The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-07-06
Wealthy Land Gamblers Will
be Brought North
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Los Angles Judge Decides That In.
dicted Capitalists Must Stand
Trial in Portland.

a siSual Flotory was scored for the
government in the land fraud prose-
cutions when United States District
Judge Wellburn of Los Angeles deoid-
cd that Warren Gillellen, Jacob G.
Cross and other wealthy residents of
that city Who had been indicted for
conspiring to acquire Oregon lands
through fraud must come to Portland
for trial. 1t is confidently expected
by the government officials that
similar decision will eventually be-
rendered in Wisconsin as to the Osh-
kosh aud Shawano millionaires who
are oodefendants with the Los Angeles
men. ALI of these nonresident de-
fendants have made a determined fight
to escape trial in this city, but Unit
edl States District Attorney Bristol,
who has charge of the government's
case, has been confident from the
start that their efforts would be up-
availing.
William H. Smith and Richard
Jones of San Francisco, described as
two of the leading spirits in the al
legged conspiracy, have realized the
futllity of attempting to escape tri al
in Portland, says paper of that city.
They appeared before Judge Wolver-
ton aud asked that bail be fixed and
an order was entered placing the
amount at $4,000 each. Bonds were
given in this sum.
United States District Attorney
Bristol is not satisfied with the out
come of the bearing before United
States Commissioner d. K. Mcdonald
OF the Wisconsin men indicted for
completely in the Oregon land frauds
and has sent a telegram to United
States Attorney-G General Moody asking
that the commissioners be appointed
in Wisconsin and date set for re-
hearing the cases.
Mr.. Bristol contends that the cases
are almost exactly parallel with those
tried at Los Angeles and that deci-
sion that would hold at one place
should hold at another. Edward w.
Dixon, Chief of Oregon field division
and special agent of the general land
office, went east several weeks ago to
confer with the witnesses who were
to appear before Commissioner Nc
Donald. The case was handled by
Assistant District Attorney Il. j. Hen
ming and 1t was expected that the men
would be held by the commissioner to
appear before the United States dis
trict court of Oregon because of tho
fact that they were indicted after 40
witnesses had appeared before the
grand jury aud testified as to the facts
in the case.
The men who had hearing at Osh-
kosh were: Leander Doughty, James
Doughty and Thomas DAILY. They
were indicted on April 3, 1906, for
the violation of section 544O of the
revised statutes of the United States
III having conspired to defraud the
government out of about 100, 900 acres
Of land in klamath aud Lake coun-
ties. The men indicted are all prom
inent and wealthy citizens Of Wiscon-
sin and their arrest caused great sur
prise in their state.
Mr., Bristol was greatly surprised
and disappointed when he learned of
the decision of Commissioners McDon-
aid. He decided late yesterday af-
ternoon to present the case to tho
Attorney General and ask that now
commissioner hear the evidence
against the alleged conspirators. The
district attorney is anxious to dispose
Of the preliminary hearings of the
Oshkosh men and have them returned
to Oregon for trial.