The Washburn leader., 1914-01-23
Reports Used For
Political Purposes
State News Takes up Investiga
ton Of Wiliston Lynching
by Atty Miller

Three weeks ago the Leader
published accounts Of the lynch
ing at Williston These accounts
were copied from the state press
and were relied on being correct,
Including report Of the inveslga-
ton made by the Attorney Gen
erals of the state. 1t is now, how
ever, evident that these reports
concerning news was arranged to
suit political purposes as is evil
dent from the following from the
Bismarck Tribune:
The Bismarck Tribune, in it's
Issue Of January 3, committed a
crime against decent journalism,
when it grabbed an official re-
port for the sake Of political ad-
vantage. On the front page it
carried, in large headlines
story, with the following caption
NONE CENSURED FOR WILLIS
TON LYNCHING. ATTORNEY
GENERAL MAKES NO RECON-
MENDATION IN HIS REPORT.
CITES THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF TRAGEDY WITHOUT COM
MENT."
It published the letter Of Attor
ney General Miller to Governor
Hanna, in connection with the
Williston lynching case and it
published it verbatim, until the
fifth line from the bottom Of the
report is reached. There it sup
pressed a portion Of Lire in or
der to use the above head
lines. In discussing the charge
against the sheriff, Mr.. Miller
states: "My personal views on
that phase Of the subject We're
merely expressed to the sheriff
and are found on pages % and
20 of this report What the
Tribune published was this: My
personal views of that phase OF
the subject were freely expressed.
to the sheriff. Leaving out
the reference to pages % and 70
of the report.
In addition to General Miller's
letter to the governor, he furn-
ished as part Of his report a
transcript of the statements made
by the various officials in the
course of the investigation, con-
Quoted by himself, personally,
and States Attorney U. L. Bur
dick of Williams county.
On pages % and 20, which are
referred to in the letter to the
governor, the following is found:
Mr.. Miller:
Mr.. Sheriff, now you under
stand that there isn't anything
personal in this matter with me.
/ am only an officer Of the law,
the same as you are. My duties
are different from yours, but
simply official, and there is abso-
lutely nothing personal in this
investigation with me towards
anyone, but / am only here for
the purpose of investigating this
matter and taking such steps
against all persons who may be
subject to any kind of punish
ment for negligence or derelic--
ton as the sitlaation would seem
to warrant; and frankness com
pels me to say 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. 5 y,
Mr.. Erickson
How do You make that out?
Mr.. Miller:
In your failure to take the or
binary and reasonable steps that
a man occupying the position you
do should take to protect a pris-
oner. And / believe, Mr.. Sheriff,
that you ought to resign as
sheriff Of this. county. do not
think that you have, either at
that time used such judgment or
discretion az you should have, or
that since that time you have used
such diligence as. you shold have
used IN trying to apprehend these
men Of this mob. I believe this
county Is entitled to q sheriff that
will use more diligence and judg
ment and discretion than you
hare used.
B Nj. Eric ckson:
Vell, ! don't see how. J.
III. Miller: :sSss. si.:;., .s:.8.
on that il just my conclusion
I ana frankness compels me to
+ sa this because I felt that I
( q e tell yDu "a advance; 80;
tAlk you could have ynnr chance3
80 resien, or 4 may hare 70 bring
@ action againl you and take
s1a1ohss steps % eare nece Some.