The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-07-12

n 1SusSldu pTlesb dllGT tuo GTdIls'
fer held service of publication on
board the Potemkin, sprinkling the
vesssl and her hags with holy wa
ter.
The Russian admiral's squadron,
which brought crew for the Po-
t5mkin, sailed with her for Russia
this evening.
Odessa, July 6.-Forty-fve sail-
ots, who were recently relieved frona
duty with the Russian Black Sea
fleet, have been courtmartialed and
shot because they declined to take
the oath OF allegiance to the czar.
1t is understood that all dissatis-
fed sailors will be given their choice
of swearing loyalty or being shot.
Portland, July 1.-The trial of
Congressman Williamson, DR.. Van
Gassher, Marion Biggs and others
charged with oonspiring to defraud
the government of public domain,
commenced today. The case pro.
ceeded with remarkable CELEBRITY, the
| jury icing secured and the opening
arguments made in time to allow
Of the examination of one witness
before the court adjourned.
District attorney Heney stated,
in opening argument, that the gov
eminent proposed to show that Will
hanson and the other defendants
entered into conspiracy to suborn
| 100 persons and cause them illegal
ly to obtain from the government
valuable pasture lands in Eastern
Oregon. The district attorney stat.
ed that of these 100, forty-four Sc
cured claims and that other patents
wers pending as the indictments
were returned.
II. S. Wilson, attorney for the
defendants, asserted that there had
been no conspiracy. He stated that
Williamson and Gessner, in
order to secure pasturage for stock,
had offered to advance money to
the settlers to come into the coun-
try and take up the claims. He
ASSERTED that the defendants. had
taken Mortgages In in the property
and during the time the patents
were pending agreed that the de-
PENDANTS should have the right to
the pasture. He stated that nc
agreements were made that com.
PEELED the patentees to turn over
ther claims to Williamson and
| IGessner, and that the defendants
had exerted no claim of ownership
after the return of their money. He
Estated that,on several occasions Viii.
Hanson Bnd Gessner bad bought
land from these claimaLts after the
Ipatent had issued, but said tha
these had been entirely separate
transactions and not connected with
the advancing Of money to the
claimants.
Campbell Duncan, the first wit
ness for the government, stated hi
had been told by Marion Biggs
that Gessner wanted land, and if hs
would 60 on to the claim and secure
the patent to it, Williamson ano
Gessner would advance the necessa
ry money, in the neighborhood o
$500, and when the claim was pat
ented they would pay him $500 fo,
the claim. Duncan testified tha
be had agreed and Williamson ant
) Gessner selected the land, advanced
the money and he gave a mortgage
on it for $4O0: When the CLAIM
came to patent, he said, they pail
him in the neighborhood of $100.
t When Duncan's examination wa
concluded the court adjourned.
The S. P. is selling round tri]
tickets between Corvallis and Port
land for s. good going Saturday:
!, or Sundays and returning Sunda,
! or Monday following, either OF
East or West side, but good onl,
8 on afternoon train from Albany t
Portland on Saturdays if East sid
: is taken. Passengers to pay loca
: fare between Corvallis and Albany
j Suitable Reward.