Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-23
Intense Interest in Trial of Sen
ator BOrah Which Involves
Many of the Most Prominent
Men in the State of Idaho.
DEFENDANT PERSONAL
FRIEND OF ROOSEVELT 7
Waving TechnicaIitieS Invoked
By Partners in Transaction
Accused Senator Only De-
mandS Immediate Hearing,

Boise, Idaho Sept 22,--United
States Senator William r. Borah, who
acted as one of the principal prose-
cutors for the state of Idaho al the
recent trial of William u. Haywood,
secretary Of the Western Federation
Of Miners, will be placed on trial to-
morrow morning, in the United States
court here. charged with conspiring to
defraud the government OF 1880
acres Of Idaho timber land. Twelve
other persons have been indicted with
Pofah. but he will be the first to face
the federal jury, having demanded a
trial prior to the time he shall prese n
his credentials as senator next Decem-
Der in Washington. Others Of the de-
PENDANTS have interposed demurrers,
pleas i'm abatement and other legal
teehnicalities, many of which are still
pending. and have charged that
United States District Attorney Nor
man NJ. Ruick used improper and IL
legal methods while securing the in
dictments.
But Mr.. Rorah has simply entered
plea Of not guilty and has forbidden
his attorneys to take advantage Of any
technicalities whatsoever lie has
stated his desire that the case should
be tried on its merits.
The conduct of the district attorney
before the March grand jury, which
returned the indictment against Mr.
Borah and the others. is now under
Investigation by a specially summoned
federal grand jury, while Judge Will
son. who is TO preside at the Borah
trial. began yesterday a personal in
quiry In open court as to Mr.. Ruick's
course. summunng In attendance all
the witnesses cited to appear before
the grand jury.
1t has been charged in affidavits If
three Of the former grand jurymen'
that Mr. Ruick made an argument IF
more than an hours length before the
grand jury and urged that the indict-
ments be voted. The district attorney
has admitted that he reviewed for the
benefit Of the grand jury the salient
features Of the testimony which COW
cred period Of four weeks delivera-
tion, but denied that his remarks were
In the line Of argument II is also
charged that the district attorney re-
fused TO leave the grand jury room
one day until the indictments We're
signed This charge has been denied
IN counter affidavits of nine Of the
former grand iurypen. who say that
the timber land cases were not being
discussed when the district attorney
The indictments against Borah and
he twelve others charge that they
uttered into conspiracy with los
residents of Boise whereby the latter
we're To take up timber land claims of
80 acres each, paying a minimum
price 10 the government, and later,
when the claims were finally APPROX
ID to transfer the land 10 the Barber
Lumber company an Idaho corpora
ion whose principal officers are resi-
Tents Of Wisconsin. 1t Is claimed that
hese los entrymen sWore they were |
aking out the claims for their own |
ise and benefit and not for specula- |
ion These statements are alleged To |
lave been false. and the government |
.ttorneys claim the entrymen had all |
.ntered into "A contract 20 turn the |
ands over to the lumber corporation |
IS soon as their claims were proved. |
II is further claimed that Senator |
,orah and the other alleged conspira-
ors provided funds TO many Of the |
OS entrymen 10 cover their expense
n taking up their claims. The inter-
81 aroused by the trial is intense In
his section Of the country owing to
he prominence Of all concerned in the |
lleged conspiracy.
one of the co-defendants with Sena-
,r Borah is Frank Martinl attorney
eneral OF Idaho, under former Gov
rnor Frank Steunenberg. who was as
assinated by Harry orchard. Anoth-
r defendant is John Doe said to
epresent Governor Steunenberg him
IF
Among the 1OS entrymen named in
ae conspiracy, but not indicted, are
lany of the most prominent business
nd professional men Of Boise In
)me instances. five members Of
amlly. including wives and daughters
re Involved The government claims
nat the group Of men who operated
, Idaho were one Of the three groups
no onerated la the west and whose
rosecutions have aroused such wide
bread interest during the last two
ears.
n is likely that the trial Of George
ettibone. who was indicted with Hay
ood and Meyer FOR the murder ot
x-Governor Steunenberg, viii have 90
E postponed as result OF the borah
ial in that case, attorneys Tor the
restern Federation OF miners viii :
robably demand his release on bail ,
Borah should be convicted IL Is gen
ally believed that the cases against {
eftfbone and Meyer would be drop II
"a Rorah has been the mainstay of ]
le state in the prosecution of the 1
Iteration leaders. and IL he should be 4
,nvicted Of a crime it would serve &
thoroughly discredit the state IL .
IL Steunenberg case
The case for the government VIII
5 conducted by Attorneys y. NJ. g. s
urch. of Denver. and s. n. Rush. of :
maha. The latter is a special assist c
Il attorney general. representing the
spartnent of Justice. He has re- Z
sved District Attorney Ruick in these =
ses owing to the allegation 81 korah D