Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-09-27
STEUNENBERG, DEAD,
ACCUSED OF FRAUD.
FORMER GOVERNOR OF IDAHO, OR
CHARD'S VICTIM, is INDICTED
WITH SENATOR BORAH.
TRUE BILL FOR "J0HN DOE"
Haywood's Prosecutor Demands Trial at
Once and Makes Charges Against
United States District Attorney

BOISE, Idaho, Sept. 23.-[ Special. l.
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 Il. 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 impanelling
jury to try Borah was begun.
The name of Steunenberg was not eX-
pected as it was not known that he was
interested in lands with Borah.
Steunenberg is represented in the in
dictment as John Doe"
Courtroom Is Filled.
lie Borall case was called today before
Judge Edward White i'll the United
States district court.
The prominence Of Senator Borah in
the politics OF the stae, his personal
popuIarly i'll this. his home town, the
leading part he took in the prosecution
OF William Haywood, charged with the
murder OF Steunenberg attracted an in
terest in the proceedings against hmm
nearly equal TO that which marked the
ers' trials here.
The circuit court was crowded to over
flowing when Judge Wilson took the
bench The array of counsel On @ithrr
side was imposing.
Ruck Has Nothing to Do.
The government, whose representatives
here freely predict II hearing Of sensa
tonal interest, has practically taken the
case out OF the hands of District Al
torney Rulck, against whom charges Ct
improper conduct before the grand jury
have 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
5. H. 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 ut Cheyenne, who was sent to
Boise to assist the special grand Jury
now i'll session III its investigation of the
charges against Ruck. Senator BoraIl's
attorneys include James FL. Hawley,
senior counsel for the state in the Hay
wood case Alfred \. Fraser, s. J.. Zip
ton and Carl Paine, all local attorneys
and G. +. Bundy of Eau Claire, Wis
The latter also represents the interests of
the Barber Lumber company.
Borah's 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 trial prior to the time he
shall present his credentials IT'S Il senator
next December in Washington.
Others of the defendants have inter
preted demurrers because of abatement
and other legal technicalities, many OF
which are still pending. They nave
charged that Ruick used improper and
illegal methods while securing the indict-
mcnts. But Senator Borah has simply
entered Il plea OF not guilty and has for
hidden his attorneys TO take advantage |
of any technicalitleS whatsoever. lie |
has stated rs his desire that the case
should be tried on It's merits.
Probe District Attorneys Acts.
The conduct of the district attorney
before The March grand jury, winch re
turned the indictment against Senator |
Borah and others, is now under inVcStl- !
CATION by Il specially summoned federal |
grand jury, Wnlle Judge Wilson, who Is |
TO preside at The Boran trial, began Sat |
urday Il personal inquiry III open court |
as to Mr.. Kulck> s course, summonins |
i'll attendance all the witnesses cited 10 !
appear before the grand jury.
1t has been charged III the afiidavits /
of three former grand Jurymen that MIR. |
an hours length before the grand Jury |
and urged that indictments be brought. |
The district attorney has admitted chat |
he reviewed tor the benefit OF the grand |
jury the salient features OF the testimony, |
which covered period of tour weeks !
deliberation, but denied his remarks were
III the line OF an argument.
Charge Undue Influence
1t is also charged that 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 attidavits of nine former
grand jurymen, who say that the timber
fand 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 4 conspiracy with Jos |
residents of Boise whereby the latter
were to take up timber land claims of
100 acres each. They were to pay the
minimum price to the government and
later, when the claims were finally APP
proved to transfer the land to the Bar
Der Lumber company, whose principal |
officers are residents of Wisconsin.
James L. Barber and Samuel G. Moon
of Eau Claire, Wis, are among those
indicted. 1t is claimed that the 1OS en-
trymen swore that they were taking out
claims for their own use and benefit for