The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-07-08
George A. Totten, Jr., I'm
der Arrest at Fargo
PUTS UP $4,000 BOND
Noparty Newspaper Men Arc
Having Their Trouble With
League Officials
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch

Totten, Jr former business manager
of the Fargo Courier News, who is
charged with criminal libel by men,
bers of the Nonpartisan league state
executive committee, today said that
he had turned over S2,17o over to
Walter Maddox, member of the ex-
cutive committee, representing the
amount contributed to the recall
campaign fund received by him as
manager of The Courier News. Tot
ten said this money includes speci-
fic check for S102-70, concerning
which charge of embezzlenent
has been brought against him.
Fargo, July George A. Tot
ten, Jr. former business manager of
the Fargo Courier News, and C K.
Gummerson, former editor, arrested
yesterday on a charge of criminal
libel, following the publication of an
edition of that paper in which it
was charged that members of the
bipartisan league committee hand
be held in North Dakota this fall,
had squandered certain amount OF
The funds. will be given a prelimin-
airy hearing on the charges tomor-
row, it was announced today.
On Liquor Charge Also.
In addition to the charge of crim1
inal libel, Totten was arrested on a
federal warrant charging him with
transporting liquor. He is also SUBJ
ject to restraining order to prevent
him from in any manner exercising
any control over The Courier News
and funds which he deposited in
Fargo banks, derived from contri-
buttons for the league recall cam
paign of which he is charged with
the embezzleTnent of $10270.
First Warrant Saturday.
Totten was arrested on the en-
bezzlement charge last Saturday
following discovery by Ole Kaldor,
treasurer of the committee in
charge of the recall fund that
$102.70 sent to that committee had
not been acknowledged. according
to the information on which the
warrant was issued. The sender of
the amount in question. had forward
ed his cancelled check to Kaldor,
and according ts,asthe inform alton.
the money had not been deposited
with the funds over which Kaldor
had charge, but in the Dakota Saw
ings Bank, to the account of George
A. Totten, Jr.
Given His Liberty Today.
.-d Today Totten was at liberty on
porting liquor in violation of the
prohibition act, pending trial at the
next term Of the federal court
In response to the charge that the
committee in charge of the recall
funds had "mishandled" moneys sent
for the recall campaign, Treasurer
kaldor said today: Every dollar sent
to the recall fund has been receipt
a6 EVnrv nhonl 4
mittee has been entered on a regist-
er, for permanent record, save those
checks which have been deposited
elsewhere by Mr. Totem"
kaldor said that the committee has
begun an investigation to learn If
other moneys sent the recall fund
reached the intended destination All
donors who have not proper receipts
in their possession have been asked
TO communicate with Treasurer KAT
dor, giving dates and full description
or the amounts sent. = 4
Charge Will Be Sifted.
A. A. Liederbach, chairman of the
state executive committee, declined to
say specifically what action would be
made in The Courier News wonId
De sifted to the bottom" and that
the complaint of criminal libel against
=. n. Gummerson anc George A. Tot
ten, former editor and manager rs.
spect1vely Of the paper, would he
pressed Hearings for the two on the
charge were set for July following
their arrest yesterday.
The charge that Mr.. Kaldor ord
myself cannot and will not give an
accounting Is false" Mr.. Liederbach
declared. I've shall submit a cnrn
plete report of all receipts and dis
ton.
Every dollar received is publicly
a M Tor in The Courier News.
we shall welcome an inspection If
our books by COMMITTEES of the Non.
partisan League whenever the league
desires. eue
Demanded New Convention.
rotten and his friends demanded
new convention to farmers to not to
send more money to Mr.. Kaldor. but
10 Mr.. Poindexter at Bismarck.
member of the original victory fund
committee, but It was at the reonest
OF MT Poindexter and other members
OF this committee that it was decided
all funds should come through state
headquarters
Members of the committee were
frank In saying that it had taken
more money than they had counted
70. TO Keep The Courier News, going.
10y go VI ttiO ODHtlOu Iudt GaIeEfi
management would have resulted in
greatly lessening this newspaper ex-
pendtture. The committee has dis
covered. for instance, that the man
agement of the paper has apparently
feen endeavoring to get businessmen
to promise to advertise in the paper
II 1t is divorced from the LEAGUE.
t Ioste ds. has boosted s to other employees
would be forced to lease the paper "a
him and that he would run Il as he
pleased Advertising solicitors were
actually advised not to solicit con
tracts until after July IL.
1T is understood that more than
one group of former employees Of tbs
league and of The Courier News hive
thus sou0ht to get possession of the
ua per. Businessmen OF Far1o hcve
been approached By at least three