Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-26
Ha,ukins Makes Scathing Arrangement
of the Prosecutors for the United States

allied with assistants 20 the attorney
generals I'm their work This party
acted as such clerk from the day Of
the removal Of the former clerk
Under the laws OF New Mexico the
grand Jury Is selected by the Judge
of the court, his clerk. and a special,
commissioner appointed by the judge.
At that time the commissioner whose
duty IL was TO assist In selecting the
grand Jury was Major Palrn, presi-
dent of the First National bank at
santa Fe, and a man whose integrity
and uprightness Is unquestioned ev-
.erywhere He was removed as COM
missioner and another appointment.
made at the instigattou OF the special
assistants and the grand jury was Sc
lected under such circumstances
This grand jury met. proceeded
with some minor work. and then was
adjourned for thirty days in order 20
allow the snecial assistants to confer
with The department at Washington
as to what course TO take in the many
threatened prosecutions, alleging
many violations not only of the United
States laws, but of the territorial laws.
with which this court had nothing TO
do.
when these legal representatives
of the United States In Washington
had finally agreed upon the policy TO
be pursued. the grand jury was re-
convened.
Il was told when | reached Santa
Fe that the grand jury was a fairly
good body of men. and that there was
in particular one good strong Mexican,
a democrat and one who was re-
publican on the jury who would prob
ably largely influence their follow
Mexican members.
Il am not acquainted with that part
Of the territory and do not know any
Of the individuals comprising the
grand jury.
Immediately upon the reconventi0n
Of the jury the two named men, one
a republican. ana one democrat.
were each excused by the court. with
out any reason being given therefor
except that IL was talked publicly
around the court house and on the
streets of Santa Fe. that they had been
excused by request of the prosecution
the court acting from a standpoint of
convincing the United States it was
to be fairly treated
"The procedure, however, was so
unusual. and being unaccompauied by
any explanation of the court the peo-
pie Of santa Fe, while willing To give
the court credit for desiring To be fair.
do not give such credit 20 the attorneys
general, openly charging that some
parties were excused because they We're
strong men and the special assistants
feared that they would have their
own opinions and assert their own
judgment as to ind citing those under
charges.
From, the hour of the eXcusing of
these men, everything pointed to the
fact that a majority of the jury be-
lieved that they were turned over 10
the assistant attorney general to act
upon then advice and accept their
conclusions, and the fact that an in
dictment was found against a large
number of these lrssoas was not n
surprise TO those who watched the
proceedings.
lit was a surprise, however, to even
those who were interested in the mat
ter to know that the demands of the
official advised the jury TO
indict in this connection men who
could not possibly have participated In
any questionable way In the transac-
tion complained Of; such men, for in
stance, as DR.. James Douglas. a man
whom the people of lei Paso, Texas
and the whole southwest know We'll
and alleging as a reason for such IN
dictment that he was member of
the firm of Phelps, Dodge q CO.. which
firm, it is alleged, paid the govern
tltiA Nv the tilliN lifli lNA AAiffNf ttAli'ifff
when the slightest inquiry would have
revealed the fact that DR.. Douglas Is
not and never was member Of the
firm Of Phelps, Dodge e. Co. such as
the Indictment Of Arthur G. James, as
a member of the firm OF Phelps. Dodge
q CO., on the same grounds, when he /
has become a member of that firm
only since the death of his father.
few weeks ago: the indictment of Mr..
AL a "a lNn IA
heard of the transaction. of Mr. Nc !
Lean, as member Of the firm OF
Phelps Dodge a Co, when SO far as
| know he was never in Arizona, ana
never heard of this trans |
action. All because the government |
contended that the money for the pay |
ment Of some entries came from New
York.
witnesses Were taken before the |
grand Jury and when their testimony
did not suit to a "T' the theory of