Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-27
IDAHO TIMBER
LAND FRAUD
HEARING Z
GOVERNMENT 0UTtzc6fS<
CASE AGASDSS/NRA
Prosecution Seeks to Show
Deeds From Dummy" TruS-
tees Passed Through Office
of Accused Senator,

Boise, Idaho, Sept. 26.-The prlnci-
pal witness at the morning session of
the Borah trial today was Dean West.
who declared that he received from
John l. Wells, one of the men Indict-
ed with Senator Borah the money
with which to get a portion of tim
Der claim, and later received $3.50 for
deciding it to Albert e. Palmer. an al
legged dummy" trustee for the Bar
Der Lumber company. West said he
induced several other persons to take
out claims under similar circumstances
and got the money for them from
Wells, Two of the men with whom
West says he got into the scheme also
took the stand and corroborated him.
None of the witnesses connected Sena-
tor Borah with the transactions, and
none were cross examined.
Judge Whitson announced today
that after consulting authorities, he
would reverse the temporary ruling of
yesterday and allow the government
attorneys to inquire into the intent
which any persons may have had in
taking out a claim.
IL has been stated to the Jury that
lae idea of making money out the tim
Der lands which the United States
threw open to settlement in Idaho in
tracts not to exceed 100 acres to any
individual and at a price not to ex-
ceed $3.50 per acre, originated. with
States Senator John Kincaid, one of
the men indicted with Senator Borah.
He is alleged to have gathered sew
eral men around him, among them
the late Governor Steunenberg and
William Sweet, mining man. These
two 1t Is alleged. put up first the
$IbOO, a joint note being the sec c'rity
by which the alleged frauds were in
augurated About this time Gin 1Sg9)
Attorney Burch asserts Steunenberg
went to Couer d'Alene, presumably
for the patriotic purpose OF putting
down the mining troubles, and while
there met a mine owner named A.
Campbell, Through Campbell, 1t is
alleged Steunenberg who had ex-
hausted his personal resources, met
Barber and Moon, who Immediately
took deep interest In the Idaho tim
ber lands. Governor Steunenberg
soon had n. bank account of $4,000,
which, 1t is alleged, he checked from
as agent"
Connecting Senator Borah with the
conspiracy Mr. Bureh says the gov
ernment will show that all the deeds
from dummy trustees To the Barber
Lumber company passed through his
office and were recorded, as the rec
ords will show. at his request. II is
further stated when four or five fraud
ulent claims were held up, Borah went
to Homer, the register of the local
land office, and made inquiry as to
what was to be done concerning them
| The register told him, It Is said that
the claims were fraudulent and had
better be left alone. 1t Is further
! charged that on one occasion. when
Governor Morrison was chief execu-
tive of Idaho and was about to file
state preference on certain timber
lands for school purposes Senator Bo-
rah went to him and sought informa-
tion as to what lands the state plan
ned to take and said he did not think
1t was right that the state should take
such lands.
In the governments outline of it's
| case, 1t is said that James T. Barber.
In sending on his men 10 idaho, was
heard to remark: "If there Is any
thing you want in Idaho. go to Will
lam f. Borah. He Is our attorney out
there"