People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1894 — ARRAIGNED. [ARTICLE]

ARRAIGNED.

Michigan’* Indicted Official* Before the Bar—All Give Ball. Lansing, Mich., Feb. 27. —The most remarkable scene ever witnessed in a Michigan courtroom was enacted in the little courthouse at Mason Saturday when three state officials were called upon to plead to indictments charging them with felonious crimes against the laws of the state. Most of the persons against whom indictments •were voted were notified by their conn* sel Friday night, and five of them— State Treasurer Hambitzer, Land Commissioner Berry, Attorney General Ellis, Sergeant-at-Arms Bussey and Frank A. Potter—went to Mason Saturday morning, accompanied by friends, who were prepared to become sureties on their bonds. After the usual formalities attendant upon the return of bills by a grand Jury Attorney General Ellis was ar-i raigned on three indictments for forgery, conspiracy and destroying the Wayne county records, lie waived the reading of the indictments, as did all of the others save Potter, who pleaded not guilty. In each case where the accused refused to plead a plea of not guilty was entered by the court State Treasurer Hambitzer and Land Commissioner Berry were arraigned on indictments for felony in making a false public record, conspiracy and willful neglect of duty. Ex-Clerks Potter and Warren answered to indictments charging the making of a false public record and corspiracy, and Seargeant-at-Arms Bussey to a charge of conspiracy. Bail was fixed as follows:

Ellis, for forging, 10,000; Ellis and May, for destroying the Wayne couatv records, U.OCO; Potter and Warren, for making a false publto record, 12,000; each of the persons charged with conspiracy, 51.0J0; Jocliim, Hambitzer and Berry, for making a false public record. 55,000; Jochlm, Hambitzer and Berry, willful neglect, *I,OOO. Ellis’ bonds were signed by George W. Webber, A. F. Kelsey, Frank A. Session and Josiah E. Just, of lonia; S. W. Webber, of Lyons, andN. B. Hayes and Chauncey J. Rumsey as sureties. Treasurer Hambitzer’s bonds were signed by Mayor A. O. Bement and James IJ. Judsou, of Lansing. Commissioner Berry’s sureties in the same sum are James D. Berry, his son, Alexander Cameron, Wyatt B. Brown and A. M. Dobbelaire, of Lansing, and Henry L. Henderson, of Mason. Potter gave two bonds, with Lester fc>. Hudson and Alexander Blair, of Lansing, as sureties. Warren’s sureties are his father, W. G. Warren, and II or ace Wilcox, of Charlotte. James B. Judson and Washington G. Wiley, of Lansing, signed the bond required of Bussey. All of the defendants announce their intention of making a vigorous defense and have counsel of more than ordinary ability retained. Another life-sized sensation has developed in connected with the official actions of Secretary of State Joachim, Treasurer Hambitzer and Laud Commissioner Berry. An examination of the ; books of the board of state auditors, of which they are the members, shows that they have been making illegal charges and allowing their own bills therefor ever since they were inducted into office.