The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-29
DUMMY" TELLS
STORY ON STAND
Testimony of George S. Long
at Trial of United States
Senator BOrah.
FRIEND OF ]. T. BARBER
FORMER SENATOR FOSTER Ex-
PLAINS.

Boise, Ida, Sept &.-Mention of the
Weyerhausers. the owners of vast timber
land tracts in the northwest. was made
IN the trial OF United States Senator b.
rah today for the first time. This was
when George S. Long of Tacoma, Wash,
took the stand and stated that In response
to a request from James T. Barber of Eau
Claire. Wis, he had allowed his name
to be used as a dummy" trustee in the
acquisition of Idaho timber lands. He
produced a letter from Mr.. Barber making
the proposition as follows:
'Exigencies have arisen which make 1t
desirable TO pass the title of certain lands
in Idaho through some party entirely re-
moved frem association with the Bar
Der Lumber company, these circumstances
being similar to those which made it
desirable TO use my name IN connection
with some of the Weyerhauser Timber
company's property. 1 have therefore
taken the responsibility of directing the
placing of title to certain lands in you"
Received No Compensation.
Long said he had been a personal friend
of BARRIERS for seventeen years. He re
ceived no compensation for his services
as trustee, never saw any of the deeds,
did not employ Senator BOrah as coun-
sci and in fact never met the senator
until this year. The attorneys for the de-
tense asked Long what the "exigencies"
referred to by Barber meant.
Il supposed" replied the witness, they
were the same as arose in Washington
when ] was purchasing property for the
Weyerhausers and when 1 used Mr.. Bar
ber'S name. If we used the WeyerhauSer
name in any locality 1t always sent the
prices up and brought competition"
Ex-senator Fosters Part.
Letters which Campbell. the mining
man, received from Steunenberg, bring
ing former United States Senator Fos-
ter of Washington into the situation were
identified by the witness and put in evil
dence- One Of these read:
Senator Fosters letter has been for
warded to my eastern associates. The tie
up OF twelve of the claims continues, but
/ have faith that through the work of
yourself and friends we can soon find
a solution, now that we have pointer
on the inspector and those that are re-
sponsible for his appointment"
A second letter contained the follow
pOintment with Senator Foster / can
come. This feature Of the timber deal is
getting into bad shape. Sharp, the in
spector, and the land office people have
worked so secretly and used so much de-
ceptton, even with their friends, that I
have not been able to learn the true situd-
ton, much less do any work I think
YOU had better ask Senator Foster TO hold
Sharp off until can see the senator"
Sharp Opened His Eyes.
Campbell said he asked Senator Foster
to send Sharp to see him.
When Sharp came and talked to me-"
continued the witness, sit was the first
intimation 1 had that anything was
wrong"
Campbell said he visited Boise soon after
this and during his stay saw Senator Bo-
rah two or three times He thought their
conversation had TO do with the timber
matter, but could not recall what IL was.
Campbell told of meeting Steunenberg
in Washington, D. c., late in 1902 Steun-
enberg wanted to borrow $500 to buIv
out Sweet, his partner but Campbell said
he was leaving for Europe and could not
grant the loan. Steunenberg told Camp
bell that many of his timber claims were
being held up and wanted Campbell TO
see Senator SpOoner of Wisconsin and
Mark Hanna The witness did not see
either. He was not cross-examined.
Bankers on the Stand.
E. N Scale, an officer of the Exchange
the witness stand and identified deposit
slips for drafts for $45, 600 drawn by A. E.
Palmer on James T. Barber and Sumner
@. Moon. The prosecution says 1t will
show this money was transferred to
Steunenberg and given by him to Wells
and Ktnkaid. two members OF the al
legged conspiracy.
Scale also identified a number of bank
books in which the Palmer account was
kept He said that very soon after each
Of the drafts on Barber and Moon Were
deposited. the money was checked out by
Palmer in amounts from $500 to $4,000.
Former Senator A q. Foster of Ia
minutes. He said Steunenberg called at
his office and asked him to see Sharp |
the federal inspector, about certain |
claims that were held up. Foster said he |
sent Sharp to see Campbell and that was |
the last he saw or heard Of Steunenberg. |