Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-23
another CHARGE
| against Dietrich
Nebraska's Senator with Other
Prominent Men Indicted by
Federal Grand Jury.
ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL LEASING
OF BUILDING TO GOVERNMENT
Ex-State Senator Lowe and Ex-Adju-
tant General Colby Must Answer
to Charges of Conspiracy to Bride
and Embezzlement- Penalties in
Case Of Conviction.

Omduds NED, Oec ~. - Inc UQlCe0
States grand jury on Thursday made it's
report to the court, returning - true
bills. These include indictments against
United States Senator Charles H. Diet
rich for alleged illegal leasing of build
ing to the government to be used as a
post office, former Adjt. Gen. Leonard
w. Colby, for the alleged embezzlement
OF government funds; Daniel Gaines,
OF Bassett, Neb., for alleged perjury in
swearing falsely to homestead entries;
former State Senator Elliott Lowe, for
alleged conspiracy to bride a United
States senator; Postmaster John S.
Mitchell, of Alma, Neb., charging him
with illegal sale of postage stamps; Will
liam M. Irwin, on charge of acting as
agent for Mitchell, and against R. NJ.
Allen, president of the Standard Cattle
company, for the alleged illegal fencing
of government lands. The other indict-
ments were similar to that against Allen,
but do not involve extensive tracts of
land.
The Dietrich Indictment.
The indictments against Senator Diet
rich and State Senator Lowe are in adj
dition to those returned against them
week ago. Senator Dietrich is charged
with the alleged violation of section 1899
of the revised statutes, which provides
that no member or delegate to congress
shall directly, or indirectly, himself
or by any other person in trust for him,
Or for his use or benefit, on his account,
Undertake, execute, hold or enjoy, in
whole or in part, any contract or agree
ment made or entered into in behalf of
the United States, by any officer or person
authorized to make contracts on behalf
Of the United States" The indictment
charges that Senator Dietrich leased to
the government on April "a, 1901,
building at Hastings, Neb, to be used for
post Office, at an annual re ntal of 81 300.
There is one count, which covers the
amount received for rental on the build
ing from the date of its lease by the gov
eminent up to the present time, equal
to sum slightly in excess of $4,000.
Other Indictments.
The indictment against former State
Senator Lowe charges him with alleged
conspiracy to bride United States SEN
ator Two counts, each of $500, are
named in the bill. 1t is charged that
these amounts were paid to Lowe by
Postmaster John C. Mitchell in consid-
Grafton of Loves Enforcement of Mitch
ellis candidacy to Senator Dietrich for the
appointment as postmaster at Alma.
Gen. Leonard w. Colby was indicted
for the alleged embe ZZlement of amounts
aggregating 81 900 of government funds,
paid to him in trust by the state of Ne
braska and others for equipment be-
longing to the United States army.
Postmaster. c. Mitchell, of Alma, Neb.,
is indicted for conspiracy to defraud the
government by the sale outside of his
post Office of large quantities of postage
stamps in order to increase the receipts
of the Office at Alma and thus succeeding
in raising the classification of the Office
and securing to him an increase of sal
airy.
The Penalties.
The statute under which the indict-
ment against Senator Dietrich is drawn
provides penalty of $4,000 fine and re-
quires the return of all money paid by
the government under the contract in
case of conviction. The penalty for bril-
berry, 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 Gen. Colby, is either fine
or Imprisonment, at the discretion of
the court.
Grand Jury Adjourns.
The grand jury took final adjourn
ment Thursday night. Senator Diet
rich, accompanied by his daughter and
Gen. Colby, came to Omaha on an af-
ternoon train and conferred with coun-
sci. Neilner, however, would talk of
the indictments returned against them.
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 Gen.
Colby it was said that he had made
full return to the state for the army
equipment, money for which had been
intrusted to his care.