The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-01
Why Snow Trains Are Not Nov.
ing Over Alaska Mountains.
MR.. SMILEY HAS A HEARING
Introduces Documentary Evidence to
Dawson. Accepted the Presidency
of His Company. and That the Lat
ernnaent to Carry Alaska Supplies.

smiley, travelling passenger agent of the
! Snow and Ice Company, and his alleged
assistant. Philip Hanna. on the charge of
obtaining money under false pretenses, oc-
cuped the attention OF Justice Austin yes
terday afternoon from o clock until $50.
The state had finished its case and Mr..
Smiley had testified when Justice Austin
adjourned court The case will he con-
cluded this afternoon. The evidence OF wit
nesses for tho state conflicts with that
given by Mr.. Smiley on the following
points: Whether the company had trains
in Alaska and whether transportation
across certain portions of Alaska by snow
and ice train had been tried.
Joseph Ladue the alleged president OF
the company, cannot be found. He is
wanted as a witness.
Mrs. Minnie Cronin, the prosecuting wit
ness, gave testimony In line with her arfi-
davit. published recently in the Post-Intel-
ligencer. She said that she purchased a
ticket from Mr.. Smiley under the belief
and in view of his statement that snow
and ice train transportation had been tried
and was success In Alaska. She also said
that Hanna was apparently as much inter-
ested in the sale of the ticket as Smiley.
She was emphatic in her denunciaiion of
the company as a fraud.
Chief of Police Reed told OF his con-
versation with Smiley during which Smiley
admitted that II was an oversight on his
part in not filing out the coupons attached
to the ticket and detaching the agents
stub. Smiley told him that he did not
have a stamp. Regarding business in Seat
tie Smiley said that he had sold only one
ticket here. The chief also mentioned the
telegram received by Smiley from Rosen-
feldt, telling him TO shut up the office and
return TO Portland.
ID. Riordan, an attorney, said that he met
Smiley i'm Portland three weeks ago and
asked for the return of $500 that had been
paid to the company by some of his
friends for transportation to Dawson. Mr.
Riordan told Smiley that the company was
promising things that It could not do
Snow engines were feasible in the pineries
Of Michigan, but not In mountainous Alas
XII. Smiley insisted that the project was
feasible. He also said that the expedition
would accompany the government relief
expedition and that the engines We're on
the way to Portland. Mr.. Riordan desired
to see Manager Rosenfeldt. Smiley said
he was out Of town. Riordan's experiences
with Manager Rosenfeldt were ruled out.
Capt ]. r. Devices testified that the
Snow and Ice Transportation Company mad
no apparatus at either Skagway or Pyra-
mid harbor, so far as he knew. II had six
engines in Portland and thirty-four cars
We've being built Il have known Mr.. Ro-
senfeldt since ne was boy" said Capt
Devices 81 object" yelled Assistant Pros
ecuting Attorney Hart. "All i called the
witness fer was TO tell whether this com
pany had apparatus in Alaska. He is a
friend OF the defendants and has come
here with papers"
8. +. Dumas said he was acquainted with
the Snow and Ice Transportation Company
to the extent of $500, and that he had been
trying to get his money back. Mr.. Smiley
told me-" said Dumas. that cars Were be-
ing built In Alaska and that Manager Ro-
senfeldt was boarding people in Portland
owing 10 a delay in the departure OF the
expedition Why don't you do the same
here said l. Smiley answered that he did
not have the authority.
This is our case" said Mr., Hart. At
torney Morris called defendant J. r.
Smiley TO the stand and told him 10 tell
his story. Il am the travelling passen-
ger agent OF the Snow and Ice Transport
alton Company" said Mr.. Smiley. II
was working for the I.adue Gold Mining &
Development Company of the Yukon in
Chicago. Mr.. Rosenfeldt was agent OF
the company. one day MI Rosenfeldt
and Joseph Ladue came In and dictated
a letter To Secretary of War Alger. inform
ing him about the formation Of the Snow
and Ice Company"
What position did Mr.. Ladue hold?"
asked Mr. Morris. president" was the
reply Il witnessed the letter in which
he accepted the position"
Continuing. Mr.. Smiley said: Il was
transferred from the mining company 10
the transportation company and sent 10
Portland to check up Agent Knapp.
had some trouble in dong Il. In fact /
aid not check him up Then ! was or
dered 10 Seattle to see Gaunce Dane,
agents OF the company. They told me
that there were some dissatisfied passen-
gers in the city. ! had the authority 70
board delayed passengers al 81 day.
talked with the passengers and they
wanted their money back. told them
that they would have 10 deal with Mana
ger Rossnfeldt on that point"
NJ Smiley then told about selling
ticket 20 Mrs. Cronin lie denied telling
her that the trains had been used In
Alaska. lie told her that they had been
used with success. II said that the com
pany had a contract with the government
20 carry I'm supplies and soldiers" The
contract with the government was then
shown despite Mr.. Harris objection. II
was signed by Assistant Secretary Of War
Mickle john and Manager Rosenfeidt Mr..
Morris then introduced q letter TO prove
that NJ Smiley was acting In good faith
when he told Mrs Cronin that Joseph
Ladue was president OF the company II
Vas signed by Joseph Ladue" and pur-
ports 10 show that Mr.. 14adue accepted the
presidency OF the company.
Mr.. Smiley said that the delay IN the
expedition was due TO the fact that The
engines did not reach Portland within
tweuiy-one days Of the time expected.
having been delayed Nv storms II am
Only an empioye or the company" said
Mr. Smiley and Hanna was hired By
ma 20 distribute literature He did not
take any part in the sale q the ticket.
He witnessed Il. but II he had not been
there I would have got some one else"
On contamination Smiley said he
had no explanation 70 make as - why ne
ala rot fili out The coupons OF the ticket.
IT was an oversight on my part" he
said However 7 would not have put IN
the na me % tire steamer because 7 did
not know what steamer Manager Rozen-
feIdt had secured"
How do you explain that telegram you
received about closing the Office IN
CURED Mr. Hart II sent word 10 Man
ger RosenfeIdt that va were not doing