Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-10-13
COMMISSIONERS REFUSE FUNDS
States Attorney Coventry Requests
Money With Which to- Hire
Investigator in Fire-Bug J
Case.

Investigator in Fire-Bug
Case.
Many people wonder why it is that
there is so much ineficiency in the
conduct Of public affairs. No better
illustration can be found than the de-
velopments in Linton's fire-bug case.
Two or three weeks ago the ctate's
attorney was called out of his bed by
a man who reported a plot to. burn
down the pavilion at Seeman Park.
The informant gave complete fletai!s
and turned over the time fuse and
other material that had been prepar-
ed for the purpose. He also impli-
Gated the man who owned picture
machine and other material in the
building, and on which an $500 in
surance policy was to elapse couple
of weeks later. This latter party,
when questioned, denied any knowl-
edge of the affair and charged
frame up"
With so many strong clues to work
on, the states attorney at once wrote
the attorney general and the state
fire marshal for help. The attorney
general responded by stating his Of
fee was too shorti.handed to be Of
assistance, and advised the states
attorney to hire Burns or Pink
erton detective. A deputy in the fire
marshal's office answered that the
marshal was away, but that he would
answer either by letter or in person
on his return. The states attorney
then appeared before the board of
county commissioners and requested
sufficient funds with which to hire a
trained Investigator.
The commissioners refused to fur
nish any funds. They declared that
the affair was "city case,' and for
the states attroney to go to the city
authorities for needed financial assis-
tance. And, in the meantime, the
people who have property to be PRO-
tected are wondering why something
isn't done to clean up the. fre-bug
menace.
It is easy to understand why. we
are unable to secure any help from
from the attorney generals office.
They are too busy with a political
campaign to attend to any practical
details Of their Office. And, now for
the position taken by the board Of
county commissioners: Only a glance
into the affair will demonstrate the
fallacy of their position.
First Of all, a fire-bug is gener-
ally considered an arch criminal, only
little less dangerous than murder
er. Had a murder been committed
within the city limits, it wouldn't be
q Getty case" at: all. It would be a
state case, and it would be the duty
Of the states attorney to prosecute
not the city attorney. Likewise, it
it certainly the duty Of the states
attorney to prosecute fire bug. It
isn't Getty case" at all. It is a
state case, pure and simple. If the
position taken by the commissioners
is correct, then the city attorney and
the city chief Of police should be hand
ling the investigation. And the then
chief of. police is one of the men ac-
cused of the fire plot. And, to ex-
pect the city attorney in this case to
shoulder the burden of the prosecu.
tion is preposterous, for his office is
practically an honorary" one. Har-
~ Lynn Is the city, attorney, and he
serves practically without salary.
But this fire plot isn't . city case
at all. It is "a state case. And the
states attorney lis the man to prose-
cute. And the county commissioners
a1e the men who should furnish the
necessary funds for q proper prose-
cution. Where else should a states
attorney 60 except to the county
board for the necessary funds to
properly conduct the business of his
office? And that was where he went
and that was where he got turned
down. The Record doesn't desire to
criticise the board; we ardently sup
ported every one Of them for their
offices, except McConville. But the
facts are facts: And, as one Of those
who has property at the mercy Of the
vagaries Of the fire bug, the Record
is deeply concerned in seeing every
effort made to land the bug.
We feel that the commissioners
made. mistake in refusing at least
reasonable amount. for this invests
cation, and we believe the people will
agree with US. The board has adj
journed until Nov. 4th. And, unless
special meeting should be called,
the matter cannot, be put to them
again until that time. In the mean
As 4