Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-09-27
STEUNENBERG, DEAD,
ACCUSED OF FRAUD.
FORMER GOVERNOR OF IDAHO, OR
CHARD'S VICTIM, IS INDICTED
WITH SENATOR BORAH.
TRUE BILL FOR John DOE"
Haywood's Prosecutor Demands Trial at
Once and Makes Charges Against
United States District Attorney.

BOISE, Idaho Sept. % Special. /
Former Gov. Frank Steunenberg of
Idaho, assassinated by the notorious
Harry Orchard during the famous min
ers strike. was one of the men indicted
with Senator William E. Borah, charged
with conspiracy to defraud the govern
ment of valuable timber lands.
United States District Attorney Nor
man l.. Ruick caused Il sensation when
he made this announcement in court this
morning when the work of impaneling
jury to try Borah was begun.
The name of Steunenberg was not ex-
pected as it was not known that he wa.
interested in lands with Borah
Steunenberg is represented in the in
dlctment as John Doe
Courtroom Is Filled
TIE Borah case was called today before
Judge Edward W hite III the United
States district court
The prominence of Senator Borah in
tie politics OF the Stae his personal
popuIariy in this his home town, the
leading part he took in the prosecution
OF W lillian Haywood, charged with the
murder OF SteunenUerg attracted an in
tereSt ID the proceedings against him
nearly equal to that which marked the
hrSt of the Western Federation Oh Min
erS' trials here.
The circuit court was crowded to over
flowing when Judge Wilson took the
bench. The array of counsel on either
SIDE was imposing.
Ruick Has Nothing to Do.
The government, whose representatives
here freely predict hearing of Il sensa-
uonal interest, has practically taken the
case out of the hands of District Al
t0ruey Rulck, against whom charges Of
improper conduct before the grand jury
nave been filed and assigned the matter
to special attorneys trained i'll timber
land law and fresh from successful
prosecutions i'll other western states.
They are NJ. G.. Burch of Detroit and
). Il. Rush OF Omaha, both special as
sistants to the attorney general of the
United States.
There also was present today Timothy
f. Burk, the United States district,
attorney at Cheyenne, who was sent to
Boise to assist the special grand jury
now III session i'll its investigation of the
charges against Ruick. Senator Borahs
attorneys include James II. HawIey,
senior counsel for the state in the Hay,
wood case; Alfred y. Fraser, S. l.. Lip
ton and Carl Paine, all local attorneys,
and {. L. Bundy Of Eau Claire, Wis.
The latter also represents the interests Of
the Barber Lumber company.
Borahs Trial First.
Twelve other persons have been indict-
ed with Senator BOrah, but he will be
the first to face the federal jury, having
demanded Il trial prior to the time he
shall present his credentials as a senator
next December i'll Washington.
Others of the defendants have inter-
preted demurrers because Of abatement
and other legal technicalitieS, many of
which are still pending. They have
charged that Rulck used improper and
illegal methods while securing the indict-
ments. But Senator Borah has simply
entered plea OF not guilty and has for
hidden his attorneys TO take advantage
of any technicaliues whatsoever. He
has stated as his desire that the case
should be tried on Its merits.
Probe District Attorneys Acts.
The conduct OF the district attorney
before The March grand jury, which re
turned the indictment against Senator
bOrah ana others, Is now under InveStI-
galou by specially summoned federal
grand jury, Wnile Judge wilson, who Is
10 preside III the Boran trial. began Sat
uruay Il personal inquiry III open court
as TO Mr.. RuIck 5 course, summOniug
III Attendance All the witnesses cited to
appear before the grand jury.
1t has been charged III the atiidavits
OIL llfee former grand Jufynen that MI
kulck made All argument of more than
an hour length before the grand Jury
and urged that indictments be brought
The district attorney has admitted that
he reviewed tor the benefit OF the grand
jury the salient features OF the testimony
which covered Il period of tour weeks
deliberatiOn, but denied his remarks were
III the line OF an argument.
Charge Undue Influence
1t is also charged tha- the district at
torney refused to leave the grand Jury
room one day until the indictments were
signed. This charge has been denied in
the counter atfidavits OF nine former
grand jurymen, who say that the timber
land cases were not being discussed
when the district attorney was requested
to depart.
The indictments against Senator
Borah and the twelve others charge that
they entered into a conspiracy with 1OS
of Boise whereby the latter
We're to take up timber land claims of
100 acres each. They We're to pay the
minimum price to the government and
later, when the claims were finally APP
proved, 10 transfer the land to the Bar
Der Lumber company, whose principal
officers are residents of Wisconsin,
James I. Barber and Samuel @. Moon
of Eau Claire, Wis, are among those
indicted. 1t is claimed that the 1OS en-
trymen swore that they were taking out
ri n lpj1- for