The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-10-21
A. c.. TOWNLEY.
DREAMER
Continued from page ~

Wnen i refused 10 sign CheCk ana
turned over to League men. was
delighted when my year was up. /
resigned and on the same day left for
Miami, Florida. knew the Governor
would not accept my resignation if
gave my real reasons, so l demanded
$4,000 salary year and told him
couldn't stay for less-and boarded
the train, not knowing that my action
was going to stir up alarm in the
League camp.
I no sooner got to Miami, Florida,
than who should call upon me but the
man who had charge of the credit de-
partment of the bank. He had fol-
lowed me to Miami, Florida, at the in
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
secret. was politely told that
could be prosecuted for what took
place in the bank-for the transac-
tions that | objected to and walked
out because of; if l remained silent I
could live in peace and quiet, but if
opened my mouth about the inside
affairs of the Bank of North Dakota
would not only get others into trou-
BILE, but myself as we'll. | was indig-
nant. And confess l had nervous
breakdown and was under the doctors
care for several days. Upon my re-
covery received copy of the Fargo
League paper containing resigna-
ton over my signature claiming the
| Bank was in fine shape and practical
! ly putting all the responsibility for all
its affairs upon me. Imagine my
frame of mind. The League bosses
feared l would give out an interview,
as l was being sought by the oppose
ton press to give reasons why had
resigned, and to forestall such piece
of possible publicity, Townley's at
torney published resignation for me
in his paper so as to publicly COM
nit me before committed myself
They never dreamed that l would
"bow my neck" because they always
reasoned that 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 mistake when they put me in
the bank. And one mistake generally
leads to others. They made mistake
when they published resignation
without my authority, and they made
another mistake when they thought l
would remain silent and assume the
burden of their wrongdoing for
business consideration. AS soon as
read the unauthorized resignation,
which never signed, 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
on. l decided to remain silent until
after election as the farmers were not
responsible for the condition of at
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 ] received
nothing but promises. 1t was here
that Townley was forced to abandon
his Florida promotion, and 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 | may have to do. So took
the matter up with an attorney, and
we pressed Mr.. Townley. l wrote
several letters to his new financial
secretary-at Townley's request-de de-
handing money due me. In the mean
time Brinton had taken the bank stu
alton up with the Governor, had re-
ceived the cold shoulder and had made
public my statement given him in
Miami regarding my resignation. This
brought on an attack upon me by the
editor Of the Fargo League paper,
who knew nothing Of Townley's
Florida deal, and was charged with
blackmail. The editor was fired. But
Townley refused to retract because
that would force him to acknowledge
his ownership of the Florida land. l
then brought the suit which is now
pending in Cass county, referred to
heretofore in these articles.
am making this statement for Mr..
Brinton for publication so that the
public may know why have been
called a blackmailer, and why am
not now considered a good Lea guer
by Mr.. Townley and his attorney,
William Lemke. regret that ever
entered the Bank of North Dakota:
1t was mistake on my part-as l
didn't realize at the time the purpose
which Townley and Lemke wanted the
bank for, and I honestly believe. the
League bosses realize they made
mistake when they put me in charge
of their sisal enterprise and the big
State bank. They say now, publicly,
that was not big enough for the job.
And confess was not. 1t was too
big a job for any honest mantle
way they wanted it run. I could go
on and give more details regarding
the Bank of North Dakota and the
sisal enterprise, but these details will
all come out in the court proceedings
now pending and prefer to try my
lawsuit in court.
Signed r. WATERS.
So you now have the story OF
Townley, the dreamer, the promoter
and boss politician. How he arose
l . I 4 4 4.