The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-30
BIG FRAUD ALLEGED
SENSATIONAL CHARGES OF CON-
SPIRACY AGAINST PROMI-
NENT LUa8ERMEN
MINNEAPoL1TANs IMPLICATED
Charles e. seeleye.-in Jail for Start
ing Forest Fires, Said to Have
Started Government ON
investigation.

Charges of fraud and conspiracy prefer
red against Minnesota and other lumber
men are about to be investigated by the
government at Washington 1t is alleged
that the charges have been filed by
Charles 7. Seelye. who is serving a term
of eight months imprisonment in the
Hennepin county jail, having been con-
victed in the United States district court
of starting forest fires; on the Chippewa
reservation in Minnesota. Mr.. Seeleye
when seen at the county jail last night
emphatically denied that he had filed any
such charges and also denied that he
had employed any attorney.
The first hearing In the matter is to
take place today before the secretary
of the interior and Indian Commissioner
Jones. 1t is expected that Congressman
Page Morris, of the Sixth district, will
be present and will make statement to
the effect that Seeleye is the victim OF
the conspiracy. Seeieye is the man whose
petition for a pardon was recently de-
MED by President Roosevelt. When seen
at the county Jail last evening, Mr.. See-
leye said to G l OBJ e man:
THE statement in a Washington dis
patch in an evening paper, that I had,
through my attorneys, filed a statement
alleging gigantic conspiracy, involving
number of prominent Minnesota lum-
bermen, is without foundation. In the
first place, have no attorneys, nor have
filed any statement. Nor have T., con-
tlnued Mr.. Seeleye, accused any Mime
apolis lumberman of committing any
frauds. Every lumberman in Minneapo-
lis whom I know is warm personal
friend of mine, with one exception
Have you anything at all to say
against any other lumberman?"
''Fh9t ia diffarant ttar, renIiad
Mr.. Seeleye. IF L were not confined in
this Jail I could go to Washington and
tell Secretary Hitchcock and the Indian
commissioner few things that would stir
things up. 1 could show them that frauds
have been committed by lumbermen not
confined to Minnesota that would create
surprise. But I am in Jail, after being
convicted by perjured testimony, as the
result of conspiracy to prevent me
from aiding my wife and daughter who
have been defrauded out of S11 0OO"
Mr. Seeleye explained the situation as
follows:
My wife and daughter had permission
from the United States government to
cut dead and down timber on the Chip
peWa indian reservation. 1 was their at
torney in fact and transacted all their
business. The logs i cut were sold to
George f. Porter of the American Adj
Justment company whose offices are in
the Temple Court building.
AS result of our dealings my wife
and daughter now have a claim against
the government for ST., 600 of the money
they deposited with the governments IN
dian agent before any timber could be
cut. Porter claims that this money be-
longs TO him, and the hearing tomorrow
IS TO determine to whom this money be-
longs. The statement that any contracts
were sublet to Mr.. Porter is entirely. err
roneous.
Ihat l was convicted on the perjured
testimony of the Indians is an absolute
Iact admitted even by the Minneapolis
ZIMMERMAN whose personal friendsoin I
90 not enjoy, so am credibly informed
That the court must have doubted the
honesty Of much of the testimony is
clearly indicated to my mind by the
sentence imposed. Thee 1alaxirnu1 pen
atty Tor starting forest fires is inprison-
ment Tor twenty years and a fine of
S2OO0. Judge Lochren sentenced me tn
prison. for eight months and imposed a.
me OF $500. Afterwards he wrote a let
Ter TO the attorney general recommends
ing my pardon
The Washington dispatch contained an
other erroneous assertion to the effect
that Judge Lochren had made a state
ment that he believed Seeleye was
,wrongfully convicted. When seen at his
residence last night, Judge Lochren said:
did not express any opinion as to
the conviction of Mr. Seeleye, but T did
Write letter to the department of Jus
tee recommending his pardon. and for
these reasons:
The day before his death United
States District Attorney Evans told me he
entertained doubts as to the truth of the
testimony of the Indians on the trial.
I,he> assistant district attorney expressed
similar doubts, and L wrote a letter To
Washington ernbodying their state
ments,''