The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-01-22
GRAND JURY REPORT.

The report states that there are
still some minor matters to be in
vestigated. and the jury was not
dismissed. The unfinished business
will not, however, require the ser.
vices of Virgil Peringer, the spe-
cial prosecutor. who will receive
1915 for the 80 days work. The
services of Winemiller, one of the
bailiffs. were also dispensed with.
The grand jury found nine in
dictments, five of them being a.
gainst Frank l. Sefrit. editor OF
the Bellingham daily papers. The
grand jury recommends that the
deputies in the sheriff's office be
paid, and that one of them be re-
lieved from duty on February /.
Three indictments were found a.
gainst j. E. Sigh, an attorney, of
Everson. two for criminal libel
and one for intimidating an officer.
Editor Matthews. of the Blaine Bee
also drew an Indictment for crimi-
nally libelling Andrew Danielson
Sefrit. Sligh and Matthews furnish
ed bonds for their later appearance
in court.
County Attorney Bixby was ex-
onerated on all of the charges made
against him by the Bellingham daily
papers. Judge Hardin was repri-
manded by the jury for dabbling
over much in politics and for par
ticipating in partisan political mat
ters. He was also censured for in
viting Editor Sefrit TO mortal COM
bat. TIE jury states that in rep
rimanding Judge Hardin il did SO
not alone from personal obligation
but that from testimony produced
before il, it believes that his action
initiates against his efficiency and
usefulness as judge. 1t severely
c,it;cizes Judge Hardin's conduct
and language IN the street contrO-
versy with Mr.. Sefrit. But It also
finds that the judge was subject
ed to numerous and unwarranted
torial matter. in the Bellinghsm dai
ly papers and cites sixteen articles
in the Americana -Reveille and one
in the Herald. The jury believes
such articles are proper subjects S
for prosecution and recommends
that the prosecuting attorney pro-
ceed in the matter according to Ike
law applicable in such cases.
The jury declares that the con-
tract under which Sheriff Thomas s
is feeding prisoners is Illegal and
that third and disinterested par
~ should be employed to feed the
prisoners, and that three, instead
of two meals be served.
1t recommended that the county
auditor should direct the use OF
the county automobile. 1t also finds
that the commissioners were with
in the law in awarding the county
printing contract last May, and that
Henry Shagren was fully justified
in charging his travelling expenses
to the county, and that he should
in no way be censured therefor.
The greatest portion of the re-
port is given to the consideration
of the conduct in office of the pre-
sent county attorney. F. w. Bixby,
and it finds in substance that: In
the Kincaid case his actions We're
within the bounds of the law 81
all times, and that criticisms and
charges against him in this case
have been both unfair and unjust.
That no conspiracy existed be-
tween the prosecutor, the county
commissioners and Judge E. Z. Har-
din, and that these officials have
hot been engaged in conspiracy
q gainst the sheriff's office and the
deputy sheriffs.
That the charges in the cases of
Crawford VS. Horton and The State
VS. Horton, wherein Mr.. Bixby was
with being culpable in the
He is also exonerated of all the
charges made against him in the
Fulcher case as well as in the Os-
car Johnson matter.
That there have been a number
of other and various charges and
criticisms coming generally from
the same source as the foregoing,
made against Mr.. Bixby as TO his
official conduct, but We find none
of them sustained by the evidence
and We exonerate him from each
and every one of the same"
Sheriff Thomas is criticized for
his conduct in the kincaid case and
in refraining from seeing to it that
Kincaid WAS taken to the peniten-
toary. And that the sheriff is open
10 criticism for his conduct in a
case where complaint was made of
the Illegal sale of liquor at Ever
son, when he confided the contents
of a complaint to the parties charg-
ed with the offense.
The jury further found that the
sheriff lacked efficiency in prop
erly policing the grounds and in
maintaining order at the Grocers
Picnic at Everson in 1912 and at
the Pioneers celebration at Fern
dale the same year, and that il be-
lieves he could exercise greater dill
igence in the enforcemnt of the To-
cal option law.
The jury recommends that the
sheriff's office and the county at
torney's office bury the hatchet and
henceforth cooperate with view
of rendering the public more eff
riapt soryicp