Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-10-05
ALEXANDER FIGHTS
AGAINST $l4,5O0
STATE RAID
MEMBERS OF STATE LAND BOARD
RESIST GOVERNOR AND AS
SIST YOUNG COFFIN.
CHANGE NEEDED AT BOISE
Only Way to Save Raids ON State
Treasury is to Elect Democratic Off,
cials From Governor Down.

Boise, October 4.-The peoe of Boise
and vicinity, who are familiar with the
facts, now realize if the State Treasury
is to be saved from another raid, which
will be even more scandalous than that
made by o. V. Allen as treasurer and
his deputy Fred Coleman, it will be
necessary to elect Alexander, as Cover.
nor; Walters, as attorney general, and
Doughtery as secretary of state, at
least, to say nothing of the rest of the
democratic ticket.
The latest raid on the State Treasury
last week was given the aid and assis-
tance of the Republican majority of the
State Land Board, including Secretary
of the State Barker, who is a candidate
to succeed himself, and who, if elected,
will, of course, vote again to sustain
this raid just as he did last week.
Young Tommy Assist. States Atty.
1t will be remembered that young
Tommy Coffin, the inexperienced boy
taken up by Attorney General Peterson
and given a position in his office as
assistant attorney general, was given
charge of the suit against the bonding
company to recover on the Allen bond.
| After he had this case well under pro-
gress, and he and the attorney general
had formed law partnership to be-
come directive at the conclusion Of
their term of office, he resigned as
assistant attorney general but still con.
tinued to represent the State of Idaho
as attorney in the bond case. 1t was
the general supposition that notwith-
standing he had resigned he was still
acting as assistant in that office for
the purpose of completing this case.
Claimed Fee of $12,500.
| However, after judgment was secured
for something over $l55,000 Coffin filed
lien against the judgment for $12,500
claiming that amount due him as a
special attorney in the prosecution of
the case. Governor Alexander at his
personal expense, Immediately employ
ed counsel to contest the lien where
upon Colln released the lien and de-
clared he was willing to accept such
fee only as the majority of the State
Depository Board might be willing to
pay him. Acting upon this suggestion,
an agreement was reached whereby the
Depository Board decided it would pay
him his regular salary as assistant at
torney general for three months,
amounting t. $4,000 which it was
decided would be reasonable compen-
sation for his services; Coffin there
upon decided to 90 back on his former
statement and when the surety company
rendered the state it's certified check
to satisfy the judgment, the State
Depository Board was served with an
, injunction notice issued out of the dis
trict court of this district prohibiting
them from accepting $4,000 of the
check which is the amount to which
Coffin has increased his demand as q
fee.
This case was decided against Coffin
by the district court, which, however,
, directed that the amount of $4,000 be
I set aside as a special fund in the state
treasury to be held until the claim could
be passed upon by the State Board of
Examiners and if desired, by the
Supreme Court and Legislature.
Coffin Claims Another $3.50.
Then Coffin came in with another
) claim of $4,000 for services performed
at the same time in foreclosure pro
ceedings ordered by the State Land
0 Board to close up some old loans which
l had been made and upon which neither
G principal nor interest had been paid
: but which were in default. This claim
2 was made out by the attorney genera,
: and signed by CoIlin as the amount
u due him for services as assistant attor
u ney general.
: When the bill came up for action OF
g the State Land Board, Coffin demanded
the right to strike out the words, assis
y tant attorney general" " his purpose be
e ing to lay the foundation for his claim
= that he was not assistant attorney
U general during that time, but was EN-
ployed as special attorney so he woulc