The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-27

Boise, Idaho, Sept. 27.--At the
end of yesterdays proceedings in
the trial OF United States Senator
William f. Borah, the government
had disposed of IS witnesses, all of
whom swore that john |. Wells, one
of the men indicted with Senator
Rorah, gave them the money with
which they took out timber land
claims. When they received their
patents to the land, they all declared
that Wells sent them to a man named
Pritchard, who took their deeds and
gave them $3.50 each. One of the
witnesses, Dean West, said that In ad-
dition TO taking out a claim himself,
he induced several others to do so.
The testimony of the Is witnesses
examined was of almost identically
the same character. There was no
GLOSS examination. The government
attorney announced that the testi-
mony was necessary in order to lay
proper foundation for evidence to
come.
Just prior to adjournment the pros
ecuting attorneys identified the sig
natures of former Governor Frank
Steunenberg, and William Sweet to
document said to have been a con-
tract. 1t is alleged that Steur enberg
and Sweet Jointly furnished the mon
ey with which the first alleged fraud
ulent transaction was carried on.
The government has divided its
case into three sections. The first
deals with the claims which were
turned over to Albert E. Palmer of
Spokane, who is said to have acted
as dummy" trustee for the Barber
Lumber company. All the testimony
bearing on these claims, it is aIleg-
ed, were handled through Horace S.
Rand, of burlington, iowa. The
third and last we're handled by
George S. Long, who, the govern.
ment promises, will eventually take
the stand as the most important wit
ness for the prosecution.
S. X. Rush, of Omaha, the special
assistant to the attorney general, who
has been active in timber and coal
land prosecutions throughout the
west, has assumed control of the case
while the evidence is being put in.
ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.
Boise. Sept. 27.-Having accom-
plished much of the tedious work of
Identifying aud placing on record
the papers in about half hundred
of the alleged fraudulent claims filed
in timber lands in the interest of the
Harher Lumber company, the govern
ment attorneys in charge of the pros
ecution of United States Senator Viii
liam E. Bcrah, who acted as attorney
Tor the company, began today to un
fold in narrative form details of the
alleged conspiracy which is said to
have been begun in 1899 end to have
continued down to 1904.
Witesses who are willing to con-
TESS to alleged wrongdoing and to
making false affidavits when they
swore they we're taking out timber
claims in their own interest and with
ont agreement to transfer the claims
to other parties, will have largely to
do with the preseI tation of the gov
srnment's case.
STATEMENT OF PROSECUTOR.
In his opening statement to the
Jury former Judge M. G.. Burch, of
Detroit, the special assistant to the
attorney general sent here to take
an active part in the prosecution. an
nounoed that the government would
offer as one of its principle witnes-
SEES George S. Long, who. it is alleg-
cd, acted as dummy trustee to
receive title to claims from 'dum-
my" entrymen and transfer the prop
erty later to the Barber Lumber com-
pany,
This lumber company, a Wiscon-
sin corporation, having its mill in
this city, came into being. the gov
eminent claims after the alleged
frauds were we'll under way and was
otganized to hold and make use of
the lands secured through the social
conspiracy.
Long will tell you," declared
Mr.. Buroh to the jury, THAT he
merely loaned his name as dun
my that he never paid dollar o.
MS own money for any lands, that he
never knew Senator Borsh and that
he never employed Senator Borah as
us attorney. He will be corrobor-