Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-11-17
ROBNETT TRIAL
TO CLOSE TODAY
Reuton and Wall on Stand
This Morning For
Defense
IN Evening Teller:

,.,oe In the trial of Clarence Robnett
mon the charge Of subornation Of
.o-,,,rv will be concluded in the federal
.o,rt this afternoon, and argument on
ne case will probably be deferred un-
i, Monday. The defense will evident
,y present few witnesses.
The testimony of William H. Benton
and T. f. Wall consumed about an
bour at the session this morning, when
court was compelled to take a recess
untn 2 o'clock to await~the arrival OF
further witnesses who are expected on
the noon train.
Virgil H. Ferris was recalled by the
government this morning for the pur-
nose OF introducing in evidence and
,dentifying the notes he gave in the
timber deal. which he had sent for and
obtained since he was on the stand
frst. There was no objection to this
procedure.
/. Benton Tells Of Their Plan.
The testimony of william H. Ben
ton. who was the defendants first
witness. related to his operation as a
timber locator, and estimator. He was
associated with Robnett and Knight.
He and Knight were to do the work
and Robnett was to furnish the finan-
ciai aid reAuired; and they were to
share equally in the proceeds. Rob
nett would send an applicant for land
to him and Knight and they would
show the claims they still had for To-
cation.
They made their headquarters at
his fathers cabin up the Clearwater,
and Robnett had been up to see them.
He heard conversation between his
father ard Robnett near the cabin re-
lating TO valuable claims in that Sec
tion, which were still open for filing
and could be had cheaply, as the loca-
tion and estimates on the same would
be cut down il Robnett would help
out with funds in making final proof
Witness then asked Robnett IL he
would help finance the iinal proof on
the claim which he had fled upon, and
was told that he would. Nothing was
said about dividing the proceeds.
Later when he visited Lewiston wit
ness continued:
Met at Robnett,s House.
met Robinson and Ferris at Rob-
hetrs house at the latter's request
one evening. l had blue prints OF the
township, in which / was located. We
looked them over and Robnett said
nc wanted me to select two OF the
pest claims had for these two young
ineh We selected what I considered
one oect claims remaining. They ask
60 me If I could hold them TIL they
eou'u spare time to go up to see them.
nu' ! told them could only hold them
"h some other locators should begin
"orK In that township, in which case
would have to put some one on them
!" protect me for my labor in cruising
e" Nothing was said by any of us
"0out Hing upon the claims without
seeing them."
sharp Clash OF Counssi.
urins the cross-examination Of
n'on' Ruick tried to lay the founda-
ior impeachment proceedings by
uns other matters. and there was
arp clash Of counsel. the most In
hs that has yet occurred. The
W however. quieted matters bv
>, s out the district attorneys cues.
~ Benton made a good witness for
ae defense.
- : r. Wall. a young attorney OF Lew
''' was the next witness. He stated
n ~ N December. 1905. he was sent to
s mouse of Mrs. Mary J Harr,. ON
business for Ralph Chapman
m.S ''hg to timber lands. Chap
H.. appears. had contested Mrs.
.ns s homestead on the Clearwater
w. 'h's was the matter he was See
ing her about.
one Offered to .ssH Out"
to hi oh this visit Mrs. Harris said
ne... M that If Robnett and others,
nav kettenbach ana Kester, would
eop,, ' '2.soo she would leave the
in =. ana not testify against them
ina,.. cases in which they had been
said a., one made this statement. ne
ias,,,n -. :. :, Or SIX timea cross exam-
non, :. '.a'es to shake vitneas, tests-
% confuse aim 70 any extent.