Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-29
TWO SENATORS NAMED
STARTLING REVELATIONS IN q.
P. INVESTIGATION.
Agent Says Government officials Have
Tried to Block an Import
ant Inquiry.

| SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, November 90
Reports that federal grand jury, which
has been investigating alleged coal land
| frauds, has voted several Indictments can
not be confirmed. According to the reports,
the indictments will not be returned until
after the close of the investigation con-
| Quoted by Edward E. Clark of the inter-
| state commerce commission. E. NJ. ALI
son. attorney for the Rio Grand system, in
arguments before Commissioner Clark, has
charged that most of the testimony brought
out was to influence public opinion against
persons who might be indicted by the
grand jury
Testimony was given today by Michael
A. Myendorff, special agent of the gov
eminent. who began an investigation of the
coal land frauds in Utah, and who, before
he had completed his evidence, was trans
ferred to Los Angeles and then to Portland.
which he told of efforts made by influential
men to induce him to cease his investigs.
ton of the coal land frauds. He named
Senators Warren and Clark of Wyoming !;
Office, and George F. Pollock, chief Of de-
partment B, Interior Department, Wash
ington.
Alleged Evidence Was Suppressed.
Myendorff alleged that in Denver SEN
ator Warren told him he ought not to go
after the Union Pacific and incur the en-
nifty of that company. He charged that
the land department at Washington had
suppressed evidence obtained by him. In
two charges which he filed against Robert
Forester, geologist of the Utah Fuel Com
pany, Gould corporation, he alleged, no
action was taken.
The witness further charges that George
F. Pollock, chief of department B, Interior
Department, instructed him to destroy
four arns affi ts which he had procured
Mr.. Myendorf's affidavit goes at length
into the alleged methods of the coal COM
panies in procuring coal lands by entries
through dummies, who transferred their
rights to the corporations.
Myendorns affidavit alleges that on one
occasion seventy seven men were taken into
offices in the union station at Denver be-
cihc. and signed their names to powers Of
attorney ACCOMPLISHMENTS and af1davits,
which were used to acquire title to coal
lands in Wyoming. Some. of these men, 1t
Is asserted, signed fictitious names. The
men who signed received 81 each for the
trouble, 1t Is stated. The Myendorf affi-
davit included affidavits made by Denver
saloonkeeper. Bartelle. and Victor Lebaut
an expressman of Denver. saying that a
wagon load of these men had been picked
up In 18th street. in Denver. and driven to
the offices In the union station. After they
had signed the papers Bartelle collected 81
them together. each man retaining So.
Some Of the Charges
In reference to Senators Warren and
Clark. the affiant states that on one oc-
casion when he met Senator Warren in Dem
yer the senator produced confidential letters
which Myendorff had written to the land
commissioner in Washington and read ex-
tracts from them. Myendorff alleged that
1t was represented to him that to stir up
the Wyoming coal lands case at that time
would incur the enmity Of the Union Pacific
interests and prevent the reelection of
Senator Clark.
Myendorff alleged that he was removed
from Denver in 1905 a result Of his &C
tivities, and that pressure was brought
turned over to Inspector OBrien of Dem
yer, whom the affiant described as a con-
fidential friend of Mackey, chief clerk Of
the department at Washington. and also a
personal friend of Senator Warren. Senator
Clark, he alleged. also wanted O'Brien de-
tailed on this work
Col P. S. Sewers, a special agent of the
land department. was again called as a
witness. and said that he had been unable
to induce the land department to act in at
fairs relating to coal lands. Witness told
of numerous letters written to the land
commissioner. of the submission of affi-
davits bearing on land frauds, and sug-
gestions that Investigations be made but
said that his letters were not answered In
November 1900 he reported in relation to
the lands which eventually were transferred
to the Pleasant Valley Coal Company, a
Gould ton. He testified that he had
recommended action against Robert For
| roster, geologist for the Pleasant Valley
Coal Company, but was informed by the de-
partment that the facts did not warrant
prosecution.
Following this. in January. 1905, he tes-
titled he was asked by the department to
tender his resignation. In response he
wrote to the commissioner of
land office calling attention to the gross
laxness in probing the coal lands scandals
In Utah. but he received no reply.
Sewers resigned from the service but
! later was reinstated. he testified, at the
request of George A. Sutherland then at
torney for the Pleasant Valley Coal Com
pany and now United States senator from
Utah.