The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-05-10
4 Presentation Of Facts In Relation
to the States Attorneys Office.

Mr.. Robert d. Jones. who is can
didate for reelection as states attor
ney for Grant county, presents the
following facts for the consideration
OF the taxpayers and voters of the
county:
; Prior TO and since he was elected
states attorney between fifty ana sixty
suits have beer brougil. against the
county-growing out OF the construc-
ton OF the new court house building.
The j.. b. Evaus Construction Com.
pany defaulted in its contract to con-
strnct the building, and failed to pay
for material and labor which it had
, o ntracted for and received. Suits
we're then brought against Grant
county by those furnishing material
and labor, they maintaining that the
county should be required to pay their
claims. These suits involved about
S1a, 0O0. These same material men
and laborers brought another action
against the county, claiming that the
county had failed to comply With the
law In letting its contract to the j. b.
Evans Construction company.
be first actions referred 10 have
been tried in the circuit court and
judgments In favor OF the county have
DCcl GitCICN III OIL DGG fouI ca NCS, AZ
g~regating about $3.50. and these
cases are now under appeal to the |
supreme court by the states attorney.
So that as it stands now Id these ac-
tions the county has eliminated paving
all but So, 800 out OF about SIS, 0aO
claimed. with the chance that the su- |
prenle court may hold with the county |
on The fOur remaining cases
Ihp second actions faferfaG IA IN va 1
been disposed OF III thai one WIS tried
in which the county was successful |
That case has been appealed to the
supreme court by the material men.
II the supreme court afiirlns the circuit
caprt 1t is probable that none Of the
remaining cases will be tried, as they
are all practically alike. SO in this
litigation as it now stands, the county
may expect to win all of this CLASH OIL
eases.
Another feature of the court house
litigation is the suit which has been
brought by the states attorney for the
county against the Maryland Casual
ty Company upon the bond 1t furnish
ed the J. =. Evans Construction Com
pany and the county at the time the ,
court house contract was let. When |
the contractor defau.led It became nee
essary for the county to- complete the !
court house, and in doing this the
county a required to expend ap-
proximately sc, 900 over and above
the contract price Of 1900, il order
to complete the Evans contract. It l..
for this amount owe the contract
price that the states attorney is at
tempting to Gov for Grant county. |
Therefore it can be seen I. that the
litigation all taken together involves
with interest, costs and everything, |
nearly $4,000 to the taxpayers Of
Grant county. And at this time the
litigation IL far from being disposed
of: It will take in all probability two
years before all these cases can be
tried and finally disposed of in the
supreme court, where no doubt ap
peals will be taken because of the
large amount involved.
This is the largest litigation In the
history Of Grant county. and to
change states attorney at this time
will mean changing In the middle of
the litigation. Only those who have
been in close touch with this litigation
have any idea of the amount Of work
that has been and is being required
OF the states attorney, and Il involves
many very technical questions Of
law that require the closest attention
II order ~ present and protect the
county, interests ct al times.
In addition to this the states attor-
ney has handled over 50 criminal
cases with very little costs and ex.
penee to the county, and yet has caus-
ed the odenders In nearly every case
to b properly punished.