Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-01-14
ATTORNEY GENERAL PETERSON
ALLEGES HIS INNOCENCE WITH
STRONG LANGUAGE.
JAMES L. WALLIS ARRESTED
Fred L. Huston, State Auditor, Indicted
Jointly With Wallis ON One Charge
Interesting Developments Expected.

The state treasury steal still boils
and bubbles down at Boise and the
reading of the Ramstedt report before
the legislature involving several other
officials besides Allen, former state
treasurer, and Coleman, deputy, has
caused some frothing asd fuming. The
reading of the statement made j. IL.
Peterson, state attorney especially
violent and he came out in print using
very strong terms against Ramstedt and
the governor. Then Ramstedt replied
to Peterson g attack and the following
is the statement and the comment as
published in the Capitol News:
Ramstedt's Statement.
"I do say that o. V. Allen advanced to
j. II. Peterson and that j. HI. Peterson
received amounts aggregating $500 be-
longing to the people of the state of
Idaho.
"I do not say that Mr.. Peterson knew
in his heart that this was state money
when he received it, neither do I say
that he did not intend to return it, but
do say that the state treasury is short
$500 on account of this transaction.
Whether Mr.. Peterson knew that this
was state money when he received it is
question to be determined by a com
petent tribunal.
"I propose to devote all the time at my
disposal and, if necessary, my life, to
exterminating the maggots that have
been circulating in and about the state
treasury-Statemen by Axel 2. Ram
stedt.'
The Capitol News continues:
Declaring that he will devote his time
and his life if necessary to "extermi
nate the maggots" circulating in and
about the treasury department of the
state of Idaho, Axel P. Ramstedt, chair
man of the state tax commission ant
special examiner authorized to uncovel
the plot to loot the vaults to the ex
tent of approximately 100000, briefl,
and with the dignity of his office, is
sued reply to the vituperative state
ment directed against him, against tn
governor OF the state, his secretary AM
those citizens who have been instru
mental in bringing into the light OF da,
the illegal transactions in connection
with the disgraceful condition of al
fairs in the peoples statehouse, OF Az
torney General J. II. Peterson pull
lished this morning.
Attack and Denial
The incorporation of the Ramsteo
report into the message of Governe
Moses Alexander to the legislature,
report that had been submitted to til
present chief executives predecesst
but withheld from publication after
week of night sessions, during whic
every perssure was brought to bear Q
If author to modify it and take out {
it some of the Objectionable feature
that seemed to involve the attorne
general and the state auditor in regal
to the shortage that was found in Il
treasury department after Examin
Ramstedt took charge of it, called for
the reply of Attorney General Peterso
The language used in this reply is sa
70 be the first of it's kind seen in pu
lie print in Idaho. It was bitter
tack on Governor Alexander, who W
hailed as cowardly demagogue' a.
nassed the lie direct to Examiner RAJ
stedt. Attorney Gerenal Peterson del
ed the charges in the report and t
man who made them as liar
this Examiner Ramstedt replied
above in statement issued today.
What Report Showed in Part.
In making up the total shortage,
+be amount of funds embezzled fir
the state treasury and covered by
undated check of the defaulting tire
urer, o. v. Allen, of $7O,345.6S,
Ramstedt report shows it to have b
divided into five separate items, nj
ing five parties who received it,
follows:
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