Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-22
CHARGE CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
UNITED STATES OF COAL LANDS
SITUATED IN SAN JUAN COUNTY
More Members of the Grand Jury are to be Excused From
Further Duty and Statement is Made That Proceedings
May Result From Alleged Revealing of Secrets of Grand
Jury Room-Work of United States Attorneys to Continue

leo who is presumably in charge OF
such work for the government, not
having been in this city since the
convening Of this session of the United
States grand jury.
Violent Effort 10 stop Inquiry.
The work which resulted in the
bringing of the Indictment today and
which is expected to result in further
indictments i'm the near future, has
been done by Attorneys McHarg. and
Gordon. not only without the assist
ance or cooperation OF the United
States attorney for New Mexico, but in
the face of alleged attempts on the part
of the jury iiXers to get in their work,
and in spite of violent ana persistent
efforts to forestall the Investigations az
the department in Washington and to
secure the recall of the special assist
ants to the attorney general ana IN
spite OF all the local influence that II
was possible to bring to bear.
Grand Jurors Are Discharged.
The sensational statement of Attor-
ney McHarg in court when the grand
jury reconVened some days ago to the
effect that an attempt had been made
10 secure Information as to what was
being done In the grand jury ROOM
was followed by the discharge from
further duty of two members of the
v y
rera, by name. The reasons for the
dfcharge OF these two have not been
made public, but IL is expected that
some explanation will be made short
~ as TO the causes behind such DIS
charge. Considerable interest was
aroused today when q special vcnre
was issued for five additional grand Ju-
rors, the significance of which may
be guessed when 1t is stated that as
a.NstH y HnHa
mored ott>the streets here who would
be indictedA II is presumed that some
Of the members Of the grand jury 80
far forgot the charge of the court last
Monday as to communicate to their
friends some Of the transactions in
the grand Jury room. The guilty juror
or jurors may find serious trouble IN
the immediate future according 20 ru-
mors current tonight.
Practice Becoming Dangerous.
The practice of telling The secrets Of
the grand jury room which has OBJ
tained here for a long time seems 10
be getting dangerous win the advent
of the government attorneys, and at
tempts al jury fixing in Santa Fe
county are expected To become very
much less uouular than in the good
old days II is apparent that II efforts
have been made 20 influence the ac-
tion Of the present grand Jury those
efforts have not been particularly sue
cessful The representatives OF the
government. IL Is said, have been rea-
souablv alert and the opportunities or
approaching grand jurors have not
been So good as in the palmy days
when the PlundeTbund was supreme
in New Mexico.
Warrants Promptly served.
Little time was lost today after the
issuing Of the indictments In issuing
warrants. and before the evening had
advanced very far both Charles
Spiess. who is in the city. and David
NJ White had been interviewed by a
deputy United states marshal with the
papers.
II is difficult. and in fact. impos-
sible To ascertain what the next move
Of the representative Of the govern
rnent will be- but there Is an impress
sion that the indictment returned to-
dav Is not the end of the work TO be
laid before the present grand jury.
That the work is not at an end Is evil
dent. but what VIII be the next move
on the part OF the government Is pure
guess work. although great many
ateSsps are being Nentured mere.
II aupcars that the representatives
Of the government here are thorough
iv in earnest and that tney nave not
been seriously discouraged by efforts
10 secure their recall and other obsia-
cles which have been thrown IN their
way
The Phelps Dodge company named
in the Indictment returned today as
the beneficiary Of the alleged fraudu-
lent entries on coal lands in san Juan
county. Is one of the largest corpora
tions Of its kind boo the United states
II owns and operates enormous mln-
ing interests in southern Arizona,
owns and operatcs the ~ Paso ana
Southwestern railroad system eNiend-
ing from Dawson. y. N, through p
Paso. Texas. TO Douglas. Ariz. ana
owns and operates the enormous coal
mines al Dawson. The company en-
counters in this indictment ats frst
conflict with the United states during
q good many years of extensive opera
tious in the territories. The company
has been one Of the chief influences in
the development of the great south
ern Arizona copper field.
Operator- Apply for Work.
Chicago. oct 21-Nineteen striking
Western Union operators Of the west