The Dickinson press., 1917-06-02
RICHARDT0N
IS AROUSED
OVER CRIME
LEHMANN MENACE TO COMMUN.
ITY, PETITION SIGNED BY
70 DECLARES.

11O1N
70 DECLARES.
Neighbors Unite to Protest Against
His Admittance to Bail-Prelimi-
nary Hearing Set for June 4.
Citizens of Richardton, aroused by
a report that Adolph Lehman, slav-
er of Matthias Wetzstein, was to be ad-
mltted to bail, this week circulated a
petition in that locality, protesting
against such course. Petitions were
signed by 73 residents of that vicinity,
nearly every neighbor of the i'm
prisoned man affixing his signature to
the document. They declare that Leh-
mann is menace to the commun-
ity, and broad hints are dropped that
there is danger of a lynching bee if
he regains his freedom under bond.
A baseless report was circulated
late last week that decision had been
reached to apply for bail for the slay-
er. No such move has been made,
but Richardton citizens, determined to
make assurance doubly sure, and pre-
vent him from being released, at once
circulated the petitions. A large
Richardton delegation came to this
city on Monday, and the paper was
first circulated here, about a score of
citizens signing in short time.
Then a number Of the men interested
in the movement passed the docu-
ments in the Richardton locality, and
the large number Of additional signers
was secured.
States Attorney Burgeson has
given assurance that the state will
fight to the limit any proposition
which would provide for admittance of
Lehman to bail. He declares that
the case against him will be vigorous
ly prosecuted, in an effort to punish
him to full extent Of the law.
Hearing June 4.
Preliminary hearing of Lehman
will be held on June before Justice
A. P. Folsom. 1t will be merely for
the purpose Of binding him over, and
only a few witnesses will be sum-
n1oned. Only the main facts in the
case will be shown at the time.
Richardton citizens are bitter in
their denunciation of Wetzstein's slay-
er. More than a dozen Richardton
men, in this city Monday, told Of
threats he is alleged'to have made
against them, and accused him like
wise of sharp practice in the conduct
Of his ranch, asserting that much
missing stock has been traced to his
place.
They declare that he allowed no one
on his farm, and had given orders to
his hired man to keep away visitors,
at the point of gun if necessary.
One and all, they declared that they
had good reason to fear him, and are
strong in their declarations that he
should not be allowed at large. Bail
can be granted in some murder cases
in discretion of the supreme court or
judge thereof, or by the district
court or judge, reasonable notice Of
application for bail having been given
the states attorney. Bond by sufti-
cient sureties may be admitted upon
arrests for criminal actions when Of
fense is punishable by death, unless
proof of guilt is evident or the pre-
sumption thereof great. Regard be-
ing had to the nature and circum-
stances of the offense and to the evi-
dence and to the usages Of law.
Petition and Signers.
Petition circulated was worded as
follows:
We, the undersigned neighbors Of
Adolph Lehman, and others, in this
protest against granting bail
to said Adolph Lehman, now in GUS
tody in Stark county Jail for the
murder of Matthias Wetzstein at Rich
ardton on May 20. We consider him
a menace to the community, and he
has on many occasions uttered threats
against certain of us, stating that he
would do us bodily injury; that he
has threatened certain of us, gun in
hand, even when we have approached
his home on peaceful errands; that we
know of a number of occasions when
he has threatened others, and has. CIV
en- orders to his employe never to al
low anyone to come on his property,
and to enforce his order by the use
of firearms, In view of these facts,
and to prevent trouble which is GER
tain to arise if he again returns to
Richardton, we ask that he be not ad-
mitted to bail, and that he be pun
ished for his crime to the full extent
of the law.
The petition is signed by the follow
ing: Ole Bruvold, P. P. Gress, Frank
Raphael Gress, Lee Hoff,
Stephen Schnell, Valentine Braun,
Joe Garrecht, H. Groth, Henry Fuchs,
Kaspar Gress, Frank Hoff, John F.
Berger, Nick Bauer, Thomas Seitz,
George Seitz, Markus He'll, J. j. Mess
mer, A. J. Berger, Louis Schacherer,
James Lunn, John Lunn, Nick Refs,
Peter Steckler, Raphael Schnell.
William Johnstone, Harry Johnstone,
R. P. Gress, William Thomson, Frank
George Staudinger, Jacob
Loran, Jacob Huthmacher, Aquinlius
Gress, T. r. Glynn, Joseph Friesz,
Rochus Fleck, Jacob Lautz, Mike Goti,
Peter Friesz, George Gratz, Frank
Fink, Sebastian Fink, John Fink, C.
J. Fink, w. j. Clark, Jacob Renner,
w. Schutzmann, G.. j. Schutzmann,
Frank Baierl, Gustav Mas, Gottlieb
Mas, John Kanable, Jess Detwiler,
Charles Berger, Will After, Peter
Messmer, Jacob Watts, Val Hoerner,
R. ". Hoerner, Mike Renner, Christ =.
Renner, Plus Renner, John Renner,
Nels Nelson, Frank Messmer, Christ
Renner, Alex Seitz, John .Hoff, John
Miller, Adam Forster, G. G. Mas, =.
j.. Dolliyer.
Sheriff Bars Visitors.
Matthias Lehman, father Of the
Continued on Page Five