The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-10-03
| Ill LAND FRAUDS SM|RN MANY IDAHO IFADFRS
PN'''S "d Da a VnH Alleged Center Gigantic Govem@lotng Conspiracy
win Many Ranlf0thN Stunenbeg One Of RIM Leaders,
" w. 0"@ 'es G u@a his Life Ills Fate Both States Senator DEFENDS pm
'daM Twelve h@-TR Prosecution Maxine Out Nne ay


. these state officials. who, ex-olilcio,
comprise the state land board. Al
that time 1t was thought that he
D was merely resisting the ultimately
successful efforts Of Senator Fred r.
: Dubois to snatch from him tie lead.
ership OF the democratic party: but.
In view OF subsequent revelations,
many DOW believe that he was aetu-
ated by another and deeper motive.
When his term as governor expired
Steunenberg became active In his ef-
forts for the Barber Lumber com.
pany and In timber operations gener-
ally. 1t cannot be learned now that
he was officially connected with the
company, though 1T Is believed that
evidence to be introduced at the
Borah trial by the prosecution, will
disclose that he was partner In its
operations.
what phase :of the operations of
the Barber company was Steunenberg
most actively engaged in2" asked the
Tribune's representative OF one OF
the minor officials connected with the
prosecution.
Touch this case anywhere and
you'll locate Steunent erg," was the
laconic reply.
1t Is alleged that Steunenberg was
connected with every phase of the
doings of the Barber company-in the
securing OF dummy locators, In
the selection OF valuable land, 10 the
furnishing OF money to prospective
entrymen, and In the other details
incident to the obtaining OF title to
the land. The exact details OF his
alleged completely will be related TO
the petit jury now being impaneled
In the BCrah case.
Naturally the government officials
here do not wish to disclose the de-
tails OF the evidence which they have
against Senator Borab; but they
have no hesitancy In stating, In a
general way, the nature of the accu-
sations against him. The indictment
merely charges conspiracy to defraud
the government, and gives neither
details nor specifications OF the
charge.
Borah was, and, for that matter,
is, attorney for the Barber Lumber
company. The government will en-
deavor to prove that, throughout the
whole conspiracy, he was cognizant
of the alleged criminal transactions
OF his clients; that he had a full,
complete and guilty knowledge Of
those transactions, aud that he was
party to them. The nature of this
evidence was sufficiently strong TO
induce the grand jury to indict Sen.
tor Borah, and, the government otli-
cials claim, 1T will be strong enough
to convict him and strip him OF Ibis
honors as senator OF the United
States.
John Kinkaid. former state senator
from Boise county, 1t is alleged, had
much to do with securing dummy"
entrymen, with paying their expen
ses, and with managing affairs at the
and Office when they went TO make
their entries, etc. The same, IL Is
alleged, is true OF John l.. Wells and
L. NJ. ..Pritchard. The latter was
formerly lawyer in practice at
Boise.
Barber and Moon, OF course, being
heads OF the Barber Lumber COM
pany, are indicted for their direct
participation in the profits Of the al
legged conspiracy. Palmer and Rand
both rich men-are indicted for
assisting in the alleged conspiracy by
playing the innocent purchase"
game and transferring the land in
volved to the Barber company.
Downs is timber cruiser. who. is ii
is claimed, lent bis technical knowl-
ledge to the consummation OF the con-
spiracy.
/ This Summary disposes Of all the
chares- except those against Ex-At-
torney General Fmnk Martin. Mar
tin is now Sighting for bis liberty on
pleas of abatement based upon the
alleged misconduct OF District At
to-ney RuicK before the grand Jury.
Martin. it appears, acted as at
torney for number OF alleged
dummy entrymen on timber lands,
whose entrise were contested by gov
eminent oficials on the ground that
,hey we're fraudulent. Martin repre-
sented these entrymen before the
local land Office In Boise. before the
ummissioner of the general land
office and before the secretary Of the
Interior. to whom the contests we're
finally carried, and was beaten 10
every instance.
Then, 1t Is alleged, Martin was
active In enlistipg The services OF
other dummy entrymeD, who re-
entered the land, and from whose en-
try, IL is claimed, the land vas ulti-
mately transferred TO the Barter