The producers news., 1926-12-10

Deputy State Examiner A. E. Will
hanson, who arrived Thursday with
Larson on his second trip over.
Put Officers on Grill.
The first two or three days the
officers spent interviewing people
about town, and were nearly smoth-
cred by several bitter haters of the
present administration who dogged
them about constantly telling them
everything they knew or thought
they knew or of any wild suspicious
which they may have entertained.
There were a hundred varieties of
clues and rumors divulged to these
officers calculated to put the pres
ent county officers under suspicion.
Check Treasurer's Accounts.
The State Examiner at once start
| ed to check the treasurer's accounts
and books, going over them in de-
tail, checking and rechecking. After
State Examiner Larson completed his
examination, he returned to Helena,
leaving Deputy Latham on the Job to
complete the work, after which the
Auditor of the Bonding company Just
as carefully audited the books.
Grill Started Tuesday.
The investigation of the officers
started Tuesday afternoon, when
County Treasurer Torstenson was
sworn and put under cross examina-
ton for about two hours, facing Ma
jOr FoOte and Attorney CIausen, and
their assistants. His life and history
was gone over in detail. The Treas
urer's examination was followed nv
the examination of Janitor Dionne.
and Deputy Treasurer Hovet, clerks
Ida Newton, c. F. Christensen and
Glow krebsbach who were all grilled
! thoroughly in an effort to find
clue. Wednesday and Thursday, IN
dersheriff RObke, Deputy Sheriffs
Gallagher and Bantz and Sheriff Sal
lsbury were examined. Other Off
GERS and employees were then inter
viewed.
Officers Complete Work
The officers practically completed
their work here Thursday evening,
and most of them left on the train
for their homes at Helena and Min
neapOlis, this, Friday afternoon. Gen
eral Foote remained in PIentvwood
as did the Auditor of the bonding
company who has not yet completed
his work, but it is reported that ne
will be through Saturday, when he
will return to Minneapolis.
Assistant Attorney General Stan
ley Foot went to Minot Thursday to
interview S. C. mig" Collins, who
had been apprehended in Minot last
Thursday night a week ago, by Coun-
ty Attorney Erickson and Undersher-
iff RObke and held in jail there as a
suspect. Collins was held in Jail
at Minot on the orders of General
FOOte, who wished to examine him
there personally. Gen. Foote de
MED that he did this because of any
[ break with county officers, but thru
a misunderstanding of the existing
facts. Collins has applied for a Writ
Of Habeas Corpus, and Stanley Foote
will represent the State of Montana
and determine what position will be
taken IN regard to him.
FOOte Leaves Saturday.
1t IS reported that Attorney Gen
eral FoOte will return to Helena Sat
urday. The General has not made a
statement of any kind since he start
ed the investigation and his conclu-
slons as the results of his work here
are entirely unknown.
The Producers News tried several
times to secure a statement from
him, but in vain.
Mig Collins Arrested at Minot.
Wednesday after the robbery
Tuesday night, County Attorney
Erickson and Undersheriff Robke
left for Minot, where the bandits
were believed to be in hiding, as
they had headed that way. Thursday
afternoon Attorney Erickson got
word that a big Buick car had driven
east Of Minot toward the village OF
Granville, and a mile or two out of
the village had let two men in sheen
skin coats, one tall and one short
out and turned back towards Minot.
There was a blizzard blowing, and
the farmer who noticed this thought
1t was very peculiar and he noticed