The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-09-30
A SURVEY OF FACTS

"A DUN V L vi TAI =
The above dispatch from Great
Falls shows that motion to remand
the case back to Sheridan County,
made at the last minute by Attorney
Paul BabcOck on behalf of the County
Commissioners may delay the case
against the defaulting insurance COM
pany several months. So far as is
known the people of Sheridan County
were satisfied to have the case tried
in the Federal Court The fairness
and judicial ability of Judge Pray is
universally recognized here and jur-
Ors in the Great Falls district could
not be accused of having any interest
In the case. Why then did Attorney
Babcock put in his motion to remand
at the last minute when arguments on
the demurrer were about to be heard
Why did Clawson, representing the
Surety Company, wear a f-satisfied
smirk when he saw that delay was
assured? These are questions that
are asked in the corridors of hotels,
In the stores and out on the farms in
Eastern Montana.
ClawsOn LObbies
1t will be remembered that after
the robbery of the County Treasury
last fall, Attorney Clawson of the Ma
tiOnal Surety Company and a corps
of detectives arrived in Plentywood.
Clawson was continually visited by
such local members of the anti-farmer
gang as Mckee, L. Onstad and Lard
S. Olson. In their blind hatred of the
Farmer-LabOr party, they related
some weird tales to the attorney for
an Insurance Company, having a rep
utation of seldom paying a claim I'M
til the injured party exhausts all the
processes of the law. Babcock and
Clawson stayed at the same hotel dur
ing this time
Lying Newspaper Campaign
ClawsOn left the county. Then
newspaper campaign against the
County officers was started. A paper
with a small circulation was distri-
buted free all over the county. At
tacks on the leaders of the Farmer
Labor Party and thinly yelled insinu-
auons were made that some county
officers participated in the robbery.
Questions such as "Why didn't the
Sheriff call in local finger print ex-
pert after the robbery?" were asked
in screaming headlines. Many of the
readers of the publication mentioned
did not know that the Ginger print
expert" referred to had to quit his
job under fire because he was accused
of misappropriating money for his
own use which should be in the conn
ty treasury. This was the kind of
man that the gang wanted the sheriff
10 70 allow into the vaults of the County
treasury The payment for the cir
culatlon OF these ibels has been in
Vestlgated and the identity of some
OF the parties who contributed the
money has now been definitely estab-
The Plot That Failed
!. u mas also been definitely estab
nshed that plot was on foot to
frame up the Farmer-Labor officials
at the court house with a view of dis
crediting the Farmer-Labor marty.
Evidences of this attempted framenp
are now in possession of the proper
authorities. The Surety Company
lawyer, however, shrunk from placing
a trumped up charge against innocent
men. The nefarious plot would get
nationwide publicity. And the conse-
guent advertising that the National
surety Company would secure as a
defaulter on its just debts would not
rebound to the credit or the bank bal |
ance of that corporation.
commissioners Appoint BabcOck
There is another change in pIans
commissioners French and Iverson,
without being requested bv the Conn. /
" attorney or any taxpayer. appoint- |
ca Baocock, friend of Clawson' sne= |
cal counsel for the county. Tbsra |
was a widespread protest in the G6iino
ty at this appointment. ATTORNEY
General Foot journeyed to Plentywood |
and Offered his services to prosecute
the case against the Surety COMPANY.
But the Commissioners still retained
Babcock. '''-''0O
Those banning Letters.
linen the Producers News published
Photographic copies of letters which
passed between Babcock and Clawson |
after the former was hired on the
case. references were made in tbe
letters to a sum of $4,000. The pnb-
hcatlon of the letters caused a sensa-
ZION and the commissioners were ask
ed to discharge Babcock from the
further conduct of the case. But the
ola gang commissioners refused and
Babcocks friends industriouslv circu-
lated the story that the letters were
not IN a pre-ararnged code but were
a Joke" The public laughed at tbe
Idea that two solemn LAWYERS. over
fltty years of age, would indulge in
Jokes when a case in which over
hundred thousand dollars was involv-
ed was pending between them.
Commissioners Protected
When charges of illegal collections
and corrupt practices were preferred
by taxpayers against Commissioners
French and Iverson in the District
Court they were defended bv Attor-
ney Paul Babcock with more than his
customary perseverance. He seemed
to have an intense interest in keepino
the two commissioners named in of. |
nee. All these circumstances are now
being carefully weighed. The public
are watching further developments
and the taxpayers are demandin~ that
steps be taken to push the case for
the recovery of the money which the
insurance Company still owes the
county.