The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-08-09
SURETY COMPANY PAYS

The National Surety Company delivered its
draft in the sum of S125S1S22 in settlement of its
liability to Sheridan county caused by the robbery
of the treasury, November 80, 1926, along with
second draft for S19O5O for subsequent costs, 10
Senator Donovan of ToOle county, attorney for
Sheridan county along with Attorney Paul Ba0coek
of Plentywood, Wednesday of last week The
checks were delivered by Attorney John Brown OF
the law finn of Stuart Brown of Helena, attOr-
news for the Surety company. Senator Donovan
and Attorney Babcock brought the checks to Plen-
tywood on Monday and E. Torstenson endorsed
tar his last official act as treasurer of Sheridan
ty, and Tuesday morning at ten o'clock, the
Hneys delivered the drafts to the county COM
Mpners Of Sheridan county.
- National Surety Company paid 1t paid to
lkkAst cent. 1t paid pretty penny for its ex-
<sEse in listening to number of local hair
1Iiisa bitterenders and their vicious propaganda.
If the National Surety Company had paid immedi-
ately and had not tried to avoid its plain and OBJ
vious obligation it would have saved $4,000 inter
est besides the cost incurred in the trial of the
and the injury TO its reputation, which was not
small and which cost it thousands and thousands
OF dollars in premiums.
The Surety Company was poorly advised 1t list
ened to the Suspicious of a number of discredit-
ed local politicians, who themselves have been
involved in many shady deals, to the effect that
the robbery was an inside affair, that County
Treasurer Torstenson was in some way involved
and that they would be able to produce facts to
back up their suspicious in just few days. These
men would gladly have the taxpayers OF
Sheridan county lose this money if only they could
discredit the farmers administration of Sheridan
county. What did they care about the taxpayers?
They wanted an argument calculated to return
themselves 10 power and political plumber, and
eagerly they seized upon this robbery for a cam
paign issue, and effectively.
After careful investigation of the affair Attor-
ney General FOOte in which Mr.. Torstenson and
everyone connected with the court house or that
anyone could suggest as remotely suspected, had
been most searchingly examined, that gentleman
exonerated all the county officials. After several
Of the most searching Investigations the part of
the experts of the Surety Company itself without
the finding of scintiila of evidence so
much as casting a shadow of suspicion upon the
integrity of the officials of Sheridan county be it
said to the credit of that company, it prepared
to pay and was about to pay its obligation to
Sheridan county on its bonds, but when word of
this came to these malice inspired men to whom
the representatives of the Surety Company were
unfortunately listening, they wired to the COM
panys Helena office not to pay, that there was
collision, that Treasurer Torstenson would never
go to trial and that if the company stood pat il
would never have to pay. The company listened Il
The idiotic conversation of these men-but Just al
the Producers News said, again and again the com
pany would, the company paid 1t took long tim,
20 collect but collect the county did. There was M
reason why the county should not, except TIL
money and power of the National Surety Company
There has been tragedy connected with this case
George HuTd, distinguished counsel for the Nation
al Surety Company, went up and down over tn
state making his brags that he would crush "Bert
forstenson between his two fingers That he woul
break him down in the trial and make him comics
that he coluded in the robbery, and that "Bert
TOrstenson would never go on the stand, in fac
that the county would never go 10 trial. The tris
came, and Bert" went on the stand, and told hi
story. Hurd did his best. He battered and stormeS
he was ably assisted by the best legal talent
the United States and by expert accountants II
failed. He did not bulge Torstenson. He did no
ofeak his testimony one place Bert went throug
the most grueling Of cross examinations and neve
faitered. Hurd battered and rammed through tn
whole tral at witness after witness making absc
utely no impression. The. company was powerfull
aided by the persistent and malicious propagand
Of the Great Falls Tribune. Judge PRAY gave wild
latitude IN the examination and the company n
best Of It at al times. Judge Pray heard all of II
legal bubbles and held the case to the Jury. tt