Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-11-29
HOW LAND WAS OBTAINED.

MY residence and postoiiice address Is
Denver, Colo. On Dec II, 1893. ] had
occasion to see Mr.. Penrose. chief de-
tective Of the Union Pacific Railway
company, and after finishing my con-
versaton with him ! told him | want
ed 10 see the gentleman In the next
room (room &c. Union depot, Denver,
whose name | did not remember. but
who wore heavy whiskers and was a
heavy set man. To this he replied, "Oh,
you wan, 10 see Mr. Clifford" | went
then into Mr.. Giford's room. This
Mr. Clifford found to be the same per-
son who early In July, 1908. paid me-
and other men who were with me.
Mr.. Chsrlie G. Scott, one of them, 81
for my signing power OF attorney 10
file In my name a coal claim and also
my REIMBURSEMENT of said land. This
last act was never explained to me In
any manner, and | was not aware or u
until i learned It from said Mr.. OXFORD,
or else / would not have executed said
REIMBURSEMENT. ] told him then that
from what ] heard up town this coal
land business will put me into trouble
with the United States government.
To this he replied. "Oh, pay no atten-
ton TO this talk; 1t Is all hot air"
He also told me that he, too, made a
nling for a coal claim. He also gave
me certain cautionings, among them
he said, III anybody ever asks you any
questions about II, you say that you
have been all over the ground and that
YOU have spent 800 on the place, and
If anybody asks you II you received
any money for filing, just tell them 1t
Is none OF their business" He then
told me TO see Mr., householder, and
that he would explain to me all more
fully. The aforementioned Mr.. Gift
ford was in charge Of the Office when
and others were, through misrepresen-
tation. induced TO enter into this coal
land fling, and seemed to be so when
saw him there yesterday. Since my
interview with him learned from MI
A, ]. Smith OF Denver that his initials
were w. |. and that he was the general
agent Of the Union Pacific Coal COM
pany. The Mr.. householder, above
mentioned. who in some capacity is at
the shooting gallery on Larlmer street,
near Nineteenth, Denver, Colo.
G.. w. MULLIKIN,
Witness, A. j. Smith.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 18th day OF December, A. d. 1908
al Denver, Colo.
NJ. A. MEYENDoRFF,
Special Agent, G. l.. o.
ANOTHER AFFIDAVIT
state Of Colorado, County of Denver.
SIS:
Victor Labat, being first duly sworn
on his oath, deposes and says | am a
naturalzed citizen OF the United states,
of lawful age; my occupation Is ex-
pressman: my number is 1856; my stand
is corner of Larimer and Twentieth
al
and postoffice address is Denver, Colo.
Some time during the early part of
July 1908. while at my stand, one
Albert Bartell a saloonkeeper right OPP
posite where my stand Is. called me
over and asked me If | wanted to max.
So. and when / asked him in what way,
no told me that the Union Pacific Coal
company wanted to file on coal lands
I'm wyoming. MOI knowing the first
thing about this business, ! wanted 10
know II II was perfectly right and le-
ultimate. He answered me II was:
that ] would be in no danger what
ever. Further on he told me that II
I did not want to use my own name
/ might use any other name, and so,
upon his advice, ] used the name or
Victor Laforgue. Mr.. Bartell said
then: I'VE are all going now TO the
UNION depot, MutIt INV tillpll bNii~
company's Office Is located. and you
better take the boys in your wagon
These words may not be the exact
words he used, but what he said was
very much to that effect; and then as
many as could get into the wagon,
among them one Charley c. scott,
waiter at restaurant where OCCASION
ally take my noon meals. and drove
TO the Union depot, There | went
upstairs and after | signed some pa
pers / was directed TO another man,
who paid me 81, and out OF that had
TO pay Bartell 81. There were about
sixteen men In that room. for the Same
purpose, suppose.
VICTOR LABAT.
Witness, Charley c. Scott
Subscribed and sworn TO before me
this 9th day OF November, 1908, at
Denver. Colo.
NJ, A. MEYFNDORFF.
Special Agent. c. l.. O.