The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-03
TIMBER CUTTING
}. Fl. Stone, of Spokane, Indicted
for Doing it Illegally.
The Case Comes Up for Trial at BOise-It At
tracts Attention-Spite Probably Actu-
ated the Prosecution.

BOISE, Idaho, Feb. Especial telegram
to THE HERALD. The case of j. H. Stone.
prominent business man of Spokane. in
the United States court, for illegally cut
ting timber on the public lands, will come
up for hearing Thursday. The case is at
tracing wide attention, not only because
Of the prominence of the gentleman in
dicted, but also because it's determination
affects the timber interests of the entire
northwest. 1t seems that the authorities
have indicted Mr.. Stone for cutting timber
IN townships where evidence is abundant
that he has not cut any. In fact in every
personal indictment against Mr. Stone it
reliably held that he is not guilty.
IN single instance. In addition to
personal indictments, attempts have
been made to mix Mr.. Stone ND
with seven or eight other cBses in which
other parties are the principals and Mr..
Stone is made accessory because he pur-
chased timber of them. An ATTEMPT was
made and argued in court to-day TO CONSOLE
dale all the cases, to which Stone strenu-
ously objected, his wish being to stand on
his own merits and make the fight for him
self, conscious of ais innocence OF any
wrong in the matter.
As 10 these other cases, some seven or
ClkhG VI w ulCu are uOW DGlOE6 Tue court 1t
is held that every man indicted was bona
hde settler on the lands, and that they had
the permission Of timber agents to cut and
sell timber. 1t is claimed on good author
lty that prominent men now here will tes-
tlfy that MIR. Stone purchased timber ONLY
OF men who were actual settlers and who de-
sired to sell tim Der from their claims in order
to aid them in proving them and in
supporting their families while so doing.
1t was the decision OF Secretary Teller, as
well as the present secretary of the inte-
rlor, and was given as an instruction to all
land agents, including those of COeur
d. Alene city, that men making homestead
or presumption filings on timber lands NAV
sell the timber, not only for making actual
Improvements on claims, but also to sup
port themselves and families while clearing
up the land Without such permission
many could not settle and clear land at all
1t is claimed that evidence will be forth
coming to show that MIR. Stone purchased
timber only of actual settlers, who showed
their good faith by living on lands and
making improvements valued at from $3.50
to 81 800, excepting amounts purchased of
railroad companies from railroad lands
Public sympathy here is largel with Mr.
Stone, who is among Spokane's most solid
and lrreproachable business men. The
whole matter is viewed here by many as
persecution rather than prosecution. the
general opinion being the Montana I'm
provement company is behind this PROSE
cution, as this company seems to want to
control all the timber not only in Montana,
but in Idaho. Mr.. Stone expects to show
that United States timber agents were
over the entire stumpage and gave the men
now under indictment permission to cut
timber, and that they knew OF its being
done, and raised no objection. The case is
attracting wide attention. If the court
holds against the lumber men, it is re-
garded as the deathblow to the settling of
timber lands in the northwest.