The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-07-01
BRINT0N GOES
ON. STAND FOR
OWN DEFENSE
Testfies Concerning Connection
With Nonpartisan League
in Early Days
STATE is SATISFIED
Special Prosecutor Appears
Satisfied After Resting
Case in Court
STATE is SATISFIED

. Declaration that he had told A. C
Townley, president Of National Non.
partisan League, that money bein:
paid into the Consumers United Stores
company in 1917 was being misuse;
and he was afraid federal government
would start action charging use Of
mails to defraud was made by ]. W
BrintOn on witness stand in his per
jury trial here today.
A letter in Brinton's possession
purporting to have been written by
Norbert O'Leary, then Townley's sec.
retary, at the instance of Townley
Brinton testified, referred to the
stores company and said I'VE can re.
write books If necessary" Brinton tes.
tifying this referred to rewriting books
to avoid difficulty with federal officers
The witness asserted that Townle;
and William Lemke directed organiza.
tion Of Consumers Stores company and
he asserted that it was organized tc
spread propaganda for Nonpartisan
League. Money paid into stores COM
pany was misused for league purposes
Brinton asserted. t.-
Deals With Organization.
Brinton's testimony dealt chiefly
with organization of Nonpartisan
League and various so-called league
enterprises in 1917 and 1918, when
Brinton was he claimed personal rep
resentative Of Townley and active or
ganizer for Nonpartisan league. He
asserted he had many angry discus.
siOns with Townley over alleged mis-.
use "f money.
The letter referred to was on the sta.
tionery Of the National Nonpartisan
league, dated Nov. 13, 1917, and in il
Townley referred to complaints by
Brinton which the witness said he
made because the money paid into the
stores company by farmers was not
being used to carry out the contract
and contained statement that 1--WE
can reWrite the books if necessary
which statement Brinton said was
prompted by his protest that the fed
eral government might start prosecu-
tion for using the mails to defraud be-
cause the money was not used to car
~ out the contract.
TOwnley Letter.
The letter follows:
J. W. Brinton, st. Paul.
Dear Jim:
! am compelled to leave tonight to
arrive in Buffalo in time for a talk
Friday so am not able to attend to the
matter concerning the stores company
as planned.
Sunday and Monday practically all
the organizers were in Fargo, where
they discussed for two days matters
concerning thefr work. We got set
tlement with Gordon and his crew and
l discussed with Heck and Elliott the
whole matter in general and In some
detail. met McGregor but didn't
make any definite arrangements and
would prefer that you make none un-
til ! get back. We have man IN
sight for the work who will, l think,
be satisfactory.
Now just got Keys and Lemke to-.
gether and told them that l would
leave a note asking you to call on
both the first thing in the morning.
They will discuss this matter very
frankly with you. Until l can return
please turn over to Keys all reports
now in your possession. Report to
him on the paper taken out any loan
you may have made; everything in
full, and he will receive the reports
as they arrive from now on from Far
60. .... p.
l arranged with Elliott and Heck
while in Fargo to change the method
of transmitting reports. When you
meet Elliott he will explain that we
want all the bookkeeping done here
and Of all things we want these re-
ports to come into Keys hands as soon
as they arrive in St. Paul. Please do
not make any loans, disbursements or
deposits without Keys knowledge and
through his cooperation. l think you
realize that we have a great deal Of
confidence in Keys, and since he is
handling a part of the paper and
finances while he is held responsible
for a part the only way we can use
him Is to hold him responsible for the
care OF all the paper and finances
handled and have 1t all go through his
hands.
Had talk today with Cooper.
Seems to have good grasp of his
work and be very competent. Seems
to be able to properly manage to make
the five western stores we have COM
ing up success.
If you are ready to start any more
stores before get back take the mat
ter up with Lemke and Keys, and
Keys will advance the money to Keys
that is necessary to open them.
l suggested to Keys and Le1nke that
instead of buying stock in factories
and purchasing associations for the
present that we advance Cooper $4,000
for him to use to fill the orders Of the
association wanting to fill.
This arrangement at least until
return. l am coming back as soon
as l get through without going south,
and will make the trip south a little