Evening star., 1901-08-09
THE REPLYOF JUDGE MOVES
DENIES EACH AND EVERY CHARGE
AGAINST HIM
Defends His Administration of Affairs
at Nome, Alaska-Opcrating
the Gold Claims.

The reply of Judge Arthur H. NoyeS to
charges made against him as to the admin
istration of his office of United States dis
trict Judge at Nome, Alaska, covers the
history of his career from the time Of mis-
appointment, June 6, 1900, to the present
time.
Judge Noyes details the story of his trip
to Alaska giving an account of the &C
uuaintances made upon that journey, more
particularly the acquaintance of Messrs.
Mckenzie and Chipps, who have figured
so largely in connection with the charges
against the Judge, and denies that he had
any communication with either of these
gentlemen with respect to the business of
his court on his journey or at any other
time. He takes up in detail the various
cases in respect to which irregularity has
been charged against him, and specific
arv denies each and every allegation
thereof, as already stated in The Star.
Conditions at Nome.
He describes the chaotic conditions exist
ing at Nome at the time of his arrival,
wherein he states he found in the neigh
borhood of 10000 people of all classes. and
the utmost confusion and disorder prevail
ing He sets out that every lot of ground
in the whole town had two or more claim
ants; that possession was held in great
many instances by armed force, and that
he was beseged upon every hand imme-
diately upon his arrival by parties seeking
relief against those whom they claimed to
be wrongfully and uniaWfuliy In possession
of their property, divesting 1t of value and
shipping the process out of the country
and the jurisdiction of the court. He then
details his efforts to organize his court
and the opportunities to which he was SUBJ
tected by litigants and counsel. and de-
ia ATTEMPTED
thrust upon him by solicitous individuals.
He then recounts the circumstances under
which he appointed Alexander Mckenzie
receiver of certain mining claims, alleging
that it had not been prearranged that Nc
Kenzie should act as receiver but that Nc
Kenzie's name was suggested along with
others, to one of whom the place had been
rendered before it was offered to Mckenzie,
and in his answer the judge reaffirmS the
wisdom of that choice and compliments
Mckenzie's administration of the property.
Receiver for Mining Claims.
Defending his appointment of receiver
for the placer mining claims. Judge Noyes
denies that he first suggested that remedy.
and he justifes his action upon the ground
that there were scattered along the beach
thousands of unemployed men who had
been allured to Nome by the fabulous tales
of wealth which had been given out and
~ L
of the previous year; that these men were
unemployed without food or money, and
desperate, and that to have closed down
by injunction the operation Of the placer
claims would have added largely to the
number of unemployed in the camp; that
he followed in this respect the precedents
established by former judges of the district
of Alaska and adds to his answer copies
of a decree in similar case. He admits
that in most cases where he appointed re-
court were largely untrue to the capa-
bilities of the mines. This, however was
not determined until later, and his action
was predicated upon the fairness of the
presentation Of the cases. This accounted
for the comparatively excessive expense Of
operation by the receivers.
Operating the Claims.
Judge Noyes also claims that as an addi-
ttonal precaution for the protection of the
parties in interest he required in all cases,
when either Of the parties requested 1t,
that the gold dust realized by the receiver
should be deposited at the safe deposit
vault, not subject to withdrawal except by
order of the court, with notice to the par
ties interested, and that he further ordered
In each case when requested that all par
ties having any interest or claiming inter-
est in the property might at any time go
upon the property worked by the receiver
Tor the purpose of observing the work, and
might be present at each and every clean
ing-up made by the receiver, and that he
In every way possible tried to throw every
safeguard about the property in the hands
OF the receiver, that it might be conserved
for the benefit of the party who might
finally be adjudged its owner.
Judge Noyes takes UP the several charges
In their order and replies in detail, denying
each and every allegation that reflected
upon the integrity and conscientious admin
istration Of the affairs Of his Office.
In conclusion, he apologies for the ap-
which, he claims, did not reach him until
the 4th day of July this year, although
sent out some time In March, delay that
ne claims he cannot account for although
ne mad instituted an investigation to deter