The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-08-09
THE COBBAN TIM Der lCASE.
Witness For Prosecution Says He Did a
Profitable Business.

HELENA. Aug. 3.-The redirect ex-
animation of Griswold in the Cobban
case occupied all morning, and was
largely a rehearsal of his previous
testimony. The court room was
crowded. Judge Hunt found it neces-
sary repeatedly to cool the acrimoni-
Gus and heated contests between
counsel. remarking that only for the
genial smile and good nature OF Col.
Onel Tom Marshal, the court and the
jury could hardly have endured the
strain and the temperature e%ugendered
by the c%ontending counsel. He cor
daily invited the colonel TO come
often.
When asked by Mr.. Maynard as to
the amount of business transacted be-
tween him and Cobban, GriswOld stat.
ed. under objection from the counsel,
which a overruled by the court, that
it was close to $40, OOO. Asked it he
had not said that he would send Cob.
ban to the peniten,iary if he did not
settle a disputed 0 he had
against him, he said he had no recol.
lection Of having made the remark.
Griswold told of having been warned
by Cobban against making written
agreements with prospective locators
upon tim Der and stone claims. Con-
%;;,r r r,rD1l t.>l1 Df ~, ,v,,,un%.
ing affidavit which had been prepared
for his signature in Nissoula and for
which he received 1000 ir settlement
from Cobban.
GriswOld was shown a statement
of his accouu. with Cobban and read
the item. on which he received credit
identified receipts given by him to 10.
Gators, sa! in he always took receipts
for money paid, in order that he Nigh,
have evidence To show that he had
furnished tn: money under their cOn
tracts.
Late in the afternoon the govern
ment closed its case. The defense
moved that the court bring in u Yer
dict of dismissal. This motion was
overruled for the time. The defense
then began the introduction of testi
mony. The first witness was A. j
Davis, the Butte banker, who testified
that Mr.. Cobban bore an excellen'
reputation during his residence IL
Butte and likewise bore a good repu
tation in Missoula. G. G. Willis, o,
Plains, also gave Mr.. Cobban a gooC
character.
HELENA, Aug. 5.-The trial Of Il
NJ. Cobban, in the United States cour
today, on the charge Of subornatio1
Of perjury in connection with the SO
called western Montana timber frau,
cases, was curtailed somewhat In or
der to permit attendants upon tn
court to catch the afternoon train 70
western Montana, but during the da
at least one witness, q minister Of tn
gospel, gave damaging evidenc
against the defend ant, despite the fac
that he was called by the defense.
This witness was Rev. S. +. Clark
u minister of the Congregations
church, formerly of Missoula, bu
now Of Springfield, III. Rev. Clar
resided in Missoula from 1891 to 1906
He said that the matter of taking up
timber claim had been presented t
, him and he had decided to locate one
He had gone to see Mr.. Cobban, ''be
cause he was in the business H
afterward went to Clearwater and e,
> amined the claim. He denied tha
! there was a pre.arranged plan to cor
! vey the land to Cobban.
I Mr.. Clark vas then taken in han
! by Special Government Prosecute
Maynard, and when asked his purpos
: in taking up the land, he declared
was not his intention to cultivat Il i
$ but to use it in a legitimate way. H
. had remarkable lapse of memory i
' certain instances saying that, asid
from Il hard ride on a horse while il
speeding the land, he did not remeu
: Der much about il.