Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1914-05-01

tion For Alleged se---Upon Re-
fusal to Pay Tribute is Quickly Arres-
ted By States Attorney and Will Be
Tried at the Taxpayers Expense.
One of the most high handed pieces of backmaii
that was ever attempted anywhere came to light last
Monday night when Freeman Whitaker the proprietor
OF local dray line, arrested statutory oense
by the states attorney following his refusal to pay
$500 to the law firm of keohane Gallagher and Iones
Last Saturday evening Mr. Whitaker received the
following letter. evidently from Mark F. Jones as the
envelope bore his personal return card:
John Keohane r. F. Gallagher Mark F. Jones
KEOHANE, GALLAGHER & JONES
Beach, North Dakota
=. April 18th, 1914.
MIR. Freeman Whitaker,
Beach, North Dakota.
Dear Sir:
A matter of considerable importance to you has
been placed with You will kindly call at our Offices
Immediately upon receipt of this letter in regard the
will be necessary that other steps be taken
against you.
Yours very truly,
keohane, Gallagher & Jones
Mr. Whitaker called at the Keohane, GALLAGHER &
Jones office Monday morning and what took place is
best told by the following sworn affidavit of Mr. Whit
aker:
State of North Dakota, County of Golden Valley ss
Freeman Whitaker, first being duly sworn, deposes
and says that on Saturday the 18th day of April he re-
ceived through the United States Mails letter dated
the day addressed by keohane Gaag CHER K Jones
informing this afiant to call their Offices
of considerable importance and if aan would not call
Immediately it would be necessary that other steps be
tax that uhatxu
wanted but thinking it best to them up to the
office of Mark Jones Monday the 9th, following.
in the forenoon and Mark Jones there; that said
Mark Jones that time admitted the writing of said
letter and said Mark Jones told aan he had of
serious nature against this afiant and one that
men had been known to pay $25 600 in settlements and
that if aant wanted settle this out of court they
would settle this for him if afant would pay them
$780, that afan refused and upon atlantis refusal and
statement that he had committed ofense they could
if they desired put him in the penitentiary and said
Jones suggested that afiant would not have pay all
of the $500 once stating that aant had dray line
and could make settlement in several payments; that
atian after refusing again left the office and the
day at about 8 o'clock, afant arrested by an
officer charge of felony setting forth in substance
the same complaint made to him by Attorney Jones
and for which he Oones) had offered to settle by pay
ment of $500 and keep it out of court
FREEMAN WHITAKER.
Subscribed and to before this 29th day of
Aprl n. IL. 1874.
Barney t. Piesik
Notary Public for the State of North Dakota residing at
Beach.
My Commission expires Nov. 9th, 1916.
AS stated in the affidavit, Mr.. Whitaker was ar
rested Monday evening and taken before Judge Rosen
berg where he waived examination to the district court
upon advise of friends. The complaint was sworn to
by one, Hattie Raven, who charged that ofense had
been committed against her by Mr. Whitaker on the
18th day of April. From the day of the alleged crime
until last Monday attempt was made apparently, to
have Mr. Whitaker arrested and his arrest did not take
place until he had refused pay $500 trbute-thr-
teen days after the alleged ofense This alone seems
to discredt the prosecution. Just why the states at
torney should approve such actions and bring them into
court at the taxpayers expense is known unless he
had hand in the blackn1a and was to receive part
of the rbute-and brought the action to force its pay
ment.