East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-01-08

81 am innocent of doing anything
wrong II was not a secret service
officer with authority to work, /
thought was"
Thus spake Harry Gibson at the
sheriff's office this morning and his
behavior all pointed to the fact that
he was telling the truth. Gibson Is
the man who was brought here from
Wala Walla yesterday charged with
having impersonated an officer. He
was arrested at the Garden City by
Deputies Bushee and Foster, and
from appearances 1t was a most dar-
ing capture. At the time Gibson was
caught red-handed-not in the manu-
facture of bombs. but in the act of
vanishing some furniture in little
shop he had established there for the
purpose of making living for his
wife and boy. Before Commissioner
John HALEY, jr., Gibson was given
preliminary hearing yesterday, en-
tered plea of not guilty, and his bail
was placed at $1,000.
As to who Gibson is, what he has
done and why he did it, there have
been many conflicting stories. Some
have pictured him as deep-dyed
swinder To the writer he appears
laore as the victim OF the plot rather
than the perpetrator. He is man
of youthful appearance, and while his
conversation shows he has travelled to
some extent he Is not OF adequate in
telligence for secret service officer.
The following is the substance of
the story told by Gibson at the sher-
ifs office this morning and corrob-
Grated by his wife, who was with him:
During the latter part of october
they were staying at the brick hotel
in Weston, when one day man called
to see the husband He said his name
was Brown and he displayed a badge
in the form of shield, which pro-
claimed him United States marshal,
or a federal detective. He said he
had been referred to Gibson as a
suitable man to secure service in this
county. According to the prisoner he
was requested to look into the "irri-
cations" on the reservation. How
ever. It is probable the "officer" re-
tained him to investigate official ir-
regularities rather than the hydro
graphic features of the agency.
According to both Gibson and his
wife the stranger was "A short. heavy
set man. He had cheeks that bulged
over his lower jaw, was dark COM
plected and had dark hair. He was
smooth shaven, wore a heavy four
strand silver watch chain, a Masonic
triangle emblem and "A violet pin in
his necktie. After giving him instruc-
tions as to what he should do the
stranger left the hotel saying he had
to catch the I o'clock train out of
Weston. As he departed he told Glib
son to consider himself a secret serv-
ice officer and to proceed with his
work. He was told to report to the
department, and that he would be duly
commissioned and paid for his serv-
ices II he met With success much
work was to be given him by the gov
ernment in the future.
After thus being employed Gibson
proceeded to Investigate" the affairs
of Agent q. c. Edwards, and evident
ly he found some ground to work on.
He says that he reported matters TO
the department and that he received
in reply letter telling him to pro-
ceed, forwarding such proofs aud af-
fidavits as he could secure. He says
that he met Deputy Glenn Bushee in
this city one day, made himself
known and rendered his services ia
the deputy should they be needed.
According to Gibson his first init
nation that all was not right came
from the United States marshal al
Walla Walla. Not receiving any pay
from the government he consulted the
federal official at Walla Walla. He