The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-23
GE|GER'S TESTIMONY CONSPICUOUS
BY WHAT He DIDN'T REMEMBER
His Deposition in the Libel Suit of Fred Whiteside Against
the Miner Couldn't Recall Any Pledges-Sense
Of Duty Made Him Vote for Clark.
Money From His Mothers Estate
Wouldn't Say Where She
Lived.

against the Miner Publishing company,
which were taken at Libby recently,
were filed with the clerk of the court
yesterday. The dispositions are those of
State Senator John H. Geiger Z. III.
Clingan. Hans J. Hanson, Frank NJ.
Leonard and A. r. Gibson. The testi-
mony of Senator Geiger is interesting
chiefly because of the questions he re-
fused to answer. His direct examina-
ton was conducted by Attorney C. p.
Connolly, and in answer to the usual
preliminary questions Geiger stated
that he was Al years of age, that he
was state senator from Flathead coun-
~ and that he was a contractor, pros
pector, miner and different things" by
occupation.
Have you any contracts on hand
now?" asked MIR. Connolly.
II don't care to discuss my private
affairs with Mr. Connolly at ALL said
Geiger after Attorney Bickford had en-
tered an objection to the question.
I simply asked you the question,
not what these contracts were, but if
you have any at this time
Yes
Geiger said that by mining business
he meant that he was developing some
prospects and selling them.
What prospects do you own or are
you developing at this timer"
That is my private affairs and re-
fuse to answer it.
I will get you to state whether or
not you have at this time, or have had
In the past since your residence in
Libby. any income from mining"
This Is my private business and I
refuse to answer
You say you are developing some
prospects; will get you to state
whether or not you mean by that you
are personally developing those prop
critics or have some one in your employ
developing them for you
Right at the present time 7 am
neither working myself nor have any
body else working; my time has been
occupied by this inquisition at present.
Did you have yesterday any one de-
veloping mining properties for you?"
THAT is my private affairs and re-
fuse to answer"
You state that you are a state SEN
ator from this county?"
Yes"
When were you elected to that Of
fice?"
II think the record will show it was
on the Sth of November, 1898"
"On what ticket?" t
The republican ticket"
! VIII you state whether or not you
were nominated in republican CON
vention?" ..".
II think the political records viii
show that I was; that is my under
standing"
TT is a matter of public notoriety, is
it not?"
Il think So" n.-
Il will get you to state at the time
you were nominated in that conven-
ton whether or not you made any
pledge in the convention as to how or
for whom or for what, political faith
you should cast your vote for United
States senator in the legislature about
to convene, if elected"
Il don't remember what was said or
done that day particularly.
You don't remember"
mo"
will you state, or have you suffi-
Gent recollection to state, whether you
made any pledge of that kind?"
I don't remember sufficiently wheth-
er 1 did or not; l probably did, but
what they were I don't remember at
the present time; I cannot recall"
Il will get you to state whether or
not at the republican county conven-
ton of Flathead county. held in the
head county, in the town of Kalispell,
IN September, 1898, in the presence of
the delegates Of that convention, and
particularly in the presence of the
chairman and secretary of that con-
vention, you stated that you had been
was stacked up like cordwood for the
purpose Of bribing members Of the leg
lslature to betray their party and that
you then and there stated at the same
time-thts being in response to your
nomnation-that you hoped that If you
ever voted for any one but a republi-
gan Tor United States senator in the
forthcoming legislature. if you should
De elected thereto, that your constitu-
eh.s would take you out and hang You
ture?"
A long objection on many grounds
was recorded. and then Geiger an
swered:
II do not sufficiently remember what
did transpire that day or what I said,
TO answer upon oath, and therefore I
refuse to answer the question"
You don't remember then what oc-
curred?"
II don't remember what was said
word for word"
How much money did you have
when nominated by that convention for
the office of state senator?"
THAT is my business; 1t is private
and I refuse to answer it"
You refuse to answer the question:"
Yes; it is private"
Did you make political canvass of
F'lathead county prior to the election
last fall?'
IT did"
How much did that canvass cost
you in CASH."
Il don't remember how much it cost
me-"
Have you any idea?"
mo; no idea that could testify to-"
IF that canvass or campaign cost |
you any money you may state whether |
or not you then had the money or |
whether you We're compelled to borrow |
or did borrow any money to enable you |
to make that campaign
I guess that is my business whether |
borrowed any money or not"
Do you refuse to answer the ques-
tion?"
Yes"
On what greund?"
1t is my private business"
Il will ask you whether or not you !
refused to answer the question on the
ground that the same might tend to |
incriminate your
l refuse to answer the question; 1T |
is q private matter"
Did you during that campaign last
IAN borrow any money from w. A. |