The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-28
OPENS DOORS
FOR JAPANESE
Court Holds They May Come as
Other Foreigners

Boise, Idaho, Sept. 2s.-Half a
score of letters which the government
attorneys in the trial of Senator Will
liam Il. Borah declare go to show the
completely of former Governor Frank
Steunenberg in the alleged Idaho
timber land fraud conspiracy and the
part Borah played were introduced in
evidence and read to the jury. The
letters we're written by William
Sweet, one of the indicted n en-, who,
it is reported, will take the stand as
witness. The documents we're pro-
duced by J. M. Richards, the loca
attorney to whom they were written
and who acted as legal adviser to
Sweet.
Most of the letters we're dated from
New York and Boston, and Sc, eral of
them we're replies to letters or tele
grams urging him to return to Idaho.
81 can't see why / should come
back unless it is in regard to timber,
and that is all In the governors
hands," wrote Sweet in one of his
notes. Then he proceeded: "As to
the money coming to me, put it in
the bank. have absolute faith In
the governor. He came to my assis
lance and helped me out of mess
never ought to have got in. don't
know what / would have done if it
had mt been for the governor
In another letter Sweet gave the
amounts he was Gin" on the timber
deal. The total was about $40, 600,
including a $500 note signed by
himself and Governor Steunenberg.
Shortly after this Sweet wrote to his
attorney that he had read in the pap
ers of timber inspector being sent
to Idaho, and added: '"The govern
or has written TO me to come home.
If there is anything wrong. and you
and the governor want TO protect me,
don't see what good l could do at
this time
Under date of March 81, 1902,
Sweet wrote to Richards:
Everything seems to Q all right
on the timber DEAL The governor
has got some of his friends to put up
secruity for $40, 900 for six months
TO give time to make a deal"
About a month later, however,
Sweet wrote in a different vein as
follows:
al am awfully disturbed about
that timber transaction. | fear
signed papers that | ought not to
have signed, and to make it complete
you used the power of attorney and
put the money out of my hands and !
haven't a scratch of a pen from
Steunenberg. After he got me sign
ed up good he quit me and turned
his attention to you with the power
you held on me, and | never heard
from you or him about the money.
wrote to him ten days ago to put
$4,000 in bank for me. have not
heard a word from him for a month,
and 1 am worrying and can only say
too many crooks spoil the broth on
me every time, i am done up in
hole as far as my Idaho interests are
concerned, and everything is in the
governors hands and by law he can |
hold me for ali time to come. II ne
is absolutely honest / am all right;
if not, am all wrong. Don't you
say one word to anyone about this.
A few days later Sweet wrote that
he felt better, as Steunenberg had put |
the $4,000 in bank for him.
SEE BORAH, SAID SWEET.
Just before adjournment, Henry
S. Workman, another local attor-
ney, took the stand and produced
more letters from William Sweet.
In one letter to Workman he wIote:
Richards used his power of at
toFney to turn all money. $40. 900, |
over to Steunenberg and 1t is like
pulling a cat through a stocking to
get it back. / wish you would see
W. E. BOrah about this, and get him
to make a little statement of the
governors obligation to me. file is
the governors attorney but Is n /
first class gentleman and knows a
little statement is only fair to me.
Tell him, have not the scratch of a
pen from StelnenberR to show that
he has $40, 900 Of my money. He
said the copy Of our agreement was
lost"
Other letters referred TO q settle
ment between Steunenberg and |
Sweet. and the cIosing m of THAR |