The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-08-22
PAYMENT
OF REWARD
NEGOTIATED
Washington Posse Has En-
plOyed Attorneys
Who Communicate With Or
egOn State Officials

There has been made no settlement
of any kind In the matter OF the re
wards offered by the state for the cap
nire and return OF the bandits. Tracy
and Merrill In fact there can be nc
settlements until the claimants file
ter claims with the secretary OF
state as required Of all bills against
the state. When this form has been
complied with then the claims Will be
audited in the same manner as are 9th.
er bills against the state, and not un.
IN then. Governor Geer has announced
that he has no authority to pay the re-
/ ward. but that the same lies with the
secretary Of state. When the bills
have been filed in the department of
state. It is up to that officer, as the
states auditing clerk, to determine
the validity of the claim, and arrange
for the payment Of the same.
As yet Mrs. Mary Waggoner, Of
Chehalls who found and delivered to
the pententary officials the body Of
Merrill. has not presented a claim of
any kind against the state, neither are
there any counter-claimants for this re-
ward. I'm fact the only claims that
have been filed thus far are those pre-
ferred by the members of the Wash.
ngton posse that captured Tracy. and
these are for the personal expenses Of
the men, amounting to s24S.65.
The members Of the posse that cap
ulred Tracy have employed attorneys
to aid them In procuring from the
state officials the amount of the re
ward The attorneys are Meyers &
Warren. Of Davenport, Wash, These
gentlemen have written Governor Geer
a letter in which they say, in part
IN Maurice Smith. together with
the four others who captured the out.
law, Harry Tracy. have employed us
to look after their interests In procur.
ing the reward offered by. you. as gov.
ernor of the state. VIII you do us the
kindness TO forward us copy of the
ofrer OF the reward which you offered?
AS you are doubtless aware. some
dispute has arisen between these five
men and Mr. Gardner. the sheriff OF
Lincoln county, as TO the division OF
The proceeds OF the reward Are you
willing 10 pay the reward as soon as II
s definitely settled to whom the re-
ward should be paid? May | also ask
whether or not, I'm the event that the
liyision Of the reward should develop
nto litigation. you are willing to pay
he money into court, and allow Il TO
Ie paid over TO such claimants as may
establish their claims by judicial pro
eedlngs? In the event OF any litiga-
ion II Is probable that the suit will be
commenced here, provided you are
Wiling to pay the money into the su-
lerior court here. TO be paid over to
he proper parties upon final judg-
nent? OF course. you would not be
bliged TO appear here In Washington.
mt ! take II that II could in no wise
inconvenience you to enter an appear.
nee here and deposit the money, and
would be much less expensive to
ne parties interested You will par.
on me for suggesting that In the rs
Of Pleading and Practice.
{ page ll59 you will find ample au-
lority for so doing Our clients ad.
ise us that you are ready and anxious
D pay the money over as soon as the
roper claimants are determined"
After a consultation with Secretary
T State Dunbar Governor Geer de- |
ided to advise the claimants for the |
eward 10 tile their claims In the Of |
CO OF the secretary OF state, In the
anne manner Ia which all claims are |
led.