The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-02-15
Non-Partisan League Manager
Given His Trial There
THREE MONTHS IN JAIL
That Is the Sentence; Manahan
Affair Aired, and TownIey
Talks


with creating an unlawful assemblage
following his defiance of orders
against a league meeting here Monday
night, was found guilty by jury in
Jackson county district court last
night and sentenced to three months
in the county Jail.
H. A. Paddock, league lawyer from
st. Paul, who accompanied James A
Manahan here, had charge of the de-
Tense, following the departure of Man
ahan, chief counsel.
Manahan was threatened about 9: 80
P. M. Monday by man who had been
in his audience after night session in
court. Manahan had started for his
hotel when one of the five hundred
men who packed the court room
shouted:
Had Enough League Stiff.
We've had enough of this Nom
Partisan league stuff. If can get hold
of your collar I'll show you how we
feel about it,
A crowd of several hundred gath
cred and began shouting for a rope.
At this Sheriff o. G. Lee and deputies
surrounded Manahan and he was TAX
en- to Heron Lake to catch a train for
ST. Paul.
The crowd became angered during
the court session by Manahan's at
tacks on county officials for interfer-
ing with league meetings. Court Re-
porter w. Il. Nicholas, a brother of
County Attorney Nicholas, objected tn
reflections on that official and offered
to meet Manahan outside after court.
Statement BY Sheriff.
James Manahan, attorney for the
Non-Partisan league, who on Monday
night left Lakefield, Mimi, in COM
pay with Sheriff O. G. Lee of Jack
son county after having been threat
ened by men in his audience, appealed
to the sheriff to be officially escorted
to Heron Lake and placed on train
bound for st. Paul, according to a
statement issued late yesterday by
Sheriff Lee.
The Jackson county official asserted
Manahan would have been protected
had he desired to remain in Lakefield.
Nothing would have happened to him
had he remained, the sheriff said.
What Started Trouble.
Manahan was in Lakefield defending
Joseph Gilbert, manager of the league,
who last night was found guilty on a
charge of unlawful assemblage. Dur
ing the course of a statement by Man
ahan, the attorney threatened to have
the town boycotted by the farmers,
men in the audience, said
This angered the citizens and many
gathered around Manahan and Nels
Johnson, league organizer, threatening
own accord.
League Issues Statements.
Sheriff Lee returned to the county
seat of Jackson county late yesterday,
leaving fifteen deputy sheriffs at
Lakefield.
Non-Partisan league headquarters
last night issued statements giving
their version of the Lakefield affair
and condemning some of the public
officials.
81 was in Lakefield as legal counsel
for client who was on trial for an
alleged misdemeanor," Manahan's
statement says. while acting in this
capacity-just after I had conducted
an auction to raise funds for the Red
Cross was assailed by mob.
Says Protection Was Denied.
"The peace officers of that county
gave me to understand they could not
protect me-that l had better leave
town and stay away. was forced to
leave my client in the midst of trial
at which his liberty was at stake. Not
only my own, but his constitutional
rights were violated.
II intend to take steps to ascertain
whether the constitution is suspended
in Minnesota. intend to take steps to
see whether the highest authorities of
this state will obey their oaths of Of
flee and enforce the law"
Charge Ridiculous, Says Townley.
President Townley's statement says
in part:
1--WE have absolute evidence that
carefully prearranged plot is on foot
to stamp. out our organization work
in Minnesota by fair means or foul
Fair means have failed. Now our op-
ponents are resorting to foul tactics
and apparently they don't even in
C6uu IL lCS Lie VI IuG
United States stand in their way.
81 do not know whether a warrant
for my arrest has been issued or not,
but the published charge is ridiculous
and never will stand for one minute
in court of law.
Accuses America First Body.
"These acts of public officials in
themselves violating or encouraging
others to violate the law are far
more serious. They strike at the
very foundation of democracy. Not
only this, but it is arousing resent
ment and discomfort among a large
portion of our people.
There is no question about the
patriotism of the people of this state
Even most of those of German de-
scent are behind President Wilson in
his determination to establish de-
mocracy abroad. But certain prof
iteering interests, to hide their own
selfishness and to mask their selfish
ends. are trying to make a political
issue out of patriotism and to brand
as disloyal every one who does not
agree with them We even have
documentary evidence to prove that
the America First association is be-