Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1907-06-20
ARE FOUND GUILTY.
Prominent Lewiston Men Gull
ty of Land Frauds.
IMPRISONMENT AND FINES
Given Short Prison Sentences
and Light Fines.

Moscow, Idaho, June 16.-Wil.
liam F. Kettenbach, George II.
Kester and William Dryer, the
6,st named the Lewiston bankers,
charged with conspiracy to defraud
the government in timber land en-.
tries. we're found guilty on two Of
the counts in the federal court
this evening and acquitted on the
remaining counts. The jury sud-
denly reached q verdict at 9
o'clock, after having deliberated
"a hours.
Each of the three defendants
was charged with conspiracy on
five counts, each represen ting a
quarter of section of land, the
tracts being secured at an average
price Of $500 each. The particular
counts under which they were con-
victed are believed to be counts 8
and 4, the first one being known
as the Charles Carey count, the
second as the Guy L. Wilson
count.
The jury reached q verdict
shortly before bedtime, the bailiff
notifying the court officials, who
instructed them to report immedi-
ately at the courtroom. The news
flew like wild6re and before the
jury reached the building the stuffy
little courtroom was crowded to
suffocation. Several women friends
Of the defendants were seated in
side the railing, their faces show
ing the suspense under which they
were laboring.
At $40 O'Clock the jury fled
slowly into the box, with the OK.
ception OF J. w. Robinson, who
was carried on a cot, his aged form
covered with blankets, his head
being swathed in bandages, which
completely covered his snow-white
hair and beard. Judge DIETRICH
ascended the bench and ordered
poll Of the jury. In low tones he
inquired il the jury had reached
verdict, and was informed they
had. Taking the closely written
document, he scanned it's contents
in absolute silence. Addressing
the spectators, Judge DIETRICH re-
quested that no demonstrations be
made when the verdict was read.
After the verdict was entered on
the docket Judge DIETRICH thanked
the jurymen and advised them
they could occupy the juryroom to-
night il they so desired.
They were instructed to report
at $50 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
When court adjourned the room
quickly emptied with the exception
of George 81. Kester's wife and
few friends, who approached the
clerk inquiring the names Of the
informants in the counts on which
the defendants were convicted.
The verdict is considered q VIC
tory for the prosecution in almost
every particular. The stubbornly
fought case has occupied four
weeks.
No indication was made by
attorneys for the defesne a. to the
likelihood Of appeal, but it is con-
sidered certain the case will be
carried at least to the United States
court Of appeals.
The Specified Charges.
Guy L. Wilson, upon whose testi-
mony one of the verdicts of guilty
was reached, was the first witness
called in the case. He said on the
witness stand that Dryer promised
him $3.50 for fling on . timber
claim aud that he drove through
the desired land with Dwyer az the
laster's expenses. He filed on it
some time later, AZ DIVER told
him that the land was not yet
ready for occupancy. At the time
OF the famous lineup in front Of the
Lewiston land Office, Wilson testi-
ned that he was unable to be pres
ent and that Dryer hired boy to
substitute for him. The witness
also said that Dwyer coached him
on the answers he should make at
the land Office and gave him his
Ming fee and SAIL to pay on final
proof. After deciding the land to
kettenbach and Kester he received
check for el38.
Charles Carey Of Pierce City gave
testimony similar to Wilson's in
the trial, although be did not fare
quite 60 we'll, receiving only 1925
Tor his share of the deal. He said
that he did not think he was doing
anything wrong at the time, as
everyone else was doing the same
thing, but that he had not changed
his mind about the ethics involved.
Vigil of the Jury.
At the close Of the second days
elaboration, the jury was locked
up Tor the night after eating Sum
Gay dinner, unaccompanied by J.
". Robinson, the aged juror who
reclined on cot, unable to leave
the jury room.
Morning broke cold and che0rleas