Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-07-24
LEAGUE LEADER
FOUND GUILTY.
&C. Townley Held to Have Con-
spired to Teach DisloyaIty, by
Minnesota jury---New
Trial is Asked

Bile but In the court Of public
opinion the common sense OF the II
people will never approve ruling
that says man may. merely deny
he 10 disloyal and 10 forbidden 70
prove by constructive testimony
that he 10 loyal"
These are the words with which
A. C. Townley, President Of the Nom
partisan League, received the verdict
Of Jackson county (Aiinn.) jury in
district court, on Saturday evening,
July 18th, by which verdict Mr.. Town
ley and Mr.. Joseph Gilbert, Il League
organizer, were found guilty Of con-
spiracy to teach disloyalty, under the
Minnesota state espionage net. They
sum up in the fewest possible words
the attitude of League members and
all fair-minded men throughout the
Northwest WHO have watched the
course of trial, that was a mockery
of justice and n political charade acted
out by the appointed characters. fSl
Glance at Stage Setting.
To secure this conviction, which Is
under the Minnesota law misde-
meanor, glance ut the stage setting
arranged to produce the result desired
by the interests and gang politicians:
A judge, the appointee of Burnquist,
governor of Minnesota for the inter-
ests;
States attorneys also appointed, bit
ter enemies of the farmers organiza-
ton and partisan in the extreme;
A jury selected by methods that pre-
vented any but those persons opposed
to the League from being drawn;
A county that was one of the black
est spots in Minnesota, ut Il time when
mob rule and violation Of law was
epidemic over the state, and which still
is under the domination Of ring of
politicians who prefer an Oligarchy to
democracy in peace or war.
A court that permitted the prosecu-
ton to admit any evidence 1t needed or
required, and barred all evidence that
the defense offered to disprove the
charges made;
A conviction for Conspiracy when
ut no time even by the states evil
dence, was there ever shown any con-
spiracy or understanding implied or
explicit between the two defendants.
The Final Scene.
Then view the last scene of the trial
when the attorneys for the defense,
knowing with their clients that the
case was ended as far MS. they were
concerned, were discharged, and when
President Townley asked to be permit
i Tod 70 OI1 f1,n 3,pN
behalf-and look upon the trial Judge
as lie declines and refuses to permit
the man whom he was about to brand
as n criminal to say d word in defense
Of himself or of the hundreds of thou
sands of farmers whom he represents.
That may be justice, but it is more
like the "justice" of the courts martial
than the orderly procedure of the civil
courts Of America.
President Townley's Remarks.
II ask your honor said Townley,
"that may be permitted to make my
own plea to the jury. Il am very
anxious to do this. The attitude of
more than 100000 farmers and a mil
lion of people throughout the North
west, will depend upon the decision of
the jury and again ask that I may be
permitted to make the address in my
behalf" ysa.asI i.
Judge Dean pointed out to Townley
that this is case alleging conspiracy
in which the law holds that the two
defendants, If found guilty, would be
considered equally guilty. The court
questioned whether the law would per.
init one of the defendants to try his
own case in an action Of this kind
without legally representing the other
defendant. Townley is not lawyer
The application Of common sense
written into words and applied to the
rules of life is law, your honor" sale
the Nonpartfsan League chieftain. Gil
bert has quit. Suppose he would de
eide to plead guilty? would that meat
that am guilty. feel that an
innocent and ask for the right t,
make my own plea" 81
II am indicted in this case. Thi,
case means my life" shouted Townley
when Prosecutor Nicholas urged tn,
!. court to dispose of the issue. 'Th,
county attorney may not think mucl
of this case, but it means my life worl
and everything to me and $50, 600 othe
people" e ..: Us
II have given the matter consider
able thought, Mr.. To~nley, . said Judg
Dean. will admit this Is a clos
question and would like the suprem
court to settle 1t. think that I VII
have to deny this request, b d.
Il take the position, your honor,
said Townley In his final words "tha
money can not measure the tlifferenc
between my capacity to preesnt thi
case to the jury and the capacity Of til
attorneys with all due Difference 1
Them" 81 s. 4
Uncle Sam, Socialist. ss
1t is reported that water was turne
into the canals In the WillistOn irrlg,
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