The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-18
WEALTHY CITIZENS OF
NEBRASKA ARE INDICTED
Millionaire Ranchnan,g a Cattle
man, a Politicians and One
Postmaster.
DIETRICH NAMED AGAIN
United States Senator Accused of
Leasing Building to the
Government.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
OMAHA, Neb., Dec. T.-Seven of the
most prominent citizens of Nebraska were
indicted by the United States grand jury to-
day on charges ranging from the violation
of federal statutes in illegal leasing of prop
erty to the government to embezzlement
and perjury. Several Of the nineteen true
bills returned form a continuation of the
cases that are being pressed against Senator
Dietrich and his political associates. The
list includes high officials and millionaire
ranchmen. Those indicted are:
CHARLES H. DIETRICH. United States
senator.
LEONARD w. COLBY. adjutant general
of the State OF Nebraska.
ELLIOTT LOWE. former state senator.
r. NJ. ALLEN, millionaire cattleman and
president of the Standard Cattle Company.
DANIEL w. CANNES. millionaire ranch
man.
J. C. MITCHELL. postmaster of Alma,
Neb.
WILLIAM A. IRWIN, a prominent poll
tician.
Senator Dietrich is charged with alleged
illegal leasing of a building to the gov
ernment to be used as a postoffice; former
Adjutant General Colby with the alleged
Gaines, of Bassett Neb, with alleged per-
jury In swearing falsely to homestead en-
tries; former State Senator Elliott Lowe
with alleged conspiracy TO bribe a United
States senator; Postmaster John S. Mitch
ell OF Alma, Neb., with allegal sale of post
age stamps; William A. Irwin with acting
sos;s as agent f9r IN Mitchell and r. NJ Allen,
with the alleged illegal fencing of govern
ment lands.
The statute under which the Indictment
against Senator Dietrich is drawn provides
a penalty of $1,000 fine and requires the re-
turn OF all money paid by the government
under the contract, in case Of conviction.
The penalty for bribery with which Elliott
Lowe is charged provides heavy fine and
Imprisonment not to exceed ten years The
penalty for embezzlement, which charge is
placed against General Colby, is either fine
or imprisonment, at the discretion of the
court.
The grand jury tonight met and con-
sidered charges preferred against Indian
Agent Matthewson by Edward Rosewater.
In final report to the court the jurors
stated that they had investigated all the
charges and were unable TO find any evi-
dence to warrant an Indictment or that
Matthewson had been derelict in his duty
as public officer. The court accepted the
report and excused the jurymen, who took
a final adjournment: The jury has been
in session five weeks and has returned
about 100 indictments. some of which have
been against officers of the United States
and Of the State OF Nebraska. and includ-
nent and wealthy cattle and ranchmen of
the West. The court has ordered drawn
new petit jury to report Dec. 2s. for which
time the Dietrich trial Is set.
Senator Dietrich. accompanied by his
daughter and General Colby, came to
Omaha on afternoon trains and conferred
with counsel. Neither, however, would
talk of the indictments returned against
them to-day. The statement was made for
Senator Dietrich that he had nothing to
say and that he would be ready for trial
when the cases were called. For General
Colby il was said that he had made full
return TO the State for the army equip
ment money for which had been intrusted
TO his care.