The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-29
HEARING FOR SHERIFF
STORIES BY WITNESSES
Complaints Are Made By Non
Party Followers
ECHO LAkEFIELD AFFAIR
James MaEahan Claims He Was
"Rough- Housed" In That
Village
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
ST. Paul, March 26.-Nonpartisan
league representative today present
ed to Governor Burnquist testimony
in support of charges on which they
ask that Sheriff o. C. Lee of Jackson
county be removed from office for al
legged nOnfeasance.
At an earlier hearing Sheriff Lees
counsel, County Attorney E. H. Mich
olas, entered denials of the charges
against the former, who was not
Pike and H. A. Paddock appeared for
the league.
The complaint charges that Sher-
if Lee permitted unlawful disorder
at Lakefield the night of February ID,
on which date Joseph Gilbert, a
league organizer, was on trial there
for alleged violation of the Jaw
against unlawful assemblage.
Claims Sheriff Did Not Act.
The star witness of the league,
Leo Blahaski, testified he heard
Manahan ask the county attorney to
bid on the parrot and that Nicholas
took affront and said something about
Nonpartisan league men being partri-
otto only when in the clutches of
the law. In disturbance that fol-
lowed Sheriff Lee made no attempt
to restore order, Blahaski said.
He expressed the opinion that
County Attorney Nicholas alterca-
ton with Manahan precipitated the
trouble.
Mr. Nicholas denied seeing any dis
turDance in the hall.
/ There Was Some Jeering, Said Wit
ness.
A. E. Wicks told of jeering by the
, crowd when Manahan was auction
ing the parrot. He testified also that
Deputy Sheriff Ross Kephart and two
other men took Manahan from the
hotel and started down the street
with him.
John Malloy, night clerk at the ho-
tel, testified that Deputy Kephart
and two men approached Manahan
| in the hotel office and that the deputy
j ordered him to leave town and forced
him to walk to garage.
+. John Peterson testified he inter-
cepted blow aimed at Mallahan by
an excited citizen. Sheriff Lee ap-
poared and ordered quiet restored
An automobile occupied by Manahan
shot out of the garage and disap-
peared down the street.
Mr.. Manahan was expected to take
the witness stand during the hear
ing.
[ Allow For Briefs.
Nom Partisan league members and
friends having testified that they We're
terrorized the night of Organizer
Joseph Gilbert's trial February IL al
Lakefeld, without interference from
the authorities, and James A. Mana
han, league attorney, having re-
cited the story of his hasty departure
from the midst of alarms Governor
Burnquist late yesterday allowed ter
days for filing affidavits in hearings
to determine whether custer proceed
ings will be started against Sheriff o
G.. Lee of Jackson county on charges
by league representatives that he was
remiss in his duty on that occasion.
Parrot Auction Detailed.
There was testimony that pande-
monium reigned in the court room
during Red Cross benefit auction
after the trial late that night; tina
mobs gathered on the streets in Lake.
field and threats of violence were
shouted; that the hotel lobby was KEEP
darkened for the protection of the
league representatives, at least ons
of whom hid in the cellar; that there