Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-12
WHAT THE STATE
EXPECTS TO PROVE
District Attorney Makes Opening
Statement in Bounty
Frauds Case.
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD.
Former Clerk james says Davies Did
Practically all the Bounty
Business.

The taking Of testimony IN the bounty
fraud case OF the State OF Utah against
D. Beynon Davies former deputy coun-
" clerk. was commenced before the
jury IN the criminal division Of the
district court this morning after Dist
Atty. LoothouroN made O brief opening
statement to the jury as TO whai the
state would prove I'm the case.
The Information was read 60 tho jury
By Deputy County Clerk David \.
Smith, and the district attorney then
made tho opening statement, IN which
he detailed he evidence which would
be produced by the state TO show that
the defendant had Consplrei with other
persons 10 dcfraud the state out OF a
large sum Of money by presenting the
skins OF wild animals which had not
been killed IN this state and receiving
fraudulent bounty certificates for thu
same aud by issuing certificates on the
salre skins several different times. He
stated tina, he would show that Davies
had given q fraudulent certificate 10
one of The men ~ June 1903 saying that
he wanted half Of the proceeds and on
the next day the man met Davies and
gave him one-half Of it.
Former County Clerk James was
the first witness called by the state.
He testified that he was county clerk
IN 1903 and 1904 ana that Davies was
deputy part OF the time and had done
about two thirds OF the bounty certf-
cate business of the office. ON cross
examination he said the defendant had
on number OF occasions complained
about having TO DO IN, work az it was
very dirty and dsngrceable. lie said
that he was short handed IN the Office
part OF the time as Deputy Clerk
Eldredge was away on leave Of abb
sence without pay. during the cam
paign and some OF his other deputies
were also out during the campaign and
hence Davies was quite busy from
september Ia December. 1904
Charles W Jones who pleaded
guilty to tho charge Of conspiracy
against HIM and Is now serving term
OF one year in the county i8il, was the
second witness called by the state.
He was asked where he resided
and replied al "26S west Second
South street. is that the county iail?"
he was asked by Attorney Gustin OF
the defense. Yes sir, cell ." the Wit
ness replied.
He further testified that he came here
In May. 1904 and met the defendant
at the clerks office in June, 1904 and
saw him again the latter part Of that
month The next time h. saw him
was on East Temple street near the
corner of Third South. Witness also
stated that he knew WIN Phillips, who
was also charged with conspiracy and
that he met him at the Knutsford
IN July He also stated that he knew
Henry Martin, Ia Hanna and James
German who are also mixed up in the
fraudulent transactions.
When ne met Davies IN June on East
Temple street he said that Davies
asked him when he was coming 10 the
clerks office again and he replied that
he would be there next day. Davies
then borrowed 81 from him lie also
testified that Davies told him that he
needed 5000 and asked him to meet
him at the Knut sford the next day and
he would bring blank certificate for
tho witness TO sign. The witness was
still under direct examination when the
court adjourned for the noon recess
The jurors who were accepted 10 try
the case are oliver Plerson. T. i. Nip
per l.. f.. Hall, j. w, McMurrin, Geo.
Mulett. Oscar Groshell, l.. @. Hardy
and e. W. Jenkins.