Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-30

Pacific coast With the western
Union Telegraph company as
the center of H. 10 Is accused
Of obtaining money under false pre-
lenses and the accusers have sue
ceeded On getting am Indictment from
a grand jury On the premises
The case win be specially interesting
10 Salt Lake. because this city shares
with Portland and Los Angeles the
responsibility Of being the FIRST large
Office outside Of the earthquake zone,
and as Salt Lake was directly on the
line eastward across the continent 70
II probable that this city figured more
prominently than any other Boz The
"fouey'' work il Is alleged was done II
any such was done
The trouble dates back into the hys-
serlcal week following the great car'n-
quake when ihc telegraph offices IN
salt Lake were thrDugad 40 th. doors
With weeping women and anxious
men. an demanding that the company
take messages for loved ones. 'and
get them through quick as possible
4 DAY OF UNCERTAINTY.
il was current knowledge then that
the wires were down. and that Che sore
vice was prccarlpus and uncertain. and
that tho company Ike everybody oi-.
IN the great emergency Was boz with
its coat on. doing all that human pH"-
or could do Goo bring SAN Francisco
back into the world from beyond the
wall Of flames that cut its shattered
remnants Od. and get word t1 bonn
less thousands from friends without
the earthquake zone who he'd holn a1d
good cheer 90 offer them. Tho nfWe-
paper men who went from salt Lake
20 the coast during the fire week well
remember little Telegraph stations
rushed into emergency use. whore
operators worked Nll -o exhausted tlcy
couldn't take their message while
their wives cooked food FOR an who
came and asked Tor g. To them 10
seems odd that any parties would take
advantage Of the tremendous htndi-
caps and record breaking emergencies
that were met, 10 call for "a strict ac-
counting ON rules made Tor normal
times and 20 protect the public from
Intentional fraud.
The charge made IS that the mails
were used On forward messages where
the wires would not work Everybody
who filed a message. II he was inform
cd on conditions. knew the wires we've
down. that important government and
relief messages were SEgmDing what
lines were az. and that other messages
must wait. or be forwarded io the
nearest station outside the fire zone
q Gal n...Is
Journey there hy wire.
WHAT NEWS MEN FOUND
The News representatives on the
coast. who made use of the wires a
great deal frequently found that mail
matter went through quicker, and o. a
large extent relied ON this service. They
were also informed that great many
messages for FAR eastern points. which
had been filed. and FOR which there
was mo hope Of getting wires, were
sent by express Go the salt Lake office,
aud sent ou their way by wire from
hore. That money was taken Tor
these messages under false represent
tations' will hardly appeal 10 those
who enjoyed the service, for no mes
rage was turned down. and oycybody's
ferries. the railroads, and the big
hearted folk who threw open their
doors and houses 20 all who could be
accommodated.
The San Francisco Chronicle has The
following IN rs nows columns on the
grand jury and the Western Union.
GRAND UBy CHARGE.
To the charge made by the grand jury
that the Western Union Telegraph come
pany was guilty OF obtaining money by
false pretenscs. and other violations OF
the law, in that Il accepted money Cor
messages and then sent Them by mail
ON the days Immediately following the
fre. the officials % the Telegraph COM
Iany reply with the declaration that
the charges are absolutely false In
every particular They charge also that
The report presented by the sun-c0m-
mittoe appointed TO investigate the tJle-
graph companies was prompted. IN the
main by malice
II Is said that the Western Union
comany, 30 an effort 20 purge Itself
from the sensational allegations of the
grand jury. VIII demand That The mat
ter be Investigated by 70 representative
sIullle hNAl. NINNfI NNN NlltINnfI NL
commerce or the Merchants association
o. san Francisco
The officials of the Western Uni,u de-
care that there is absolutely no evl-
delcC 20 Justify the finding OF such
airport as was submitted by me grand
jury, and declare that the whole thing
is absurd. Supt Frank Jayncs who has
charge of the corporations affairs in
This city, declares that ON order o.
prove the company was guilty of no
wrong doing in Cos treatment of The
public during and following ne grsat
FIRE. he win present the matter Go one OF
the cltys public bodies. with a Wow 20
Jbstifying tho actions az thc company
during the fire in its efforts 90 transmit,
messages.
MAKES STRONG DENIAL
Mr. Jaypes cites tho prompt action Of
his company boz placing its facilities uu-
reserycdly 40 the disposal of The va.
r.,us relief organizations during the
trying times Immediately following ,he
FIRE.
MALICIOUS SAYS JAyNES.