The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-08
HARTMAN AND
COULD RAILROADS
ARE INDICTED

salt Lake City. Utah. Dec s.-Ths
federal grand jury. which has been in
vestigating coal land frauds. yesterday
made an incomplete report returning SOW
eral indictments against the Hartman
companies, including the Union Pacific,
Oregon Short line and the Union Pacific
Coal company.
Everett Buckingham, general superin-
tendent OF the oregon Short line. aud J,
NJ. Moore, general agent I'm Salt Lake OF
the Union Pacific Coal company, are also
indicted. The indictment charges viola
ton OF the Interstate commerce law
alleged discrimination against D. J. S.
coal dealer in Salt Lake City, who q
forced out OF business after he had GA
prices below the prices charged by other
dealers I'm coal
An indictment against the representa-
tives OF the Gould interests embraces tho
general manager OF this company: Rob-
ert Forester, Alex NJ. Cows. general
manager OF the company's Wasatch
store at Sunnyside. Utah: Elroy ~. Clark,
the Utah Fuel company's attorney at
Denver, and George a. Moore, the COM
pany's agent at Denver.
They are charged with defrauding and
attempting 20 defraud the United States
government. the charges being based on
the methods pursued in acquiring title
10 coal lands in Utah.
Bench warrants for the arrest OF per-
sons accused I'm the two indictments we're
issued. Bond In tho case OF each indi-
Vidual accused were fixed at $1,000.
Fred II. Maynard OF Washington, as
sistant attorney general. who has been
conducting the investigation before the
grand jury, is authority for the state
ment that two other indictments charg-
ing perjury before the grand jury have
been returned. The names OF the persons
accused in those indictments are with
held.
After the grand jury had adjourned
Assistant Attorney General Maynard
stated that when IL reconvenes the i'm
quistion will be resumed. The indict-
ments returned yesterday. he said, mark
only the beginning OF the governments
probing In Utah and Wyoming, and the
violations OF laws alleged I'm these indict-
ments are only incident of gigantic
system or fraud that has been in opera
ton in the west for many years
The indictments against the Utah Fuel
company and the six agents of that COM
psny is based on the methods used i'm
acquiring about 400 acres OF coal lands
in Sewer county, Utah. The lands were
filed on March "a. 1905.
Robert Forester, geologist and mining
expert OF the Utah Fuel company, II s
alleged. had prospected the ground and
then George A. Moore, the Utah Fuel
company's agent i'm Denver. went over
the numerous claims and on each caused
to be dug an excavation exposing the
ccal deposits. Dummy" locaters were
then secured to make filings.
1t was explicitly understood, il Is al
legged that the lands were 10 be turned
over TO the company on each OF the
claims payment of $500 to the govern
ment was necessary. Loans for this
an A.. Ix-
The government prosecutors charge that
the persons from whom the loans wer6
secured were mere agents OF the coal
company. April 4. 1905, the coal lands We're
transferred TO Frank A. Calkins. Mr..
Calkins is father-in-law of T.. y. Clark.
the Denver attorney, against whom an in
dictment was returned yesterday.
In November following Calkins trans.
ferred the lands to Frank r. Cook, VINO,
" is alleged by the governments at
torneys. holds the ground In trust for the
Utah Fuel company.
The indictment against the Hartman
railroads and the Union Pacific Coal COM
pany and the two officials OF these CONF
panies is based on alleged unlawful dis
elimination against the ID. j. Sharp Coal
company. In the summer of 1896 the Har-
rtman railroads made "A rate TO all coal
shippers who brought i'm their coal dur
ing the summer months. The rate was so
cents n ton lower than the regular rate.
Mr.. Sharp endeavored TO give his pat
rons the benefit OF this law rate and ad-
vertised coal I'm Salt Lake City at si75
ton, 80 cents less than the rate charged
by the Coal Dealers association. MIR.
Sharp testified that he was called to the
offices of the oregon Short Line Railroad
company and was instructed that unless
he withdrew his advertisement he would
not be permitted to handle Union Pacific
coal. Sharp declined TO agree, and de-
clares shipments to his yard began to be
tied up. Finally he could get no coal at
all and was forced out Of business.