Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-26
SCORES.
FIRST POINT
IN TRIAL
GOVERNMENT WITNESSES
CONFESSED PERJURERS
One Promised immunity Un
bIuShingIy Admits Swearing
to Complaint Against Man
He Never Knew,

Boise, Idaho. Sept 2j-The first
sensation in the trial Of United states
senator Borah came late today when
Albert Klanop Nugent the second wit
ness produced by the government adj
mltted on cross-eNamination. that hc
committed perjury in taking out
timber land claim, admitted he had
been promised absolute immunity by
an officer Of the federal government
for testifying; admitted that at the
request Of federal officer he had
sworn to complaint against a man
whom he did not know. and lastly
proclaimed that he believed II 20 he
part OF his bargain for immunity that
he should swear to any complaint
against any person, regardless of any
knowledge he might have as to the
persons guilt. When asked the namS
of the officer who induced him to sign
the complaint by Borah's counsel tho
witness sworc positively that he could
not remember It.
The day was given over to the in
PRODUCTION OF mass OF papers on flo
IN the land office here. and to the evil
dence of two men who said they re-
ceived money from John !. Wells with
which TO prove up on their timber
land claims. Wells Is one of the men
indicted with Borah. Counsel for tho
latter did not object to this testimony
on the understanding that the trans
action In question would ultimately be
connected up I'm some way with the
case of the senator on trial
The defense scored the first point
OF the trial early in the examination
of the first witness man named An
derson. He WIS asked by Special
Prosecutor Rush what his intent was
when he took out the timber claim,
Judge Whitson, who was presiding,
sustained the objection based on the
ground that a man eonfessing perjury
as Anderson did. could not properly
testify as to any secret intent he may
have had locked up In his breast.
Anderson and Nugent both testified
that they had received from John Il.
Wells S412 with which to prove up on
their claims. and eacn received sz55
additional for transferring the claims
to The Barber Lumber company's In
terests.
The bills given to the men by Wells.
and the letter from Wells 20 Nugent,
were admitted in evidence. Anderson.
VINO Is an elderly Swedc, was not
cross examined. but Nugent admitted
he had made no agreement To trans-
fer his lands at the time he filed upon
them.
He said there never was anything
but verbal agreement and he could
not remember where or In whose
presence such contract was made. Nu-
gent said he witnessed the papers filed
by Anderson. and was then confronted
by complaint signed by him. charg-
Ing Louis NJ. Pritchard with having
conspired with Anderson 10 get title
TO the land. Nugent said he did not
know any such person or anything
about his connection with the alleged
land frauds. He declared all he
knew was what he read In some news
paper story to the effect that Priteh-
ard was involved.
Prosecutor Rush demanded to know
)f the witness If any officer of the
government had ever asked him 20
swear falsely. Nugent replied that he
had always been told TO tell nothing
Dut the truth. Rush said he never
heard OF Nugents connection with
he Pritchard complaint and desired
line TO look into the matter before
his examination. At this
uncture the proceedings were adj
burned until tomorrow.