The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-08-02
TIMBER CASES on TRIAL.
The Alleged ~CObban-Clark Conspiracy BE.
fore the United states Cont.

WI Nv
fore the United States Cont.
HELENA, July 25.-Growing out of
the famous case of timber stealing
from government lands, involving
Senator W. A. Clark, which is now
on appeal by the government supreme
court of the United States, Judge Hunt
this morning Is trying K. NJ. Cobban
Tor ~subornation of perjury in the
United States court. This is only q
OF some 80 or 80 indictments which C..
A. Maynard. special attorney for the
United States. together with United
States District Attorney Carl Rasch
will bring before Judge Hunt at this
time. If they succeed in this case, I'm.
doubtely conviction will follow in all
the Others.
Attorney Maynard in outlining his
case said he would show that the de.
PENDANT in 1883 visited the state of
Oregon and made himself familiar
with the methods which have been X
plotted so largely before the public In
the Senator Mitchell case, and that
Immediately upon his return to Mon.
tana he located himself in Missoula,
leaving Butte, where he had been es-
established for years In the real estate
business; that he entered into q written
agreement with one Griswold, a tim.
Der cruiser. at Clearwater, in the CEN
ter of the vast timber limits.
This contract would be produced in
court and they would show there was
a systematic method, in fact a con.
spiracy, to illegally corral, acquire
or steal some 200, 900, 900 feet of tim.
Der. And whereas they could but each
acquire 100 acres Of land legally at
$500 per sore, they secured lands Of
the value of S175 900 and in turn con.
veyed the same to Senator Clark.
This could not be done and was not
possible under the laws of the United
States except by fraud, and this he
said he would probe in a particular
case where a school teacher, Lydia T.
Bryan, was suborned and induced to
perjure herself before the United
States land register at Helena on two
occasions: that, after having got her
final receipt and on her not returning
to Missoula to transfer same as per
agreement to Cobban, he sent a rig
after her at Como where she taught
school and induced her by constraint
to complete the deal entered into
whereby she was to receive the sum of
500 over all her expenses in making
entry on the land.
HELENA, July 26.-Good progress
was made today in the hearing before
Judge Hunt Of the case of the United
States against r. NJ. Cobban, one OF
so or more defendants indicted on the
charge OF perjury, in connection with
what are known as the western Mon.
tana land cases.
When court convened, Judge Hunt
announced his decision as to the ad-
mission of the evidence of G. L. Girls
void regarding entries other than that
made by Leila T. Bryan. The court
directed counsel for the government to (
confine the testimony as much as pos.
sible, so as to avoid undue prolonga-
ton Of the case
Judge Hunt also estimated that the
trial OF the cases might continue until
October, owing to the great number of
them. This statement, made with a
smile, came during the application of
counsel for Henry L. Haupt for a re.
duction in bond. "These cases." said
Judge Hunt, ''may not be concluded
before October"
Among the witnesses examined was
Mrs. Leila T. Blanchard, who was
Miss Bryan in 1899, and who is under
indictment for perjury in connection
with the other defend ants. Attorney
Walsh objected to the introduction of
her evidence on the ground that it
might incriminate her. Counsel for
the government asserted that while
the witness might claim the privilege,
counsel for the defense could not,
which point was sustained by Judge
Hunt. Mr.. Maynard then handed TO
Mrs. Blanchard the declaratory state.
ment and asked if the signature there.
to was hers. She declined to answer.
Leonard Barrett, of MissOula, was