, 1900-12-20
THURSDAY, DECEMBER ~. 1900.
Teller The Timber Thief.

ship by the government and the rights
and interests of settlers. 1t seems mar
velous that he could go long continue to
ride rough sbod over the special agents
who tried to check his operations. but
he had a cousin Willard Teller, who is
an able lawyer, and another cousin quite
prominent in government %circles- He
also had a fortune and "A nerve that
makes men successful in whatever they |
undertake. So he kept right On cutting
down the government forests and de
flying all the efforts of the government
10 stop his en~croachments. But at last
he was brought up with a round turn,
just as all law breakers meet their fate
in time. and his career as IL forest rob
Dor is closed.
This triumph of the law. and vindica-
ton OF the peoples rights, shoIld be
heraldcd throughout Wyoming and Col
orddo 1t means much for this state.
The men who achieved this result de
serve the commentator and eongratu-
lations of the settlers Of the west. as
it required more than ordinary ability
and honesty of purpose to bring the cul-
prit to justice. Heretofore the meshes
OF the law were AS nothing in his way.
To the department Of the interior be
longs the chief credit. and more especi-
ally Hon. Binger Hermann. commits
Rinner of the general land office. but
there is also great credit due Hon. r. +.
Burke, United States attorney for Wyo-
iuiDg. for the faithful and efficient work
b. performer at all stages of the legal
proceedings of the ~protracted contest.
He COPIED successfully with two of the
ablest lawyers Of Colorado. Teller and
Mr.. Orahoord. who were adopts in land
and timber controversies. Mr.. Burke's
pr sentatiOn Of the case IN the trial at
Denver, AS well as his closing argument
were highly commended by those who
witnessed this trlal. and they say he WAS
ably assisted by United States Attorney
Whitford of Colorado.
But we must not overlook Special
Agent Abbott. whose life was made a
burden to him by the various and de
vious methods of Teller to escape detec-
ton. Abbott was villiticd by Teller. his
charges were declared false. and threats
were made that he would be dismissed
in disgrace. For 10 these many years
M. Teller had bought and bullyragged,
those who opposed him in his depreda-
tons ON the public domain. and he
wanted To know who this tramp WAS
that was trying to interfere with his
operations. At times Teller would put
on d poor face and plead FOR mercy. say
ing hat there was "A conspiracy to crush
han out, and of course Abbott was the
arch cbDspirator. Abbott o realized
that lac had caught a fish bigger Thar
he could probably land, and though
frequently disheartened he never failed
t. do his duty. and took the abuse that
was heaped upon him in ri by vii
lard Teller as part Of his punishment.
aud smiled al fate when he saw the
hing of the forest desiroyers strut out
of the halls Of justice with II judgement
against the government, and casting up
nn tue special agent a look of scorn and
contempt, 1t was pretty hard to take,
Jul bAiuF SBt1ifS E'h sh1@t 10
ing cong ratulations with hat happy
eruile of serene satisfaction that is good
to behold.
Nhe testimony il the suit at Denver
was straightforward and conclusive for
the government. Ordinarily The uttor-
sad havoc Of the eyideuce against him,
but this time they utterly failed. vii
lard Teller puupced on f.. s. Johnston
aud tried 10 browbeat by maligning his
motives. but in Il dignitied manner Mr..
JuhastOn stated the facts, looking the
cross examiner square in the eye until
he tiuehed John u. Mullison and Ira
Reynolds, both superintendents for John
{. Teller at the time Of the timber tres,
pass ia Carbon county. testified ON the
part Of the government, and their eyI
dence was most damaging to the defend
unt, because it made tie chain complete,
The defendants assertion that he had
been informed Ut the surveyor generals
Office that the land bad been surveyed.
vas yofuted by tbF testimony of ii. b.
Psttcn, who squaTely contradicted Tel.
ler.
lnr triad wac intensely interesting and
~ ltu,s exciting IN account Of the dra
matte ~ which some of the
i.c = were ELECTED. Judge Riner wIW
= PEELED to call John C.. Teller down
for i%nterrupting the proceedings. and
finally threatened To turn him oyer to
ihr uDited States marshal. This had a
AmeiiuS effect. but when court adjourn.
sd the defcndont hedpcd abuse upon
United States Attorney Whitfurd and a
scrap ensued IN the hallway.
Tie charge Of Judge RiDer IN this
gag vas very highly spoken Of by those
St.p heard it, az n clear and furcible
|. Elhcprnt Of the law applicable to the
.S.s The Leader vii! print 1T, if obtain
49,. .L. FA. - Na.N -