The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-30

He might, at any time, Townley
said. draw his personal check. tocov.
er the purchase Of an automobile or :
half.dozen automobiles. ON the league
account. These checks, he stated, al.
ways were protected from the league
treasury; in the keeping OF; Mr.. Keys
Townley admitted that W. g. John.
son, a league bookkeerer, drawing per.
haps $50 to $175 the, month. for his
services in the St. Paul headquarters,
had drawn out and deposited to his
personal account In July 1917 the sum
of $4,000. Townley hesitated to ex.
plain this circumstance, but stated he
believed it was done because there
were rumors at that time that tho
league funds were to be tied up In
some way. - j.
McCutcheon Trustee.
AT the beginning Of the hearing tho
appointment of K. B. McCutcheon Of
Minot, former state game warden, to
be trustee, was announced. yt.:... <
Francis J. Murphy of M1not, former
assistant attorney general, is repre-
senting the creditors, while William
Lemke, a vice president and one OF
the three directors of the National
Nonpartisan league and chairman OF
the Republican state central commit
tee, appears for Mr.. Townley. James
Manahan Of st. Paul, Who represented
the league in former hearings, Is not
here for obvious reasons. Referee. 0.
Hare's office is packed, tie spectators
including many league legislators, who
are busily making notes, particularly
as to facts brought out in relation to
the Consumers United Stores Co.
Legislators opposed to Mr.. Townley
also are well represented. =. ~
Uses Funds Freely. ..:s.
Townleys evidence indicated that
any of the funds of the National Non
partisan league or Of the Nonpartisan
rubhshing co., or OF some Of the 9TH
er auxiliaries are at his disposal when
he desires to use them for political
purposes. He admitted having used
the funds of the Nonpartisan Publish.
ing Co., which owns the >Nonparttsan
Leader of St. Paul and the Courier
News Of Fargo. He also admitted that
Edwin c. Wood and a Mr.. Fox; league
organizers who appear as the defacto
copartnership owning these publica-
tions had little, if anything, to do with
the active management OF the news.
papers, whose editorial policy Is dt.
rected by Mr. Townley. oliver Nor.
ris is the editor and Herbert Castor
is business manager Of the Nonparti.
san Publishing Co., testified the pc
titioner
las matter of fact the finances of
the Nonpartisan Publishing CO. are
as much under your domination as are
tho finances of the league, are they
not?" asked Attorney Murphy.
no" replied Townley. Fox and
Wood can dispense with my services
in the publishing company, but they
cannot dispense with my services in
the league
On further examination, however,
the witness admitted that he con.
trolled the finances of the Nonpartisan
League Publishing Co., Just as he con.
trolled those of the league. through
an executive committee composed Of
himself. F, y. Wood Of the Equity Ex.
change In st. Paul and Attorney viii.
liam Lemke. Wood and Lemke, he
stated, were vice presidents OF the
national Nonpartisan league, and
Treasurer Keyes. he stated. hxndled
the money for Ill Of these league Or.
carnations and auxinaries. .s.sg
The League Exehaaos.