Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-10-22
FEDERAL OFFICIAL CALLED
TO WASHINGTON IS REPORT
Defendants Say There Is No Truth
In Charges Against Them
Easy to IndiCt But PrOSeCu-
tors VIII Have to Prove
Assertions.

Santa Fe, n. NJ, oct. 22.-(Spe-
ciaI)-The grand jury. which on yes
terday returned indictments against
nineteen persons, nearly all of whom
were non-residents or New Mexico,
and not connected with territorial af-
fairs except in a business way, is
still at work. The indictments are for
alleged frauds in securing coal lands
in San Juan county
These indictments, which were re-
turned yesterday afternoon were not
made public until after the evening
papers of the territory had gone to
press, for some unexplained reason.
Today four new jurymen were add
ed to the grand jury and it is under
stood that an effort is being made to
have fifth juror discharged.
Charles A. Spiess, of Las Vegas,
and David NJ. White, of this city, who
We're among those indicted yesterday.
have furnished bond in the sum Of
$4,000.
McIIarg to Washington.
1t is probable that proceedings
will be brought to a sudden stop as
it is understood here that Ormsby
McHarg, assistant U. S. attorney gen.
eral, has received a telegram di-
recting him TO come at once to Wash
ington, and that he will leave to-
night. The reasons for this sudden
when Mr.. McHarg will return and
continue his operations against all
legged land frauds is not known.
Others indicted by the grand jury
are:
Phelps, Dodge & Co., New York,
of the Phelps-Dodge mining and
smelling interests In New Mexico and
Arizona.
James Mclean, Cleveland H. Dodge
A. Curtis James and James Douglas,
members of the firm of Phelps-Dodge
& Co, of New York.
Charles A. Spiess, an attorney of
Las Vegas.
Thomas H. o'Brien, coal land To-
eating agent for Phelps, Dodge &
Co., of Fierro, N. NJ.
Louis d. Ricketts,, geologist and
mining expert now of Cananea Mex.
Henrietta e. Ricketts,, of Prince
ton, n. j., sister of Louis d. Ricketts,,
and Maggie \. Vann. colored, and
cook for the Ricketts,
David NJ. White, of Santa Fe.
Granville PendletOn, Of San Juan
county.
Robert B. Hegardt. superintendent
of the Globe mines of Phelps, Dodge
& Co., and the following residents of
Arizona; Edwin 7. Stewart, Robert
Il. Reel Niles S. Barrdy Carlton s.
Moore, Emil r. Stahl, Angus Meal
pine and Arthur E. j. Tovey.
Inc returning OF indictments DN
the grand jury was not unexpected
since it is understood certain officials
of the government have been quietly
boasting that they would succeed in
indicting a number of persons sooner
or later.
The action of the grand jury was
IN Keeping with that of most grand
juries in New Mexico to return in
dictments and let the cases get into
court II there appears to be anything
like doubt as to one side or the
other. This seems to be the light in
which the matter is viewed here by
those indicted and by the people gen.
orally.
one of the men against whom an
indictment was returned said today:
ut is simple matter to procure
an indictment against any man, but
it is another thing to go into court
and prove charges of as grave ma
ture as those with which I am
charged. There is nothing whatever
In the charges against me and l do
not fear them If the matter ever
reaches court. ! am able to prove
my innocence of any wrong doing
and while the returning of an in
dictment generally reflects more or
less on a mans honor yet 1t should
not until after he has been tried and
found guilty
Most Of the persons indicted are
practically non-residents of New
Mexico and are known here only in
a business way-some Of them not to
that extent. The Phelps-Dodge COM
pany is one of the largest corpora
tions i'm the country and has done
much towards developing the coal
industry in this territory, spending
large sums of money annually in New
Mexico coal mines and employing
hundreds of miners. 1t was chiefly
instrumental i'm developing the great
copper resources of Arizona and had
begun to branch out i'm copper min
ing i'm New Mexico II operates at
present a large number of rich
mines i'm Arizona, the Dawson coal
mines I'm this territory and the FL
Paso and Southwestern railroad I'm
New Mexico. This Is the first time
II has ever been charged by the gov
crnment with anything Illegal, al
though II has operated for years in
several states and territories.
An employe of the company said
today that other employees of the
Phelp-- dodge company may have
cord under the law for their own
purposes, nut II such was the case IL
was done without the knowledge of
the company at the time and was
purely personal matter. However
IL Will be impossible TO learn the real
facts In the affair until the matter
gets into court at which time the de-
PENDANTS say they will be able 10
show the matter up in its true ligut