The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-09-25

Perry, Okla, Sept 25.-lhe Wash
ington dispatch of several days ago
alleging that enemies OF Horace Speed.
United States district attorney had
filed charges against him in the depart.
ment Of Justice concerning Speeds
troubles in Pawnee county. and that
Speed would be given opportunity to
answer these charges caused surprise
among perspns who believed that his
compromise with the county would
cause further controversy to be aban-
doned In a public interview today.
S amuel II. Harris of Perry, who was
attorney for Pawnee county in the
prosecution and settlement Of fsthe case
against Speed said
Il have read a great many newspa-
per articles concern ng Mr. Speed and
his enemies in the last few years. but
as attorney for Pawnee county did
not feel at liberty to make statements
in newspapers concerning the merits
Of the litigation AS the litigation now
IS at an end and as many of the news
paper articles referred to assailed
more or less directly, my motives and
purposes in the prosecution OF the case,
I have no objection to the publicity OF
the facts.
Harris Talks Of the Case.
"Oklahomans are familiar with tho
report of the Pawnee county grand
jury, in February, 1902. charging that
Speed received from Pawnee county
about $4,000 by means Of bribery and
corrupt transactions with the board OF
county commissioners and recommend
ling that suit be brought to recover this
money Suit was begun in Logan coun
lty because of the failure of Speed tc
put in appearance in Pawnee county.
The pieadings in the case charged
in substance that Speed entered into q
contract with the commissioners by
which he undertook TO handle the liti
CATION growing cut OF tax collections
and receive 20 per Of the anoun
collected by the litigation; that later
by means OF bribery and corrupt con
spiracy with the commissioners, he re
, ceived several thousand dollars o
taxes paid into the county voluntaril.
and without regard TO the contract o
any litigated case; that he procurei
false records to be made in the county
showing that certain services were 4
be performed by him which We're no
a to be performed at all, and that h
J, procured a large amount Of money b
: reason OF these frauds and transaction
and without rendering or agreeing
render any services or presenting an
claim for services.
Mr. Speed Was Acquitted.
Z shortly after the case was filed
3 positions were taken which tended
q show that Speed not only bribed mer
q bers OF the board Of county commi
s sioners. but also tried to br be the a
q sistant county attorney and had pr
y cured some sort Of contract vita OF
q Of the witnesses for the plaintiff
q which the witness, for a considerable
x Of $3.50 had agreed not to testify again
z Speed or make him any trouble. =
q attempt was made by the attorney +
8 the county 10 take further depositio
z in support OF the allegations of q
3 pleadings. but Speed procured an ord
g from Judge Irwin, presiding judge
g the court. preventing the taking of
q positions, and shortly thereafter iud
< ment was rendered in favor Of spe
q upon the face of the pieadings.
g THE court held that the ar-ans
& ments between Speed and the coun
Y commissioners by which Speed proc
g cd the money of the county were ju