The Red Cloud chief., 1906-12-28
CATTLEMEN GUILTY
JURY FINDS AGAINST RicHARs,
coMsTock AND OTHERS.
Officers OF Nebraska Land and Feed
ing Company Adiudged Guilty on
Al Counts Of Conspiracy to Cefraud
xh. Nouarnnnent

Omaha, Dec. 21.-The trial in the
federal district court OF Bartlett klch'
ards, president; Will G.. Comstock,
vice president; c. G. Jameson, secre-
tary.% treasurer and general manager or
the Nebraska Land and Feeding com
pany. controlling the 400 ,OOO.acre
Spade" ranch, and Aquilla TripIett,
their agent, ended in the conviction
of the four defendants on thirty-slx
counts of an indictment which charged
conspiracy to defraud the government
of public lands and subornation OF per
Jury. The jury took but W hours 10
consider the evidence.
This trial began Nov. 10 and the
Jury was completed two days later.
The entire time OF the court since
then was devoted to hearing testimony
for the government and the arguments
OF the attorneys, no witnesses being
introduced for the defense.
The accusation against the officers
of the Nebraska Land and Feeding
company was that they attempted 10
secure title to vast tracts OF land with
In the Spade" ranch enclosure In
Cherry, Sheridan and Box Butte coun-
ties. Nebraska, by means of fraudulent
homestead entries under the Kinkaid
Jaw. which permitted the homesteader
10 take up a section OF land in the
remf-arid districts. Scores or VIII
nesses were introduced who swore
that they filed on Sle lands at the so
licitation of agents of the principal
defendants. with the understanding
that they would he paid all the way
from $500 to 81, 900 for their claims
when title was secured, and that all
necessary improvements should be
made by the company.
A year g Richards and Comstock,
who are counted in the millionaire
class, were convicted in the federal
court OF illegally fencing government
land and fined $500 each and sen.
fenced to six hours imprisonment
each. The latter part OF the sentence
was served at the Omaha club. in the
nominal custody of their attorney.
who had been deputized for that duty
by United States Marshal T. l.. Mat
thews. AS a sequel to this episode
President Roosevelt removed both the
marshal and United States District At
torney Irving l.. Baxter.
A few months later Rev. George G
Ware. an Episcopal clergyman I
Lead and Deadwood, S. D., president
of a big cattle company, and two OF
his agents were convicted on charges
similar to the one on which Richards
Comstock ct al. have just been tried
His case is now before the United
States court OF appeals.
Fred Hoyt, T. M. Harrington ant
James Baird, officials OF the Mavericl
Loan and Trust company Of Gordon
Neb., and Ami B. Todd of Denver, al
agent, were included In the indictmen
found against Richards, Comstock an,
the others, but elected to be trie'
separately. Their trial will begil
early in January. +. M. Walcott, a
attorney, who was also indicted, wa
discharged.
A number of other wealthy cattle
men and their agents are under indie
ment for similar ~offenses.
The maximum penalty for the o
Tense is two years Imprisonment an
$4,000 fine on each count.
Charity Workers Fight at Lincoln.
Lincoln. Dec. 26.-As a result of tn
letter written by Chancellor Andrew
and his opposition to the methods
the Salvation army a fight occurre
at Salvation army headquarters b
tween Captain f. Kinder OF the arm
and Secretary c. e. Prevey of Il
city charity organization. CAPITA
Kindler was placed under bonds al
Secretary Prevey is in bed at hon
nursing two badly bruised eyes and
iattened nose The lip of the arm
captain Is seriously cut.
New information Against William
Auburn, Neb, Dec. PA short 81
sion of the district court was he
with Judge Kelligar on the benC
when the attorneys in the case of t
state against Charles william
charged with killing his father,
gued on a motion to quash the inf,
nation in the case. The court 81
tanned the motion and granted I
county attorney leave of time to I
amended information. This case
set TO come up for hearing on Jan,
Stock Buyer Sues Railroad.
Beatrice, Neb., Dec. 24.-J. 7. Go
. stock buyer at Liberty, instituted
damage suit for $4,000 against
Burlington company for delay in m
ing a shipment of cattle from Den
10 Chicago. Plaintiff alleges he !