The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-04-11
COURTS DISMISS
CASES AGAINST
2N0NP ARTISANS
Federal Court at ST. Paul and
Falrmont Tribunal Release
Prisoners.
FREE AND OLSON FREED
Former Governor John Lind, Personal
Friend of President Wilson and the
Latters Envoy to Mexico, Becomes
indignant at Persecution of Olson
and Volunteers to Defend Him.


TWO more Of the series of trimmed
up charges designed to prosecute or.
gan1zers and members of the National
Nonpartisan league have been thrown
out of court.
John V. Free, League organizer, was
acquitted by jury in federal court in
st. Paul, after only 80 minutes DELHI
Grafton. He was charged with VIOLA
ton of the espionage act. Evidence
showed, however, that the charges
against Free were framed up solely to
d1scredit him, and the organization for
which he worked.
vague charges brought against Eric
Olson, League member in Martin
county, were thrown out of court by
Judge Dean, after he became con-
vinced that the pointless charges made
in the indictment did not constitute
an offense that is recognized by law.
Olson is alleged to have failed to dis
perse when county officers broke I'D
farmers meeting which he attended.
The trial OF Free was the first case
of the kind to be tried by United
States federal court.
Object of Persecution.
That Free was the object OF perse-
cution designed to intimidate him into
ceasing organizing for the Nonparti-
san league is the claim that he made
In connection with the case He testi-
fed that in the fall of 1917. Dave Nc
Ksnzie, Republican political boss OF
Wabasha county, stopped him on the
streets of Lake City and told him that
II he did not "cut out that Nonpartisan
league stuff" he, Mckenzie, would
get Free If It was the last thing he
did"
Mckenzie, who was county director
of the Minnesota Public Safety com
mission in addition to being a promi
nent Republican of that county, has
bitterly fought the Nonpartisar
league Testimony showed that he
had taken a federal agent through his
county in an effort to dig up evidenc,
against Free.
Miss Ethel Metcalfe was the princi
pal witness against Free. She testi
fed that while milking cows in Wa
basha county she overheard Free tel
some men that they were foolish t.
join the United States army and tina
they would make a better investmen
by enrolling in the Nonpartlsal
league.
Testimony Discounted.
Her testimony, however, was yer
much discounted when she admitted
the witness stand that state author
ties had granted a pardon for ne
brother. convicted Of wife murder an
serving a sentence at the state prlso
at Saltwater, Immediately after 81
had promised to testify against tn
Nonuartisan league organizer. Ther
has always been sentiment in Leagu
circles that state authorities OF Mll
nesota were willing to do anything
discredit the Nonpartisan Leagu
which the League followers say, II
perils their rule.
Eric OIson's Case.
Eric OLSON WAS LAO SooJ>So
in persecution of A. r. Allen. county
ID torney of Martin county. Ol&n Is
q aeati and respected farmer OF Tn
r county. He has lived there for ov
as 30 years. Because he has been cio
r. student of economics he was iooK'
unon as a harmless crank unth
TONED In the farmers political orga
ization. Then he was regarded
dangerous and plans were MADE
Y. keen him in Jail. He was arres.
several times on various charges Il
os which have stuck.
=. The only one of these charges "ni
On held was one declaring him IN &C
tempt of court. He refused TO ooey
m court order to present hlmseiI Oeio
1t tbe state safety board to tell tue
al nrivate citizens how much properly
ce owned. For this offense he pald -
lu- fine.
-, 1.gnade Olson,