The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-03

@. In whose name did you learn
that Mr.. McIlrath's portion was carried
on! A. Well, think in the zane OF
Edward Webb. He lives here in St.
Paul, and can tell all about it.
@. State whether Mr.. Comstock
ever indicated to you in any manner as
to what the amount was that Mr.. Nc.
1lrath made by his operations in timber
cut? A. In the spring of 1872, MIR.
Comstock was telling me about house
that Mr.. McIrath was about building
had commenced building-and he said
at that time that Mr.. Mcllrath was
worth somewhere from $4,000 to $75,-
600, and that he had made it all on a
small salary, by economy, and
strict attention to the pine
timber business. We were passing
down somewhere near where he was 60
ing to build at the time. He said that
and laughed. He said that when Mr.
McIlr&th took possession of the Aud.
itor's office he was comparatively poor.
Q. do you know whether Luke Cas-
tie examined lands for the State after
Mr.. Constock! A. He did one year.
1t was either him in 1871 and Mr.. Stan.
nard in 1872, or it was Mr.. Stannard in
1871 and Luke Castle in 1872.
Q. State whether you know any.
thing as to whether Mr.. Castle made
any false reports of timber cut, to the
State officers. A. That is hearsay evil
dence. the same as the other. l am in
formed that he did. He had note of
one of the logging eoncerns-I believe
tlEsat of John Stewart, but will not be
certain. After | saw the note | made
inquiries Of the parties who signed the
either that, or incidentally heard
complaints upon their part in regard to
the transaction-and was informed
by the parties who signed
the note that it was given in con-
sideration OF changing the scale Of four hun
dred thousand feet, letting off so much and
as they had to pay about 80 stumpage, it
was a right good thing for the men, if the
explorer did get little out oft
y. What was the amount of this note for
making the change? A. | believe it was
$500. Mr. Comstock had been cutting some
on school lands that year. He wrote over
to me and wanted ME to make an arrange
ment with Luke Castle whereby only thirty
per cent. of it would be reported. l wrote
back that l did not feel inclined to make
such an arrangement but that if he wanted
to see Luke he could come over himself
He came over and saw Luke Castle and had
quite long conversation with him in my
office. l believe they disagreed about the
amount to be paid, about one hundred dol
lars, MIR. Comstock claiming that he should
be let Oft with as little a sum as possible, as
he had procured him CASTLE the appoint
ment from Mr. McIIrath, that if he chose to
make any arrangement with Mr.. McIlrath it
could be made. He told Luke
So at the time, and that
II he wanted to make something out of it
there was chance to. Mr.. Castle offered to
change the report for certain sum, l believe
it was about four hundred dollars, and Mr..
Comstock did not want to give so much.
Mr.. Comstock anticipated making further
overtures to Mr.. Castle, but before it was
done Luke Castle had sent Mr.. Mcllrath the
full amount and about $4,000 feet more and
wrote letter to Mr.. Comstock saving that
he ''was too honest to be bought Mr..
COmstock sent the letter back to me and said
that it was good joke. but that he Com
stock had got to pay 81 900 for it.
@. Who cut this timber that Luke Castle
iS POI tou AuotS tIIiAIl CUT! "A. IL was camp
that MIR. Ca1nstock was supplying It seems
to me just as though it was the firm Of Plum
mer 4 Merryfeld.
O. Was that in 1872? A. No, do not
think it was. think it must have been in
1871. Any way it was the year Luke was
there.
O.. In what manner was Mr.. Comstock
interested in the cutting of this lumber at
this time? A. Well, guess nothing more
than that he owned some timber that they
had been cutting, and stumpage was due him,
and l understand that the amount of logs cut
would not sell for sufficient to pay the
amount Of supplies advanced by Mr.. Com
stock. ! do not know that that was the firm.
firm was, but it was three or four years AGO.
and did not charge my memory with It
but It seems as though it was Plummer q
Meryfeld.
@. Are You confident that this firm cut
on school or State lands A. No sir, am
not.
@. State what, if anything, Mr.. Comstock
told you in relation to the discrepancy or de-
fciency that existed between the amounts
which McIlrath reported to the State, and
the amount which Mr.. Comstock had report
ed to Mr.. McIlrath, as cut in 1867 or 1858
A. It Was either 1867 or 1868 or both years
Gull UlIlel. tQaL =. OOIOStOCk tOlQ me lQ21
there was deficiency OF 100 in the
St. Croix and its tributaries, between
his report to Mr. McIlrath and Mr.. Nell
rath's report to the State.
@. You mean that this information that
he gave you was to the effect that Mr.. Nell
rath's report to the State was that much less
than that reported by Mr.. Comstock to Mr..
McIlrath A. Yes, sir.
Q. And do you say that that Was the rea-
son assigned by Mr.. Cor 1stock to you for his
insisting upon Mr. McIlrath's dividing with
him in these matters A. Yes, sir; he
told me in the winter, at the time he got
Luke Castle the appointmeI as explorer,
that he would make me explorer, but de-
clincd to take it; he said at that time, "You
know that know too mnch for Ncllrath,"
meaning that he knew facts and circum-
stances which Mr.. McIlrath would not wish
him to divulge; but believe that it WAS his
influence that secured the appointment Of
Luke Castle.
@. This is a matter of public notoriety
over there in the St. Croix, isn't it, A: Yes,
sir nine out of ten of the lumbermen that
logged in the St. Croix waters knew abou.
some Of these Transactions
G. State, if you know, who was the person
that acted for Allen, Warren l. Co. A.
think Thomas Warren, in the transactions
that you refer to. It was Warren that did
the logging; but think it was Mr.. Comstock
and Nj. Munich that transacted the business
with Mr. McIlrath.
O. Do you know who WAS examiner prior