Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-26
CONLEY CITED
To BRING BOOKS.
ON MILK SALES
State Wants to Know
Just What He Sold It
While Warden There.
Defense Accuses Plain
tiff With Threatening
Witnesses, as Johnson.
(Tribune's Helena Bureau.)

Helena, April 25.-Issuance Of a
subpoena for Frank ConIey. former
warden Of the state prison. directing
him to appear in court and to bring
with him his private accoun, books
showing sales of cream and milk to
the prison, and charges by Col. &. b
Nolan, counsel for Conley, that attor
neys for the state had threatened a
witness with Imprisonment if he did
not give testimony desired by the state.
were Tuesday the sole features of an
otherwise dull and nninteresting day
Of documentary evidence in the case
Of the state against Conley for the
recovery of money alleged to be due
the state as the result of Conleys
stewardship.
At the opening Of the forenoon ses-
sion. Attorney General W. d. Rankin
Informed the court, that the state de-
sired to obtain the books referring to
milk and cream used at the prison.
Consider Them States Books
I've have the books and they may
be examined with our representative
present" said Colonel Nolan.
I'VE don't want that: ] understand
you have the prison books-not books
Of Mr.. Conley," replied Mr.. Rankin.
THAT is not nv understanding
What we desire are the books Of
Mr.. Conley showing sales to the state"
later explained Mr.. Rankin.
I'VE have those books" said Colonel
Nolan
After some further discussion. Mr.
Rankin said:
THE point is. we have the warrants
going to a man who did not own the
pork: he swore falsely, therefore the
claims show the money went to-"
Here he was interrupted by the
court.
"Oh. yes" exclaimed Colonel Nolan,
I'VE have heard enough about swearing
falsely. Johnson was threatened
your associates told him he would be
sent to the penitentiary if he did not
come through
Il don't know anything about that,
Colonel" replied Mr.. Rankin.
well, ! do" said Colonel Nolan |
He appealed to you and you told him |
he couldn't be sent to the penitentiary,
but your associates told him he could
for practising coercion
Auditor Reads in Claims
w. A. Logan, deputy state auditor,
who had been on the stand Monday,
was again called Tuesday moraing and
spent virtually the whole day reading
into the record large number Of
claims against the state for hay and
feed furnished the prison by outside
concerns and individuals. including the
Valley Creamery company. one Of the
Conley Il McTague institutions.
These claims, which were entered as
exhibits, numbered 1O5, and all were
paid from the regular prison fund
Following these, number of claims
in favor of Mr.. Conley, drawn upon
the prison revolving fund, which was
handled directly by Mr. Conley and for
which claims were afterward submit
ted to the board of examiners for re-
of the revolving fund,
were read into the record.
Vouchers Explain Many Claims
At the conclusion Of the reading of !
these claims, Colonel Nolan took the
witness in hand and caused to be read
nto the record the vouchers attached !
% the claims, which were in the nature
If receipts for the money paid upon
.hese items by Mr.. Conley. 1t was
he items covering charges for hay and
,ther feed were for goods furnished at
he convict road camps where work =
vas being performed in highway con- !
truction for the highway commission \
md for the counties of Powell, Deer 4
lodge and Flathead and for which the n
efense will contend the state or the !.
rison funds were reimbursed by the !,
ighway commission and the several -
ounties. ="
During all of Tuesday, neither J. W. :,
'reeman nor T. H. Macdonald. of =
ounsel for the state, were present in !,
he court room, they being engaged in =
rfice work in Connection with the ques- u
oning OF witnesses and the prepara- n
on of evidence to be submitted later. 4
f. O'Conner, Of counsel for the de- r.
,nse, was likewise absent, he having
zen out of the city since last Satur- a,
Nv and all the work in the court dur D,
e the past two days has been con- b,
lcted BY Attorney General Rankin for n
le state and Col. 9. b. Nolan for the al
.fense. q is