Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-11
Bench Feels Deeply the Trouble in
Alaska.
THE MOVES CASE is REVIEWED
Alleged That Court and Attorney Were
Engaged in a Conspiracy TO Defeat
Ends of Justice in Tribunal in the
Frozen North.
Washington Bureau OF the Courier.

washington Bureau Of the Courier.
Washington d. c., Feb. 6.
Official Washington and more par
ticularly judicial Washington is in a
somewhat chaotic condition by reason
of the sensational developments in
connection with the Judge Noyes case,
in Alaska AS a general rule the
bench is quite free from the breath of
scandal, but this case is SO bad that
the judiciary feels the humiliation
deeply and no measures too strenuous
to meet the appreciation of the bench
throughout the country, can be impos-
ed.
The case will have more than gener-
al interest to Iowa readers from the
fact that Congressman Lacey has had
a hand in bringing about the denoue-
ment which seems likely to take place
very soon. About month ago par
agraph concerning Judge Noyes and
his being jailed and fined $1,000 ap-
peared in these dispatches, and at
that time it was stated that Congress
man Lacey had been to a large extent
instrumental in bringing the Alaskan
judge to justice. Subsequent events,
however, were not at that time antic-
ipated, but they simply add another
chapter to what is said to be the rot
tenest deal in which the bench has
been connected, upon record.
Case Complicated.
The case is quite a complicated one,
but briefly stated it is alleged that this
Judge Moves, who was district judge,
at Nome, and United States District
Attorney Joseph K. Woods, were par
ties to a conspiracy to defeat the ad-
ministration of justice, in case in
court. 1t is alleged other parties of
less official consequence were also i'm
plicated. The facts came to the atten-
ton of Congressman Lacey and upon
representations made by him an inves-
tigation was set on foot, c. A. S.
Frost, as special agent, representing
the department of justice, being sent
to Nome to ascertain the exact facts
and report. Evidently Frost saw a
good thing in sight, as it is claimed he
not only joined the conspiracy, but
being the agent of the department of
justice, was able to use his official spo-
sition to make it appear that every
thing was in splendid shape; that the
reports forwarded to the department
We're unfounded, and that no irregular
tiles existed.
Frost's previous reputation is said
Ito have been good so when these It'd
,ings came, Congressman Lacey was
temporarily placed, at disadvantage,
as the department of justice was dis
hposed, naturally, to place credence in
the reports Frost sent in, and to take
the ground that Mr.. Lacey's informa-
f,,<, tp1,1 10 ON
misinformed
Knew crookedness Existed.
However, Mr. Lace4's information
came from such a source that he knew
to an absolute certainty that crook
|edness existed and that time would
prove the accuracy of his claims. The
problem was to furnish the
department proof of this,
Some months later the depart
ment of justice-John W. Griggs being
then Attorney General-discovere
some suspicious points in Frost's re-
ports and made further investigation,
with the result that the bottom fell
out of the whole deal and the judicial
triumvirate stood pictured in their
true light AS result of the develop
ments Judge Noyes was tried and con-
victed and sentenced to pay $1,000 by
judges of the federal court in San
Francisco.
Astonishing Features.
The astounding feature in the case
then developed Judge Moves was
sent to Jail along with Woods, whose
sentence was a mere holiday of four
months, and Frost is yet to be dealt
with. Not content with sentence alb
surdly inadequate to fit the crime,
these officials We're continued upon the
pay rolls at the rate paid them while
serving the government before charg-
ed with crime-$5,000 per annum.
Not only that but Moves has been
drawing an additional emolument to the
extent OF $40 per day, an allwoance
paid judges when absent from home.
The humorous phase of the PROPOSE
ton OF a disbursing officer paying a
convicted and incarcerated official his
salary and an additional $40 per day
allowed while absent and on duty, ex-
ceeds anything Mark Twain ever fan
cied in his palmiest days. The dis
bursting officer hides behind the claim
that the salary of Judge Moves and
United States Attorney Woods was S.
600 per annum and that the law spec
ifically states that when absent from
his home the judge is permitted $40 ad-
additional per day for expenses, and
that nothing in the order Of the judges
deprived the officials of the right to
receive their salaries. Therefore,
while languishing in Jail Judge Moves
has been receiving $417 per month on
account of salary and $40 per day on
account of expenses At this rate at
the end of about three months he will
have been able to liquidate his fine out
OF expense money the government has
paid him, and retire from prison life
with a fat bank account. 1t is said
that the favoritism shown these par
ties is the result Of a tremendous po-
litical pull and pressure. Your cor
respondent is reliably informed that
senators and an ex-senator in the
northwest have thus far been able to
save the parties involved from punish
ment that would be swiftly dealt out
to offenders even less culpable, hay
ing no powerful political influence.
Half Not Been Told.