The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-04-26
WRITER OF THREAT
TO TELEPHONE firm
GETS 3-YEAR Term
]. n. Tauer Of Bismarck Sen.
fenced Under LindberQh
Law In Federal Court
JUDGE ASSAILS RADICALS
Threatened TO Remove r. n.
Waldo From City, Destroy 10.
cal, Mandan Properties

A letter threatening to destroy the
Northwestern Bell Telephone systems
In Bismarck and Mandan ana to for
chilly remove from the city +. H. WAL
do. manager Of the local company,
brought . three-year sentence In the
federal penitentiary for J. H. Tauer
Of Bismarck when he pleaded guilty
to the charge In federal court here
Friday.
Before imposing sentence under the
lindbergh law, enacted by congress
July 3, 1882, Judge Andrew Miller
called three witnesses for testimony
- to the defendants character and
then launched . scorching denuncia-
ton Of radicals who threaten furda-
mentals Of government"
Investigations leading to the arrest
Of Tauer were conducted by Postoff-
Ice Inspectors A. B. strom and w. r.
Ton. Strom, together with Waldo
and J. w. Guthrie, . member Of the
county relief committee. were called
to testify as to the defendants char
acter. Their testimony was supple
mented by private inquiries Of Judge
Miller who told Tauer you are Just
. sort Of no good You've done
some bootlegging, you work In =
worthless sort Of way, can't hold .
Job and you are . trouble-maker
who has been trailing around with
the most radical element In the city.
Lacked Courage Himself
From statements I have received
from people who know you, don't
believe that you would CARY out this
threat. You wouldn't have had the
courage yourself. but some Of your
associates might have"
The letter which Tauer confessed
writing was signed vigilance Com
mittee." TAuer told the court that
he was the entire committee"
Judge Miller told Tauer III you
had gone out on the street where
you could have been seen and made
this threat 1t would have been quite
different. Then they would have
known who you were and could have
protected themselves"
The nndbergh statute, the court
said, was enacted to meet just such
q situation. There are lots Of threats
Of this kind being carried out. I wish
there was some way to avoid ililpos-
ing the sentence I am going to, but
II the court excused you what win
other fellows Of your kind do? Il
sentence you to three years In the
federal penitentiary and I hope this
sentence will have an influence on
Others"
Addressed 70 Fargo. Omaha
Tauer's letter threatening Waldo
and destruction Of the telephone prop
critics was addressed to the Fargo
and Omaha offices Of the company.
Dated March q. 1894, 1t informed Of
ficials Of the company:
I'VE, the committee Of the Bis
marck Vigilance committee, take this
opportunity to inform your executive |
board Of your telephone system OF
this information and that same must
be carried out 1t the mercy Of the |
Bell Tel. System.
The Vigilance Committee viii re-
move from the city Of Bismarck q
Mr.. +. II. Waldo, Dist. NV Bell Tel.
Go. Tho committee from experience |
has learned this man to be an UNI
desirable citizen and rat. There. |
fore, We viii give the general man. |
asement this opportunity to transfer |
this man out Of the city Of Bismarck !
not later than May /. 1884. The trans. |
fer to be made shall be published In
the Bismarck Daily Tribune together |
With the name Of the rat. +. H. WAL
do. The committee will observe your |
actions In the removal case through |
the Bismarck Daily Tribune. Should
you fail or ignore this request. we.
The committee. In Z vigilant manner |
viii remove the party In question. In
addition thereto We also ccntem-
plate destroying the Bell Tel. 6ys. In
Bismarck and Mandan. To avoid
damage to property and for convent
snce It win be entirely up to your
in the case stipulated.
We viii carefully observe the local
ID In the Bismarck Daily Tribune,
same to be published not later than
May I, or before April -. 1894.
Signed Vigilance Committee"