Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-01

which he. had no funds to cover,
with a view of deceiving the su-
preme court into believing that a
note Of the Sisal trust had been
taken up. TN order to facilitate !
the reopening of the Scandina-
OF aeael Dank m u the =
Brinton's allegation that A. O.
Townley said he wanted F.. W.
= Cathro in the Bank of North Da-
kota because Cathro had agreed
to SAIL"
Other Testimony Vague.
, On several of the other points at
state has been so vague hat as the
matter stands at present it is doub-
full if hey will be allowed to go to the
jury.
Brinton's testimony this afternoon
vas chiefly devoted to laying a foun-
dation for the more important facts
that are to follow. He will be on the
witness stand again Friday.
The first phase to be taken up in
Brinton's testimony will be the at
tempt to preve that such corpora
lions as the CONSUME RS United Stores,
;the League Exchange and the Pub"
4ISI1ClS 1<dIOIdl oSlS1SC Dui
! which Brinton maintains were
! financed by the Bank; of North Da-
kota through the Scandinavian-Amer-
lean Bank of Fargo, were in reality
controlled by Townley, Lemke, and
other leaders Of the N~onpartisan
League.
AS a foundation for this, there
fore, Thomas Hall, secretary OF state,
was called upon to produce the art
icles of incorporation of a number Of
these league corporations. This he
did and they were placed in evidence
as exhibits by the defense.
Incorporated by Leagues.
These documents showed that all OF
these corporations were incorporated
by leaguers and area offered by men
of the same party, III some cases the
leaders in the league being the chief
officers although as a general rule
the corporations were originally in"
corporated by men less well known
to the general public.
The Consumers United Stores Co..
for example, was incorporated by
secretaries, Charles Hecht, a>league
organizer, and H.. L. Elliott, former
state manager of the Nonpartisan
League. The officers as shown in the
annual report filed early In 1920
shows l. T.. Griffith as president, and
W. G.. johnson. Secretary and treas
urer. ss
That VIM. Lemke kept a tight hold
on the finances of the Fargo Courier
News was shown when he appeared
as both president and treasurer. of
that corporation. F. B.. Wood was
listed as president of the League Elk
4, - 18TH n n Cryn~o~~ 4F N4rfh-
wood. secretary and Thomas M.
keyes. Minneapolis, as treasurer. Mr..
Reyes is. or was. also the treasurer
of the Nonpartisan League.
Was Townley's Secretary.
Brinton was then called to the wit
ness stand and began his story. In
! answer to questions by Mr.. LeSueur
he declared that he became con-
nected with the Nonpartisan League
at the time of its first organization.
He told Of working under the orders
of Townley and of going to st. Paul
when the national headquarters were
opened there as Townley's secretary
! and personal representative.
Brinton then told of taking part
in the organization of the League Elk
change, the first Of the subsidiary
companies to be formed. The main
object of its formation. h said, was
Ito assist in the financing Of the Non
partisan League.
He also took part. he said, in the
formation of the Northwestern Pub
fishers Service Bureau which was the
parent Organization in the organiza.
ton Of most of the league papers.
Although he was a member OF the
board OF. directors of this company
no meetings were held by said board
during the time he was active in its
affairs, he declared.
Brinton had just begun to discuss
the formation of the Consumers
Stores Co. when the court adjourned
until Friday morning.
Judge w. L. Nuessle ruled out eft.
forts Of the defense to introduce al
this time the reports OF the examina-
tons OF the Observation-Disclosures
Bank by p. Z. Halldcrson which re:
suited in the closing of that bank by
/ ~ 5 eko = ~. - ~ fhA Fol1Nf~f - q 4 a