The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-01-15
THE SHERIDAN
COUNTY FRAME UP
CONTINUED from page one)

Continued from page One)
of the British king; and Al Lawrence,
the Daniels county sheriff, elected by
the support of Berry and Bill Steph-
ems and Sid Bennett of ScObey. These
men all met at Ray Lang's garage,
where they put their heads together
and made the traditional "blOCk
house."
That Burley Bowler and Sher-
! if Lawrence should take such an ac-
tive part in the enforcement of the
prohibition laws in Sheridan county,
in view of the fact that the saloons
and the gambling dens of ScObey,
were at the moment, running wide
open within a stones throw Of Sher-
iff Lawrence's Office, and if there is
a game of cards going on in ScObey,
BarIey Bowler know about it unless
a great change has come over "his
majesty's subject" If these men
want to enforce prohibition laws, they
have a lot of dirt on their own door
step and need not come so far
a!itId.
] The plans made to get the County
.
getting affidavits. He first met with
members of the Ku Klux Khan and to-
! gether they are said to have bought
some drinks of Phil BOurassa 1T the
/ Grand View Hotel. They did not
pinch Philip, but told him as they
paid him, to keep still, that they did
not want him, but were after the
''higher ups" Phil says they wanted
him to sign some papers but that
he refused TO do that.
Brown, accompanied by Lang,
started out to get those "higher ups.
They visited several men whom Lang
knew were selling whiskey as Lang
was one Of their regular customers
and he knew who was in the business
Lang introducing Brown as an oil
salesman friend, bought drinks, sew
eral drinks, and mixed around with
the lOungers, after which Brown dis.
closed who he was. He then told the
Jaw viOlatOrs if reports are true. that
he was not after them. that if they
would SIGN afIidavits TO the effect
that they had paid money to The
county attorney or to the sheriff, he
would not prosecute them, but would
turn them loose to ply their trade il
peace. II was Salisbury and Erick
son they wanted. not viOlatOrs OF
the prohibition laws. I'm case tht
men caught redhanded selling intOxi.
cants, were slow about making afh'
davits, they were rough, they made
threats they pointed out Jail anC
fines and closed business. Lang was
the witness in support of Brown. The
case was complete against them. Al
Medicine Lake they even hand-cuffeC
Andy Holm and told him he was fac.
ing second Offense information be
fore the federal court and had a tern
in the penitentiary staring him in thC
face, but that he would be left un
mOlested if he would swear by affida
Wit that he had paid hush money t.
Erickson and Salisbury. Holm re
fused, saying, 81 have never paiC
those men a cent in my ife and | viii
not make affidavit to a lie, you may
send me to prison." Lang and Brown
then abused Holm, giving him The
third degree, but Holm refused tt
scuuiesce to Brown and Lang's ne
fariOus propositions. So Brown anC
: Lang left Holm and came to Plenty
wood, went before u. S. COmmr. Be
!, lanski, where Brown filed an infOrma
!, ton against Holm. had Holm arrest
ed as he promised to do. if Holm die
not come through with the affidavit
; Holm gave bonds and was released
to stand trial at Great Falls at thu
| next term of court.
, Eventually the news of the activi
ties of Brown and Lang came to the
ears of County Attorney Erickson
and Sheriff Salisbury. The Sheriff ac
cOsted Brown on the street asking
him his occupation. Brown replied K
the sheriff that it was ''nOne of hi.
business" Salisbury then said, "YOl
are under arrest. come with me-
Brown then volunteered that he wa.
, a Fedora stOOlpigeOn. The sheriff de
manded that he disclose his creden
tials and Brown refused. The sheriff
then said as he seized him, "YOu art
under arrest. for impersOnating al
officer" Brown then dug up his ere
dentials, and Sheriff Salisbury describ
ed to him the kind of rat that he is
= turned him loose and left him. Brown
followed, protesting his desire to co
operate with the Sheriff and County
Attorney.
Sheriff Salisbury and County At
tOrney Erickson Immediately made al
investigation of Brown and Lang.
work. Every fair minded man know.
that Brown and Lang have committed
a crime, a felony. That the prOpOsi
ton to a man who had been caught
IN a crime and trapped for that pur
pose, not to tell the truth. but com
NIT perjury against a couple of off
GERS In exchange for immunity anC
the privilege to continuing in the vi
OlatiOn, is a contemplate and repre-
hensible and serious crime. and on,
that should not for a moment be toll
! Grated by any law-abiding people
and against public policy. It is
thing that any desperate scOundre
) who might by the strange freaks O
fortune finds himself in a position O
authority could resort to and no Off
Ger at any time would be safe. AT
; information was filed in Judge OlsOn'i
court charging compromising a felony
and the warrant was issued anC
placed in the hands of Under