The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-06-28
LEGAL-CRIMINAL
Test For Two Cent Fare Law.

in Missouri over the execution of the
new two cent railroad fare law enacted
by the legislature of that state resolved
itself into an agreement announced by
Judge Mcpherson that beginning June
10 this and the maximum freight laws
would be in effect for ninety days for
q practical test, after which he would
hear arguments from both sides based
on actual figures of the business done.
Notwithstanding that Attorney General
Hadley had got an order from Circuit
Judge Reynolds prohibiting the eight
cen protesting trunk lines from resist
ing the laws, Judge Mcpherson ruled
that the federal court had and would
maintain jurisdiction. The three
months trial was satisfactory to Had
ley and to the roads.
Jersey Railroad Tax Valid.
BY sustaining the constitutionallty Of
the Duffield act taxing second class
railroad property at the local tax rate,
the New Jersey court Of errors and APP
peals saves millions Of dollars to the
state which must come from the cof-
fers of the railroads. The same prin-
clple Is involved in the Perkins law
taxing the main stems at the average
tax rate, law still before the state
supreme court
Says Holmes Sold Reports.
The chief witness against Assistant
Statistcian Edwin S. Holmes, on trial
at Washington for conspiring with +.
A. Perkins and Moses Haas Of New
York to profit from advance knowledge
Of government crop reports, was Louis
G. Van Ripper, New York mining
stock operator. Van Ripper told how
he had been introduced to Holmes at
Washington by Peckham and how
Holmes then explained his ability to
let out the crop statistics In advance
and how he had already made $4,000
by selling such information to Theo-
dore III. Price, the we'll known cotton
operator. The witness told further
how he had subsequently paid Holmes
about $4,000 as his share of deals
based upon information furnished by
him. After this a regular brokerag e
business was organized known as
Peckham & Mercer, financed by the
conspirators, for one Of whom, Peck
ham, seat on the stock exchange was
bought. Witness told where and when
profits were divided, Holmes getting
his share.
State Against Haywood Rests.
Contrary to general expectation, the
counsel for the state Of Idaho against
w. ID. Haywood, charged with plotting
the murder of former Governor Steu-
nenberg, brought its case to a close
without calling large number of Pin
kertons and other witnesses who were
on hand, and the defense, asserting
that no evidence had been brought di-
rectly connecting Haywood with the
murder Of Steunenberg, has asked for
dismissal. A number of witnesses
were brought forward by the state,
however, to corroborate statements
made by Orchard in connection with
his alleged crimes. Several came from
San Francisco to tell Of having seen
Orchard In the neighborhood of the
Bradley home. All of this sort Of
cofroboration was admitted over the
protest Of the defense, which content
ed itself with bringing out the fact
that these witnesses had been brought
to court in the pay of Pinkerton de-
tectives. The Identical bomb with
which Orchard claimed to have at
tempted the assassination Of Peabody
was shown In court, 1t having been
dug up from the river where Orchard
had said 1t was thrown.
In cross examining Major Naylor Of
the Colorado national guard the de-
tense tried to show that the explosion
at Independence was brought about
through the agents Of the mine owners
organization In order to keep the mill
tia In the district. Naylor said that
orders to dlsband the militia had been
issued before the explosion occurred.
Associate Justice Goddard Of the Colo
RADIO supreme court was also an I'm
portant witness for the state, as he
Identified personally the bomb which
he had seen dug from beneath his own
gate nine months before and which
was precisely the instrument described
In Orchards story. Finally the state
succeeded in getting into evidence
large number Of articles printed in the
Miners Magazine tending to show that
the leaders Of the federation felt great
anlmosity toward Steunenberg and
other men killed or assalled by Or
chard. The defense admitted that
these articles and editorials did show
the hatred of Steunenberg by Hay
wood, but contended that this feeling
was shared by thousands of others.
Bank drafts, postal and telegraph
money orders were submitted, tending
to show that Haywood or other officers
Of the federation had sent money to
simpkins. with whom Orchard had
said he was associated just before the
murder Of Steunenberg, or to certain