The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-07
CRUM TO SEEK
PLACE ON HIGH
COURTS BENCH
Bismarck Attorney Announces
He Will BE Candidate at
Next Election
SUSPENSION TO BE ISSUE
Will Lay His Case Before Pub
Lic-Terms of Birdzell,
Nuessle, Burr Expire
SUSPENSION TO BE ISSUE

Announcement that he will be q
candidate for associate justice of the
supreme court at the next general
election was made here today by C.
L. Crum, Bismarck attorney.
Crum recently was suspended
from the practice of law for six.
month period in connection with an
alleged bribery case in 1921 con.
corning the prosecution Of C. N. jan
zen, Hazen banker, who was sen.
fenced to- a four and one-half year
term in the penitentiary. The
suspension order was made recent
ly by the supreme court and Crum
made it plain that his candidacy is
his answer to that action.
A Unique Situation
II am extremely sorry that4sthe
supreme court thought it necessary
to order my suspension" Crum said
"The case presents one of the most
unique situations | ever knew. To
assist in the prosecution Of man
who admits his guilt and who is
sentenced to four and a half years
in the state prison and to then be
suspended on the theory that 1 was
bribed by the man | had helped to
convict is certainly a strange situa-
tion.
II realize that it is serious thing
for an attorney to be suspended. 1t
means the damage or destruction of
his law business, regardless Of long
years Of work in building it up. 1t
also means that he is discreditcd and
disgraced.
II am not conscious Of having
violated any rule of ethics and
want the people Of North Dakota to
know all about this matter. have
nothing to conceal and never have
had. l am not criticizing the su-
preme court in any manner but
feel that | owe it to my family and
myself to clear my name before the
people of this state.
"With this end in view have de-
cided to become candidate for as
sociate justice of the supreme court
of the state of North Dakota at the
next general election. l will 90 be-
fore the public with certified copies
of the record in this case and explain
it from my standpoint. ! shall not
criticize the supreme court but will
endeavor to justify the confidence
which my friends have in me by
placing the whole matter before the
public"
His Campaign Issue
Crum said he is perfectly willing
to make the action taken in his case
an issue in the campaign and that
he will present platform, outlining
other issues with regard to the con-
test for supreme court places "when
the proper time comes"
Right now, Crum intimated, he
feels that his freedom of word and
action is somewhat circumscribed by
the recent suspension order and the
fact that he is anxious to avoid be-
ing cited for contempt OF the su-
preme court.
Crum is a Nonpartisan and was a
special assistant attorney general
in the Janzen case, appointed by
William Lemke, Fargo, shortly be-
fore the recall election in 1921 in
which Lemke was ousted from Of
flee.
The present terms Of three mem
bers Of the supreme court will ex-
pire next year, those Of L. E. Bird
zell. w. =. Nuessle and A. G. Burr:
Birdzell and Nuessle were elected
.,I prrr mas annointed to take the
place Of Sveinbjorn johnson, who
resigned last year.
Referees Findings
Records at the supreme court Of
fices in the Crum case chow that the
referees took testimony regarding
it and made the following findings
No. THAT the said Charles L.
Crum has been guilty Of the crime
Of compoundine prosecution.
No. 2-That he has committed .
misdemeanor INVOLVING moral tur'
No. 3-That he has been guilty
Of wilful violation Of his duties and
his oath as m attorney and as
counsellor at law and as special as
sistant attorney general OF the
state Of North Dakota.
In . statement to the referees,
Crum said that he turned the 500
received indirectly from Janzen over
CONTINUED on page three)