The Bismarck tribune., 1935-04-24
DOCTRINES Of HIGH
OFFICIALS SCORED
IN talk BY Judge
Citizenry Warned Those Who
Encourage Mon-payment
Are Dangerous Leaders
TWO GET SEVERE Lecture
protect Your Credit Miller Ad.
vises in Discussing Loan
Situation
TWO GET SEVERE LECTURE

An admonition that farmers who
listen to politicians encouraging nom
payment Of debts are listening to -
dangerous doctrine" was sounded in
federal court here Wednesday by
Judge Andrew Miller in sentencing
two farmers to six months In the
county Jail after they had pleaded
guilty to selling government mort
gagged property.
Judge Miller suspended the sen
tences, placing the two men on pro-
baton for = year and q half and
stipulating that they report to him
at the end Of 60 days.
After entering pleas Of not guilty
to the charges Tuesday, j. +. Baum
gartner of strasburg and J. A. Benz
of Driscoll changed their pleas TO
guilty Wednesday morning. Repre-
sented by Attorneys G. L. Foster and
George Register, respectively, the two
farmers asked leniency, declaring
themselves victims Of the preachings
Of certain high state and federal Of
ficials who encouraged non-payment
Of debts" Donald M. Murtha, assist
ant United States attorney, represent
ed the government.
The mortgages In both instances
were held BY the Regional Agricultural
Credit corporation. Benz admitted
sale Of 81 head Of lambs for . price
of $l42.76 while Baumgartner was
charged with the sale Of 10 head Of
cattle for . sum Of sass.
Judge Launches Warning
Before imposing sentence, Judge
Miller launched his warning to farm
crs generally that "someday, sonle-
body is going to pay an awful price
for this dangerous doctrine"
''The government" he said, lis the
only place where you have any credit
left. II you are going to use the
government this way, you are not going
to have any credit anyplace. I don't
want you to ruin the last credit you
have. You have the fool notion that
you are not responsible to anybody.
If the time comes when the govern
ment no longer Is your government,
you will belong to the government"
II agree" ne continued, that you
are not criminals. But do think you
have made q very serious mistake. II
you have been led to this mistake by
men travelling ebout the country seek
ing your votes, you have listened to
some very dangerous doctrine.
II can't let these cases 70. The
government has thousands Of these
mortgages. But am going to be fair
to you. I am going to see II ! can't
start you on the right way Of think
Ing"
Veteran on Probation
william w. MacDougal, former
Cleveland rural mail carrier and
World War veteran, was placed on .
year and = half probation after he
had pleaded guilty to abstracting
money from the United States mails.
Citing MacDougal's 81 months
service In the u 8. army during the
World War, II months overseas dur
ing which he received shrapnel and
bayonet wounds which permanently
disabled him. Thomas J. Burke. Bis
marck attorney. asked leniency for
the defendant.
Burke'S argument was supported by
the postoffice inspector who originally
investigated complaints against Mac
Dougal. Burke said MacDougal had
q clear record both before and since
the offense.
MacDougal. head Of Z family Of
eight, Is well known in American Le-
gion circles. He was formerly . MEM
Der Of the American Legion vocal and
instrumental trio Of the jamestown
post. MacDougal was ordered by the
court to report to him at the end Of
so days.
Two Bonds Forfeited
Bonds were ordered forfeited and
bench warrants were issued for Mel
win Johnson Of Parshall and Joe volk
of Linton, both charged with Indian
liquor law violations. when they failed
to appear in court. An Indian liquor
offense involving five quarts Of home
brew against Louis Barnstorff was
dismissed on motion BY the govern
ment. Burr CrUws Breast Of Fort
Berthold pleaded guilty TO possession
Of liquor on an Indian reservation.
Henry suess Of Mercer county, .
formerrural mail carrier, pleaded guilty
to opening . letter In his custody
while acting as . carrier on . route