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Ortman first won election as the Comptroller of St. Anthony in 1870. He won re-election in 1871, and in 1872 he was elected, with no opposition, Comptroller of Minneapolis, which absorbed St. Anthony that spring. Ortman continued to win unopposed races through the 1870s. By 1877 the City Council suspected Ortman was a little too comfortable at his post. They began to investigate his work.
Feeling the heat, Ortman resigned on June 19, 1877. Next day, the Council approved 4 charges against the former Comptroller:
The charges went to the grand jury. On Dec. 3, Ortman was indicted on 2 counts of obtaining goods under false pretenses. Two days later he pleaded not guilty. The jury reached a verdict on Jan. 19, 1878: Guilty, on both counts. Next day the judge sentenced Ortman to pay a $100 fine, or spend 3 months in jail. He paid the fine.
In a year or so, Ortman landed a job as clerk in the County Auditor's office. At the time of his death he had risen to Deputy Auditor of Hennepin County. Ortman died on Dec. 27, 1890, and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery.
— Neal Baxter