The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-06-06
e. ON TIN U E ID
~ from page ono'
Attorney General
Admits, However,
N. d. Lost Nothing

1OIllIIOs AAVWCVC1,
N. D. Lost Nothing
mission. he went from New Orleans
to Washington to attend meeting
of the federal rivers and harbors
commission at the request Of Cover
nor George F. Shafer.
In vouchers he assessed funds of
the Missouri River Diversion COM
mission $l94.33, the National Guard
$225.25 and the capitol commission
$198.73.
Fraser charged Major Frank An
ders, secretary of the capitol COM
mission, who accompanied him on
part of the trip. a fare Of $64.22,
which brought the total income to
Fraser for the trip to $683.13 "or
slightly more than 10 cents per mile, -
Gronna said.
Cited Mileage Low
The attorney general said that the
state law at that time would have
allowed him 10 cents per mile for
automobile trips in addition to meals
and lodging but said there was no
law showing how much he should be
granted for mileage outside of the
state.
Milton K Higgins assistant attor-
ney general who investigated these
two cases, said his beliefs In the case
were substantially the same as Gron-
mas and States Attorney George S
Register Of Burleigh county said that
since he took no part in the investi-
cation, he was willing to assent to
recommendations made by the attor-
ney general.
In his explanation Of the plea Of
guilty. Hanley told Judge Jansonius
that Fraser was not asking for mercy
but that he chose such procedure tc
vindicate himself Hanley said he
was confident that II the case had
been brought to trial "a jury would
have acquitted him."
Hanley listed the bills paid with the
1892 which Fraser obtained as Ma
tional Guard payroll as follows
$5l.25 for briquets for officers mess;
$845 TO. trucking materials; $l1.10 for
telephone: SO for veterinarian; $274
for wrenches; so for carrots; IS for
painting gymnasium floor; $40 for
emergency tent furniture: $3.50 for
implements: $21.65 for light cords;
$l.35 for medical supplies: $4o.5o for
lumber for repairing state ice house
IS for orderly; and SIG for chickens
for the governors dinner during
camp.
Total Was 1884
This totaled $4,000. Hanley said.
Hanley then talked at length to
refute rumors current last winter
during the capitol commission investi-
CATION that Fraser had charged dou-
BILE or triple for mileage on his trip
and that Fraser had defrauded the
state out Of money for part payment
on his automobile.
The attorney said that the upshot OF
the automobile rumor was that IN
reality the state had use Of Fraser's
automobile for IL OF. Is years at a
total cost of only $500.
Had Fraser charged mileage for his
travelling in the states service, he said.
the former adjutant general could
have bought new automobile each
year with the return, which In the
long run would have been q much
greater expense to the state.
Hanley said that for four autono-
biles Fraser purchased, he charged
the state only $500 In part payments
and no mileage whatever. He ex-
nlained this to the court in detail.
Fraser also was charged with con-
yerting to his own use sixteen $50
gasoline books, which he purchased
in the fall of 1881, Hanley said. IN
reality, these gasoline books were used
by a fleet OF six trucks engaged IN
hauling potatoes to the starving peo-
Die in northwestern North Dakota. the
attorney said.
Points To Camp Grafton
He also claimed that Camp Grafton
Is one OF the best camps Of It's kind IN
the country and was built by the TED
eral government at . cost OF 100000
largely through the personal efforts OF
Fraser.
In another case. Hanley said. the
former adtutant general, through his
personal efforts, secured an advance
Of $3.50 from the federal govern
meut for construction Of 200 tent
floors for the camp. All bids ex-
ceeded the amount allowed, Hanley
said, and under normal procedure
would have been rejected, with the
federal government making no ad-
vance. Instead, Fraser undertook the
contract himself, building the floors
for 5000 and assessing the state for
the few hundred dollars difference.
Hanley said that Fraser had re-
signed as adjutant general without
advice and insisted upon the guilty
pleas because of his unusual per-
sonality". He felt that his services
should have been "above criticism"
and wanted vindication.
Frasers belief was, Hanley said,
that a jury trial would not settle the
case, no matter what the verdict. In
the minds Of the citizens Of North
Dakota and would merely give rise
to more arguments and accusations.
Under Five Governors
In sentencing Fraser, Judge JAN