The Bismarck tribune., 1934-01-19
GOVERNMENT OPENS
| anti FRAUD DRIVE
BY ARRESTING PAIR
Foreman and Timekeeper Of
Grant County Project Are
Arraigned Here
HELD UNDER $500 BOND
Charge Is Based on Allegation
They Collected for Teams
Not on Job
HELD UNDER $500 BOND

A campaign against fraud in ad-
ministration Of the civil works pro.
gram was launched Thursday by the
federal government with the arrest OF
Elmer Hegge and p. r. Breckenridge,
charged with padding the CWA pay.
roll In Grant county.
Hegge and Breckenridge were at
liberty Friday under 1880 bonds
each following an appearance before
U. 8. Commissioner 8. A. F1oren In
Bismarck Thursday evening.
They will have Q formal hearing
before the commissioner next Wed.
nesday.
Hegge, foreman. and Breckenridge.
ttmekeeper, on . CWA project In
Prettywood township. Grant county,
were arrested Thursday by q. Gum
valdSen Of Fargo. U. 8. marshal. Tho
warrant for their arrest was issued
by Commissioner Toren.
Text Of Complaint
1e
nier Of Fargo, y. 8. district attorney
for North Dakota, It Is charged tho
two defendants did unlawfully and
feloniously for the purpose Of oh.
tanning payment Of . false and ficti-
tious claim against the United States
OF America, present and cause to be
presented . claim to one ]. II. De.
Lange. who was then and there In
possession Of trust funds or the
United States Of America, setting
forth and purporting to show In said
claim that one Leo Hegge and one
Paul Ellison. who were then and
there employed On said project. vece
entitled to receive out Of the sald
trust funds Of the United States OF
America aforesaid the sum Of $40.
when. In truth and fact, they Wero
not entitled to receive said sum o.
any part OF It."
Lauier said. ut the time tho var.
rant was issued, that other similar
cases Of alleged fraud are being In
vestigated and additional develop.
ments are In prospect. Indications
are. he said, that there has been more
petty thieving from the government
FUNDS than most persons suspect and
that. since It represents 'triNing
with misery money" his office viii
prosecute vigorously all cases Of this
nature In which evidence is obtained.
Hegge and Breckenridge, he said,
arc specifically charged With collect
Ing hire for teams, when no teams
owned by them actually were work.
ing on the job.
lssucd hitter Statement
Simultaneous with announcement
here OF the arrest Of the two Grant
county men, Lanier at Fargo struck
bitterly at those whom he branded
''chiselers on misery" with an en-
phatic promise mo stone win be left
unturned to protect the needy against
unfairness and positive crookedness In
the handling Of federal funds ana
distribution Of federal jobs in North
Dakota"
Citing instances Of what he termed
"unfairness and positive crookedness"
that have been called to hts attention
III regard to administration Of the
CWA, the district attorney minced
no words In condemning 'meddlers''
with federal funds.
In numbers Of counties" he said,
three and even four members or .
family have been given work while
other families In dire distress are
ignored. Supporters Of one political
faction Of the state are In many In
stances given exclusive preference ana
oftentimeS In cases where they are
not classified as needy. In one city
mayor Is reported to be on tho
payroll Of the CWA.
Hears Many Reports
Reports are circulated Of the pad.
ding Of payrolls by men occupyiue
positions Of trust, chiseling on misery
wnne families suffer for want Of
necessities.
"All this must be stopped. Any
person, high OF low, who has the idea
ne can tamper with the recovery pro-
gram In North Dakota, Is due Tor Z
SAD awakening. The office of the
United States district attorney Is
functiouing In North Dakota to pro-
tect the weak and no stone viii be
LETT unturned to see that they are
cared for.
Influence ana high position win
save no one that unlawfully NEEDLES
With the detectives Of the CWA or
any other government setup for the
recovery Of our people,
Complaints have persisted, Lauier
ADDED. @in spite Of loyal support and
arduous effort Of Judge A. N. Christ
ianson and those supporting him II