The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-11-12

IoWeu me 10 mlanl, FlOrlua, at Iie III
structions of Townley's attorney, to
warn me to remain silent about the
affairs of the Bank, or in other words,
to keep my mouth shut. The Bank
employee registered under an assumed
name in Miami. His mission was a
secret. l was politely told that l
could be prosecuted for what took
place in the bank-for the transac-
lions that l objected to and walked
out because of; if l remained silent l
could live in peace and quiet, but if l
opened my mouth about the inside
affairs Of the Bank of North Dakota
I would not only get others into trou-
BILE, but myself as well. l was indig-
nant. And I confess l had a nervous
breakdown and was under the doctors
care for several days. Upon my re-
covery l received a copy of the Fargo
League paper containing a resigna-
ton over my signature claiming the
Bank was in fine shape and practical
ly putting all the responsibility for all
it's affairs upon me. Imagine my
frame of mind. The League bosses
feared | would give out an interview,
as l was being sought by the opposi-
ton press to give reasons why I had
resigned, and to forestall such a piece
of possible publicity, Townely's at
torney published a resignation for
me in his paper so as to publicly COM
nit me before l committed myself.
They never dreamed thot l would
"bow my neck" because they always
reasoned that l couldn't afford to be-
cause of my connection with Townley
and the sisal enterprise. But there
they made a mistake. l said they
made a mistake when they put me in
the bank. And one mistake generally
leads to others. They made a mistake
when they published a resignation
without my authority, and they made
another mistake when they thought l
would remain silent and assume the
burden of their wrongdoing for a
business consideration. AS soon as l
read the unauthorized resignation,
which l never signed, I gave Mr.. Brin-
ton a signed statement repudiating
the League bosses, Townley's attor-
ney and his newspaper and all those
connected with the affair. When l
returned to North Dakota l found
conditions still worse in the bank
and the League fighting with it's back
to the wall with the June priparics
on. | decided to remain silent until
after election as the farmers were not
responsible for the condition of af-
fairs, and in the meantime went to
Townley to secure my first years sal
airy as manager of his sisal company.
He told me he was broke, his various
treasures empty, and l received
nothing but promises. 1t was here
that Townley was borced to abandon
his Florida promotion, and l later
found that he planned on repudiating
me and the entire Florida deal-and
saddle the whole burden of financing
the enterprise upon me personally
which l may have to do. So l took
the mater up with an attorney, and
we pressed Mr.. Townley. l wrote
several letters to his new financial
secretary-at Townley's request-de.
handing money due me. lin the mean.
thine Brinton had t~akepthe bank stu.
alton up with the Governor, had re.
ceived the cold shoulder and had made
public my statement given him il
Miami regarding my resignation. This
brought on an attack upon me by tn;
editor of the Fargo League paper
who knew nothing of Townley',
Florida deal, and l was charged will
blackmail. The editor was fired. Blu
Townley refused to retract because
that would force him to acknowledge
; his ownership of t he Florida land.
then brought the suit which is nov
pending in Cass county, referred t.
heretofore in these articles.
/ am making this statement of MI
Brinton for publication so that tn
public may know why l have beel
called a blackmailer, and why l an
not now considered a good League
by Mr.. Townley and his attorney
) William Lemke. l regret that | eve
entered the Bank of North Dakota
1t was a mistake on my part-as
!, didn't realize at the time the purpos
! which Townley and Lemke wanted tn
bank for, and I honestly believe tn
League bosses realize they made
mistake when they put me in charg
{ of their sisal enterprise and the bi,
( State bank. They say now, publicly
:, that was not big enough for the jot
| And l confess l was not. 1t was to
big a job for any honest man-th
way they wanted it run. l could g
5 on and give more details regardin;
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