorney General
Miller in which he takes exception t Q
published statements regarding ms
findings In connection with Sherllt
Erickson and the Williston lynch1ng.
The Forum quotes from Mr.. Mlilers
letter those portions which give ms
views regarding Mr.. Erickson:.
From my investigation 1t would
appear to me that Carl the
sheriff, is a good citizen ana stands
high in his community. HIS honesty
and integrity are not questioned py
anyone, so far as l was able TO ascer-
| tain. AS to his conduct n actions
in respect to the care and safety OF
| the lynched prisoner in his charge, and
| the extent to which he should be held
| accountable for the %lynching, by rea-
son Of such conduct, you can best de-
termine for yourself from the state
ments Of the witnesses attached here
to, including his own statement and
that Of Mrs. Erickson, his wife. My
personal views on that; phase of the
subject were fairly expressed to the
sheriff and are found on pages rs and
20 Of this report. 20
And are as follows:
"Mr. Sheriff, now you understand
that there isn't anything personal in
this matter with me. l am only an
| OIIICSr OF Inc ldW, LHG SdIIuG DIS yoo
are. My duties Ire different from
yours, but simply official, and there is
absolutely nothing personal in this in
vestigation with me towards anyone,
but I am only here for the purpose
Of investigating this matter and TAX
ing such steps against all persons who
may be subject to any kim Of punish
ment for negligence or dereliction as
the situation would seem to warrant;
-nl F~, ~ Irt, acE Nnyann1c n I'm COW tn
you that my judgment is that your
conduct in this case is such as to make
you guilty of negligence in your duty
as an officer"
Mr.. Erickson: "How do you make
that out?"
SIN your failure to take the ordinary
and reasonable steps that a man oc-
cupying the position you do should
take to protect a prisoner. And l
believe, Mr.. Sheriff. that you ought
to resign as sheriff of this county. I
do not think that you have, either at
the time used such judgment or dis
erection as you should have, or h a
since that time you have used such
diligence as you should have used in
trying to apprehend the men of this
mob. I believe this county is entitled
to a sheriff that will use more dill
gence and judgment and discretion
than you have used"
Mr.. Erickson: well I don't see
how"
"Well, that Is just my conclusion and
frankness compels me to say this be-
cause I felt that I ought to tell you
that in advance, so that you could
have your chance to resign, or 1 may
have to bring an action against you
and AXE such steps as are necessary
Someone must be held responsible 1r
this case and you, primarily, are re
sponsible for what has happened"
I did not and do not Justify the
sheriff. On the contrary, I did, in ne
uncertain language, condemn him fol
the grossest negligence. The power
of his removal does not lie with me
It would seem to me that, in view o
the above quotations from my repor
placed in the hands of the governor
further recommendations in respec
to the sheriff would be useless.