The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-05-04
PROBE INTO
PURCHASE OF
C0URIER-NEWS
Truth to Be Ascertained as TO
Transaction Made Here in
Fall of 1916 .4.:..
EXAMINE LEAGUE BOOKS
Trustee in Bankruptcy E. B. Nc.
Cutcheon of Minot Pro-
cures Court Order
EXAMINE LEAGUE BOOKS

A probe into alleged circumstances
surrounding the purchase by A C.
Townley and associations. presumably
on behalf Of the Nonpartiasn league.
Of the Fargo Courier.News, Just prios
to the leagues switch in the campaign
two years ago from John Burke TO
Porter J. McCumber In the United
States senatorial race, Is slated for
10 O'Clock next Thursday morning.
when several OF the capital city's most
prominent citizens have been sub.
poenaed to appear before Referee In
Bankruptcy H. F. O'Har.
This quiz promises to add another
thrilling chapter to the Townley bank-
ruptcy proceedings. Townley, and his
brother, G. s. Townley, on the league
payrolls as an organizer, filed q VOL
untary petition In bankruptcy with
Referee O'Hare last November. sched-
ulting liabilities Of $4,000 and assets
Of approximately $500. A number Of
hearings have, been held in .thb city,
and there has been one. In st. PAhE
In addition to procuring subpoeo.
aes for, the Bismarck people, and q
NUMBER Of we'll known Slope citiseaA
who are held to have come knowledge
OF /Townley's financial. transactlon9
beginning with the organization of
the league, Francis J. Murphy, repre-
senting the Townley credltors, while
in Fargo yesterday procQred from
Judge Amidon Of the United StAtes
district court for North Dakota q Inn.
tied order granting r. B., McCutcheon.
trustee in bankruptcy, permission to
apply to the federal court at st. Paul
for permission to. examine the books
Of the Nonpartisan league. II this
permission Is granted by the district
court at St. Paul, a thorough investt.
cation will be made with q view OF
determining how much money Town,
ley has collected since he created the,
league; how this money has been
spent, whence 1t came and how much
ToWniey has appropriated for his own
use.
The contention has been made that
Townley is the league. The organiai
alton has never been incorporated or
associated, SO far as the league In
North Dakota is concerned, at least.
Townley has written checks and
drawn upon the league funds as free
jy as though they were his very own.
He testified here that personal checks
Of his drawn on the league treasury
were always honored, whether they
we're tor the purchase Of one automo'
bile or dozen.
Some Inside Politics.
Some inside information upon the
political consideration which in 1915
induced the league to finally. with
draw its support from John Burke,
only a few weeks before the edectiQn.
and come out for Porter J. McCumber.
may result from the investigation to
be made before Referee O'Hare here.
The story of a transaction when $780,
600 Is alleged to have been paid over
to Townley, Coates. ct al, by interests
which desired the reelection Of Porter
]. McCumber. The Courier.News was
purchased by Townley and his confod'
crates Immediately following the a.
legged date OF this alleged transaction;
the word went forth to drop Burke
and support McCumber, it is alleged.
and McCumber was elected by nice
majority. ,...