The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-14
JONES And MERCER
TAKE The STAND
COMMONWEALTH LUMBER COM
PANY HAS ITS INNING.
Lieutenant Governor Explains Why
the Contract Was Made With Dou-
cette and Not With His Company
Sullivan, District Logging Superin-
tendent, q Good Witness.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Fergus Falls Mimi, May lathe
government suit against the Common
wealth Lumber company will probably
go to the jury on Monday. The de-
Tense is introducing some strong tes-
timony, among the witnesses to-day
being Daniel Sullivan, the district log
ging superintendent, J. o. Echenback,
D. s. Morrison, D. G. Hoyt, Elmer
Stanton and Lieutenant Governor
Jones.
Mr.. Sullivan was the best witness
the company has had, his testimony
being that no green timber was cut
until late in the season, and very little
at any time. The other witnesses tes-
titled to scaling at different camps,
and Mr.. Jones, president Of the COM
pany, told of his transactions with
Captain Mercer. When asked why he
had had Doucette, a mill employee,
sign the big contract for timber cut
ting, he said that some Of his COM
pany associates were out Of the state
at the time, and he could not, in con-
sequence, take it as q company con-
tract, and accordingly took 1T in Dou-
cettes name. He said he explained
it's contents to Doucette before asking
him to sign 1t, which Doucette had
denied while on the stand. He also
testified that he had tried to avoid lit
to a scale to be made by three scalers,
one to be selected by him, one by
Captain Mercer and one by the In
dams.
Captain Mercer testified that he had
been ordered to have the dead and
down timber removed, and had under
taken the supervision of the arrange
ments much against his will.
Unique Confidence Game.
A queer confidence game was
worked at Richdale this week. Mr..
Exert, proprietor Of the hotel there
lost $50 a few days ago and worried
until he finally started out with a gun
After he had been gone some time, his
wife became alarmed and asked two
or three Of the boarders to go in
search of him. In short time one
of them returned and informed her
that he had found Exert in the woods
and that he was thoroly demented and
raving over the loss of the money. He
suggested that it would be we'll to take
$50 out and show 1t to him, as the
impression that it had been found
would probably restore his reason.
Mrs. Exert secured $50 and gave II
to her son, who started with the
boarder for the woods, where Exert
was supposed to be raving. The board
er told the boy that his father might
SnOot, anu ne ndu pettef give HlH IIe
$50 and he would approach him eau
tiously. The boy gave him the money
and the man went on ahead and has
not returned. & ~
Saved Gent; Fined $3S.
The costs in curious little case
were taxed up in United States cour
here to-day, the government taking
Judgment for $3S against E. r. Dam
pier Pelican Rapids attorney, TO,
an infraction Of the postal regulations
Dampier is alleged to have sent a let
ter in a. newspaper instead of an en-
velope, thus avoiding the payment o
i cent in postage. The penalty 70
this Is SO and the costs in the cas-
were $2S, the government bringing
civil suit.