The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-12-18
Jury HAS MADE
REPORT TO COURT
Are twenty-five Indictments
Charging Conspiracy, Bribery
and Illegal Fencing.
ONE FORMER SENATOR
True Bills Against Ten Cattle Owners
and Feeders for Illegal Fencing of
Land Held, Among Them
Bartlett Richards.

Omaha, Dec. 12.-The United States
grand jury, which has been i'll session
for some time investigating postotice
bribery cases and the alleged illegal
fencing of government lands in west
ern Nebraska, made a partial report to
the court, returning twenty-five indict-
ments. One is against former State
Senator Elliott Lowe, charged with
urging bribery in connection with the
appointment OF a postmaster at Alma,
Neb. Ten are against ranchmen,
charging Illegal fencing, and the others
were Indian cases, mostly of a minor
character.
Those against ranchmen include true
bills against Bartlett Richards, presl-
dent OF the Nebraska Land and reed
ing w. G. COmstock, vice
president of the same company, and
Secretary Charles S. jameson, all CT
Ellsworth, Neb, and former State Sen
ator Frank Nj. Currey, a large lndlVld-
ual cattle owner Of Broken Bow, NeD.
The other seven indictments are
against extensive ranchnen OIL Cneriy
and Custer counties.
The foreman of he grand jury stated
to the court that it would later nave d
supplementary report, and 1t is stated
this addition will include several more
indictments of important ranchmen'
and one against a former state ofllclal,
who is charged with diSposlnS OF a con-
siderable amount of government mill
tury supplies without making a report
of the disposition of the money.
One for Former Senator.
. The indictment against former State
Senator Lowe contains two counts, ana
charges conspiracy to violate section
ISL of the revised statutes by consplf-
ing to bride Senator Charles III. Diet
rich by acting as intermediary IN the
payment of $500, in consideration OF
which j. b. Billings, who at the time OF
the alleged transaction was postmaster,
at Alma, Neb., was to receive the rec
ommendation by the senator for reap
pointment. One of the counts charges
the payment of 500, and another OF
$500.
TIL evidence on which Lowe was in
dicted is said to have been given by j.
b. Billings, former postmaster at Alma.
1t was to the effect that when he APP
piled to Senator Dietrich for ~reappoint-
ment he was told that State senator
Lowe had been giving the privilege OF
naming the postmaster at Alma, and
that q recommendation from Lowe
would receive his ](Senator Dietrich's)
Endorsement. Billings further testified,
according to published reports, that he
/ paid Lowe $500, and later j. G. Fftchell
was appointed to succeed him. Billings
| testified tina the $500 was returned to
| him With the statement that Mitchell
had been recommended because of his
| paying Il larger sum of money.
w. II. BeddOe, q resident of Orleans,
a town near Alma, testified to being ia
miliar with the details of the trans
action, and corroborated the evidence
given by Billings. w. A. Billings, 81
bank cashier and son, of J. B. Billings,
| testified IN thp return of the money!.
which. he stated, was given to his
father by Lowe in. the corridor of his
bank.
Illegal Land Fencing.
Each of the ten indictments in the
Ian fencing cases contains three
counts, and all are similarly drawn.
The illegal fencing of these lands,
which are located in Cherry, Custer and
other large counties in western Ne
braska, vas brought to the attention Of
the interior department several months
ago. A report made by special agents
is said to have shown 100 instances
where government lam had been
fenced. About 700 ranchmen were said
to have fenced about 6,000,0 600 acres.
Among the largest of these was that Of
the Nebraska Land and Feeding
of which Bartlett
Richards was president. His range eX-
tends over more than 200, 900 acres, and
is ABOUT lUO miles long. ftlCnarQS is
said to be the largest individual cat
tie breeder and owner in the world, ans
is rated as a man Of immense wealth.
During the summer he has resided on
his ranch near Ellsworth, Neb, and in
the winter at Santa Barbara, AL,
where he is now living. AT the United
| States marshals office it was stated
that a capias would be issued for Rich
ards and sent to the California district
for service.
Frank M. Currie, who was also indicted
for alleged illegal fencing. is an extern
sive ranchman Of Custer county. Ee was
a candidate for United States senator to
succeed Senator Allen.
Six other ranchmen were indicted for
alleged illegal fencing, but the clerk of
the court was instructed to file the bills,
and the names were not made public.
The law under which the indictments
were drawn provides a penalty of not
more than one years imprisonment, or
more than $1,000 fine, or both.
The land fencing cases have excited
intense interest because of the large num-
Der of wealthy and influential ranc,.-
men concerned, and because of charges,
some of which have been filed in Wash
ington, that certain public officials were
in collision with the ranchmen to pre-
vent an Indictment.