Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-30
E. T0WNLEY
RESlSTS ALL
INVESTIGATION
Continued from Page e.

\SOI4lAuucu xIUh rake O,J .
A. Mr.. Lemke and MI. F. B. Wood.
@. Mr.. Lemke the attorney?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That is of the national organi-
cation, 1 understand now. Mr.. Town
ley?
A. Yes, sir.
@. Where does Mr.. Wood reside?
A. Deering. North Dakota.
@. Is he still up at Deering?
a. His business is there.
O.. Do they likewise have charge Of
the funds and the books or disburse-
ments Of the, funds of the North Da-
kota state Organization?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And those men have had, for
some time. that position?
A. Yes, sir.
@. Practically since the original
organization?
A. Yes, sir.
@. The league books, as I under
stand it. are in charge of Mr.. Keyes,
and also of this committee
A. Yes. sir.
9. And are in their possession?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That refers to both the national
ton? A. Yes. sir.
@. Now, Mr.. Townley, Is 1t not a
fact that Of the moneys contributed
by the various members of this league
as dues or fees a certain percentage Is
paid to the Nonpartisan Leader. a
newspaper organization Of this state?
Mr.. Manahan: Objected to as in
competent, irrelevant and immaterial.
The relations between the league and
their official organ are purely mat
tiers concerned with the league.
MI. Murphy: Just strike that out.
Gets Money.
ing That question. 1t is a well known
fact that the Nonpartisan Leader gets
the subscription price of the paper.
@. Do you know what that is?
A. $3.50 a year.
@. And that is from each member
of the organization, a portion Of the
fee, or this $3.50, goes to the Lead
er, does it?
A. That Is the agreement we sign.
G. Could you tell me approximate
ly how much money the league takes
in annually?
Mr.. Lemke: Immaterial. improper
examination. He has not shown that
this witness is in n way interested
i'll the funds of the league excepting
5000 a month.
Mr.. Manahan: Objected to for the
luItIct IedSOI ~ IS very OOV!OuSlS d
political question for the purpose of
seeing how much money this league
has collected and spent.
Mr.. Murphy: 1t is for h purpose
of finding out how much money has
gone through Mr.. Townley's hands.
Mr.. Manahan: That is immaterial
Mr.. Murphy: Well, how much he
has had in his possession.
Mr.. Manahan: That is inamaterial
| *oo The oye1,,~< ~ ,n1-41 I1nc S0th-
ing to do with the matter. The
amount that has gone through his
hands as trustee or officer has Moth
ing to do with the matter and the
question as to how much money the
league has collected from its members
and disbursed politically is purely a
political question, n unless the wit
ness sees fit on his own personal re-
sponsibility to disclose it / would ad-
wise him that his duty to the farmers
whom he represents and his duty as
trustee. would be to decline to answer
any queries as to it's political activities
or resources.
Mr.. Murphy: 1t may be that some
designing persons might distract it
but I can't help that. I am simply
trying to do my duty to the creditors
! through this gentleman's hands while
he has been in charge of this organi-
cation.
MI. Manahan: I would say that it
is immaterial how much money Mr.
Townley collected in North Dakota
from these members Of Mr.. Townley's
organization in the last campaign. 1t
might go through his hands, some of
it. but it is not material to the issues
of this case.
Mr.. Murphy: The materfality OF it
is this: that when We ascertain the
amount of money n when we come
to find out how it is disbursed. I think
the materially will be clearly appar-
ent, because if he has to make an
accounting it is material.
Mr.. Mammalian: The accounting is
between Mr.. Townley and that or
g%anization.
Mr.. Murphy: He will make one to
his creditors, l think.
Mr.. Lemke: There are numerous
authorities that the examination must
not go to the extent Of prying into
secrets Of another for the purpose Of
gratifying idle curiosity.
Will Not Submit Tamely.
Mr.. Murphy: ] am not going to
submit tamely to these charges: when
you try to cast reflections on my pur-
poses understand it is YOUR propose,
whenever I reach a vital point, to
charge me with political designs.
However, 1t makes no impression o.
me because. as I say, I am not at all
surprised by it. l purpose, in order
to make myself clear, to ascertain if
I can precisely how much none
these bankrupts. and particularly the
witness now on the stand, have had
has passed through their hands with
in a reasonable time. n to ascertain
precisely what he did with that
money.
Mr.. Lemke: Your business is to
find out what amount he owns.
Mr.. Manahan: You have no right
to pry into the political affairs OF the
Nonpartisan league and how it spent
its money. You r not going to sue
coed if l understand the law, in trying
to disclose to the public just exactly
where every dollar of the Nonpartisan
league vas spent.
After a short argument. Mr.. Town
ley asked to answer the question, but
his attorneys refused to let Kim. Mr..
Manahan insisted that it was not fair
to tell what money had been spent in
politics. Finally, Mr.. Murphy asked:
@. Have you ever accounted to
this organization for the none that
has been collected?
A. I account every day to the or
ganization for the money that is coll
lected.
@. In what manner? A. Keeping
the books. \
q. And from the books is shown
the exact, precise situation? A. Ex-
actly.
@. And they are in your possession
or the possession of the committee?
"A. The executive committee and
the treasurer Of this organization.
@. Mr.. keyes? A. Certainly. I
mould Iiko IN ~aEA O efo fnuoopf rl4ht