The Butte inter mountain., 1903-12-11
GRAND JURY AFTER
THE LAND THIEVES
TWENTY-FIVE INDICTMENTS HAVE
BEEN RETURNED BY GRAND
JURY IN NEBRASKA.
MORE ABOUT Mr.. DIETRICH
Billings Says $500 He Paid Lowe Was
Returned to Him Because An
other Man Had Paid More.
ny ASSOCIATED rRrss,

ny ASSotlhlEn PRESS.
Omaha, Neb., Dec. 1.-THE United
States grand jury which has been investi-
eating postoifice bribery cases and the al
legged illegal fencing OF government lands
in Western Nebraska, has made partial
report TO the court, returning - indict-
ments. One is against former State Sen
ator Lowe, charging attempted bribery in
connection with an alleged postmaster APP
poinment.
Those against ranchmen include true
bills against Bartlett Richards, president OF
the Nebraska Landing x Fuel company
w. &. Comstock, vice president Of the
same company, and Secretary Charles e..
Jamison, all of Ellsworth. Ncb., and
former State Senator Frank Mcurrie. u
large individual cattle owner OF Broken
Bow, Neb. The other seven indictments
are against extensive ranchmen OF Cherry
and Custer counties.
More to Come.
The foreman OF the grand jury stated
to the court that it would have supple
mentary report and, il is stated this addi-
ton will include several more indictments
OF prominent ranchmen and also one
against former state olhcial who is
charged with disposing OF considerable
amount of government military supplies
without making a report OF the disposition
OF the money.
The indictment against former State
Senator Elliot contained two counts and
charges OF conspiracy To violate Section
1891 of the Revised Statutes, by conspir-
ing to bribe Senator Charles H. Dietrich,
by acting as Intermediary in the paymcnt
,,I ia, Il ., Ill,
Billings, who, at the time OF the alleged
transaction was postmaster at Alma. Neb.,
was to receive the recommendation by the
senator for re-appoin,ment.
One OF the counts charges the payment
Of $Ioo and the other OF 5000. The cvi-
dencc on which Lowe was indicted IS
said to have been given by J. b. Billings,
former postmaster at Alma.
1t was to the effect that when he ap-
Piled to Senator Dietrich for re appoint
ment, he was told that State Senator Lowe
had been given the privilege OF naming
the postmaster at Alma and that a recon-
mendation from Lowe would receive his
(Senator Dietrich's) Endorsement.
Paid Lowe $500.
Billings further testified, according to
published reports, that he paid Lowe $500
and later ]. c. Mitchell was appointed to
succeed him. Billings testified that the
5000 was returned to him with the state
mcnt that Mitchell had been recommended
because OF his paying n larger sum Of
money. Each OF the 10 indictments in the
fencing cases contains three counts and all
are similarly drawn. These charge first,
erecting fences in violation Of the law
pertaining to government lands, and third,
obsructing passage across the government
lands.
John b. Defrecsc, special agent. is said
TO have worked mp I3a eases Of instances
where government land had been fenced.
About 700 ranchmcn were said 10 have
fenced in about 6ooo,ooo acres.
100000 Acres His.
Among the largest Of these tracts was thai
Of the Nebraska Lend and Feeding company,
Of which Bartlett Richards was president Ills
range extends over more than 10000 acres, and
is about 100 miles long Richards is said 10 hc
the largest individual breeder aud owner III
the world, and is rated AS "A man oi immense
wealth
Frank NJ. Currie who WAS also indicted iof
alleged illegal fencing, is an extensive ranch.
man Of Custer county. He represented his
county state senator in the Legislature oi
JgDrI9o2, and was a candidate ior nited
States senator 10 succeed Senator Allen.
The alleged fencing cases hayc caused IN
tense interest because Of the number of
wealthy and influential ranchmcn concerned,
and because Of charges some OF which have
been filed in Washington, certain public uhl.
cials were in collusion with ranchmen to pre-.
vent an indictment.