The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-03-26
CRINDE SENTENCED
TO ONE YEAR IN PEN
After Government Had Submitted
Evidence, Judge Bourquin Pro-
nounces Sentence of One Year and
One Day at Leavenworth Federal
Prison at Hard Labor.
Wife Becomes Hysterical as Judge
Pronounces Sentence and Is Led Out
of Court Room BY U. S. Marshals
and Husband.

For the two last years A. F. Grinde
has ben employed by the Moe Bros.
Cooperation Of Archer, Montana, as
manager of their Implement and
Hardware Store also taking charge
of the post office which was kept in
that place. Nels Moe was postmaster
in name but Grinde was acting assist
ant. Grinde was given full authori-
i ty t. hsadle all funds and placed in
q position of full trust. In the hrst
part Of the year 1919, the store books
appeared of a suspicious character
and secret investigation took place.
and was forced to check up his books
ments appeared falsified, but he was
led on to finish his checking. Mean
while, the Moe Bros. had their mail
received through Flaxville and thus
cerresponded directly with parties
dealing with the store. On Septem-
Der 18th, last fall, the July statement
was given to the Moe Bros, and for
the first time did an entry Of post
Office money appear on the accounts
I in the amount of $500 due post Office.
This was unexpected and the federal
inspector was called Immediately and
arrived to check up the post office and
found shortage Of 81 ,652.43. The in
spector Immediately advised the feder-
al authorities to have Mr.. Grinde ar
rested.
Mr.. Grinde, anticipating trouble,
had left the town of Archer via Cana
da to Huron, South Dakota. On Sep
TENDER 18th, Mr.. VIM. Moe questioned
Mr.. Grinde as to his progress of
checking the business accounts. Grinde
answered, Fairly WE'LL" and tried to
evade the issue. "When you are
through checking to your satisfaction
will come in and check over the
accounts with you. I want every
thing cleared up before l assume re-
sponsibility of the business" was VIM.
Noes last conversation with Mr..
Grjnde.
On September 18th, Thursday
morning, Mr.. and Mrs. Grinde left on
the train for points east, Mrs. Grinde
leaving for her home at Atwater,
Mimi, and Mr.. Grinde left for points
in Canada, leaving the following note
for VIM. Moe. (Wm: Moe received
neighbor thresh): Ruby (Grinde's
going to Plentywood. Will not be
back to take care of the store or
mail. Will see you on my return.
(Signed-A. F .Grinde)"
Mr.. Grinde never went to Plenty
wood but left for points in Canada,
alleging that he was looking for
work. From there he left for Huron,
S. D., via Atwater, MINI. Twice was
Mrs. Grinde's folks visited at At
water, MIMI, and once, Mr.. Grinde's
folks at Onamia, Mimi, by members
of the Moe Bros, asking them to bear
upon Mr.. Grinde to settle these DIFF
ferences and to aid him in so doing,
and thus protect Mr.. Grinde. But
settlement failed both times at both
places. The inference received was
that A. F. Grinde had caused his folks
grief on former occasions and that
they were both unable and unwilling
to aid him. It was never the inten-
ton of the Moe Bros. to hinder JUS
tice, but merely hoping that "Clean
Slate" for Grinde would reduce his
certain punishment and result in a
less dishonorable feature of redemp-
ton.
According to the checking of the
books Grinde was found short
considerable sum to the store, and
evident Juggling of the accounts
showed up. On failure to appear and
make good these shortages, an ar
rest was caused and Sheriff Bennett
went to Huron, S. D., and brought
Grinde to the Sheridan county Jail.
On arriving at Plentywood Grinde
Continued on Pare s