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Name: Richard Leslie Wyman County of Conviction:
Dawson |
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Allegations: That on
3/15/18 said "to divers persons...in speaking of the atrocities reported
to be committed by the German soldiers, that our soldiers would act in the
same way and commit the same atrocities...and that soldiers of the U.S. Army
are no better than the German soldiers and that his nephew, Owen, then a
soldier in active service in the army, like a great many other soldiers in
this country, would never have gone into the service if they had not been
compelled to go; and that D would just as soon live under the Kaiser's
government as under the gov't of the U.S.Ó Case details: Wyman was
convicted after a jury trial. He worked as a clerk in the prison office. His
sentence was affirmed by state supreme court, 56 Mont. 600, 186 Pac. 1
(1919) #4379. Despite several
appeals, including by the sentencing judge, and ample evidence of political
payback, Gov. Stewart refused to commute Wyman's sentence, saying he would
never commute a sedition sentence. However, Gov. Dixon did commute Wyman's sentence to 5-12 years
(making Wyman eligible for parole) on May 21, 1921. Wyman served 32 months,
and was released on July 5, 1921. Wyman had presented ample evidence of a
frame-up by his political enemies, particularly two members of the board of
county commissioners, whom he had accused of stealing from the county (and
who were ordered by a court to pay back more than $9,000). Wyman presented
evidence that his enemies used a clerk in his office to gather evidence
against him. As a member of the Exemption Board, Wyman had refused to exempt
the woman's brother from the draft, rejecting false evidence that he was
farming, thus angering the clerk. Personal Information: Born in Levant, Maine. Lost his left
hand and forearm in a gun accident; had a wooden hand. Came to Montana about
1895, working as a sheep shearer and schoolteacher. Was a Sidney delegate to
1896 Republican county convention. Married Cecilia Obergfell and had two
children. Served 18 years as elected county clerk and recorder in Dawson
County and also owned the Lyric Theater in Glendive. After his release from
prison, he and his family moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where he pumped gas
and sold shoes door-to-door for a living. Died April 5, 1928, in Coeur d'Alene
and is buried there. Living relatives in Idaho and Montana.
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