The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-24
T0WNLEY SUED BY JIM WATERS,
BRINT0N TO BE ARRESTED HERE,
DEVELOPMENTS IN LEAGUE FEUD
Waters Claims Towley Engaged in Ssa Trust Deal at Time of
Bankruptcy Attorney General LANCER Swears Com
plant Charging ]. w. Brinon With Crimi
nal Libel on TOwney and Lemke
LANCER TAKES ACTION

J. w. BrintOn, former head of the
Publishers Service bureau OF the Nom
partisan league, who was relieved,
league officials assert, because of his
method of handling farmers money,
is charged with criminal libel in a
complaint swOrnetO before Police Mag
istrate e. H. Howell, in Bismarck to-
day.
Sheriff Rollin Welsh has a warrant
for Brnton's arrest Brinton was in
Fargo today. but no difficulty in ar
resting him is expected.
The title Of the complaint is State
of North Dakota VS.. j. w. Brinton.
Rrinton is charged with criminal libel
on A. C. Townley, president of the
Nonpartisan league, and William
Lemke The complaint is sworn to
by William LANCER, Attorney-General.
Townley's Caustic Reply
A few days ago Langer sent an
open letter to TownleyAand Lemke. Of
fering to prosecute Brinton for the
alleged lbelous statements, if Town
ley and Lemke desired. Townley re-
pied in a caustic open letter today in
which he invited the Attorney General
to take such action as he saw fit.
The filing Of the complaint followed.
The complaint charges that:
"'rhe said j. w. Brinton wilfully,
knowingly, maliciOusly and unlaw-
fully with the intent thereby to ex~
pose one A. G. Townley and one Will
liam Lemke to public hatred. con-
tempt and ridicule and to deprive
them, the said A. c. Townley and the
said William Lemke aforesaid of the
benefits Of public confidence and so.
cial intercourse, did dictate, write.
print, publish, circulate and caused
to procure to be dictated, written,
printed, published and circulated in
a certain weekly newspaper, to-wit:
The Burleigh County Farmers Press,
a certain false, scandalous ma
licious, defamatory and libelous ar
ticle and statement X"
Dishonesty Alleged
Among other things Brinton is
charged with saying that said A. c.
Townley and the said William Lemke
aforesaid jointly and individually
were dishonest, approved of misappro-
priations and embeZzlements OF
moneys belonging to and the property
Of the Nonpartisan league, approved
of misappropriatiOn and embeZzle-
ments of money belonging to, the
property Of and deposited in the Bank
of North Dakota, used and expended
moneys belonging to- and. the proper.
ty of the Nonpartisan league for
the purpose OF promoting private ven-
lures and personal enterprises, sign
ed the names of other persons to
papers and documents with the inten-
ton and for the purpose Of conceal
ing and defending their own, A. c.
Townley and William Lemke, afore-
said, autOcratic and criminal conduct
and for the purpose of protecting and
defending themselves, A. C. ToWnley
and William Lemke, aforesaid, charg-
ed other persons with the commits
sion of crime; and directed at and Of
and concerning the conduct of the
said A. C. TOwnley and the said Will
liam Lemke, members of the national
executive committee of the NOnparti~
san league, and respectively presi
dent and vice president thereof, and
the performance and discharge of
their respective duties as such Off
GERS; and directed at and Of and con-
Cerning the said A. G. TOWnley, and
the said William Lemke, aforesaid, as
officers of the Nonpartisan league
and as individuals, in their relation
to and connection with the Bank Of
North Dakota, state institutions, state
officials, and the conduct and action
of such state officials, WHICH said
libelous publication was in words and
figures as follows" quoting the arti
Gle of attack on Townley and Lemke.
Wants Him Arrested
The action is taken by LANCER rs
against the peace and dignity of the
state of North Dakota and contrary to
the form of the statue in such case
made and provided" and prays that
the defendant j. w. Brinton, may be
and dealt with according to
law"
Langer was out of the city this af
ternoon and could not be interview
ed. 1t was said at his home he prob
ably would return by evening.
TOwnleys letter to LANCER is as
follows:
Fargo, N. D., Aug. 90, 1920.
Mr.. William Langer,
Bismarck, North Dakota.