The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-11-30

- Aaa besa called b. inpoetant bod
Dees. From vinton he wpote asking ioe
descriptions u other tracts. The pur-
Dooe e eooaing sach eosrespondenco
vas to Ct Lln1say on record In writ
Ing. Again the arch conspirator swal.
lowed tie bait, sending to Stedman ia
his own handwriting descriptions OF
various tracts he thought mi9ht be
suitable for his correspondents sup
posed purpose.
While In the east working ON the
Pittsburg angle of the case wrote
from Erie. Pa, to Orlando Van Hise
in Cleveland, representing myself "a
James Hall, sawmill owner, looking
for new business base Van Hise's
advertisement Of timber lands had at
trected my attention. wrote. Van
Hise answered that he could sell me
q, 900 acres of desirable timber in one
tract, and suggested that come to
Cleveland to talk che matter over with
him. So to Cleveland I went imme-
diately. Wearing the rough suit of
. lumberman, and with my trousers
tucked into the tops of my boots. |
registered at the Weddell house under
still another name.
While the land ringsters up to this
time had no reason to believe they
were being watched, they had acquired
the trait of suspicion and alertness
common to all criminals, great and
small. I could afford to take no
chances Of having my identity discov-
cred by Van Hise, and therefore at
every turn covered my tracks as well
as knew how In line with this pol-
icy, even took a roundabout course
to Van Hise's Office in Superior street.
I introduced myself as the Erie party
who had written to him.
I'm glad to meet you, Mr.. Hall, 50
said Van Hise, efusively. After the
customary small talk that precedes
getting down to business he said:
so you are looking for timber lands.
Well, believe can furnish what
you want"
"Have you much land of this kind ?"
I asked.
Plenty of it,
AT what price?"
"That depends on the land. If Won
are prepared to take large tract. I
can probably make you price of so
cents an acre for land that will suit
your purpose.
What arrangements can you make
for time? have a certain amount of
money. have sold my 'muley' mill.
and am thinking Of buying portable
circular mill. Until decide on this
point / don't know just now l will be
prepared to pay down on the land"
"Those matters can be arranged to
suit you. II you take the land and put
mill on it. I will have no fear of
your getting away from me without
paying the balance"
Our conversation was of the pleas
ant kind that marks deal about to
be closed. Van Hise showed me elab-
crate maps of the Missouri districts
in which he had lands for sale, and
marked of the tract he proposed to
sell me. But 1 dill not close the deal
then, pleading that l wanted a little
time to decide on tlle style of mill to
use and to arrange other details. I
told him I would so to Missouri to
look at the lands, and asked for de-
scriptions, which he cheerfuily gave
me.
He went further. irstructing me to
make myself known to the clerk of
the Missouri county to which T. was
supposed to be going. This clerk, he
said. would be glai to show me the
land at his, Van fIise's. expense. and
would give me all the information rela-
tive to this and other points might
desire. This bit Of accommodation on
Van Hise's part indicated clearly the
hold the leaguers had on certain
county officials, ana the part the lat
ter played in the marketing of the
stolen goods.
ITO Be Continued.l