The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-06-27
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.


fill the position and against whom no finger of sus
picion should be raised. | believe Senator Boral
has failed to acquant Roosevelt with the facts.
believe it mistake to condemn who have prose
cuted land fraud criminals but do not care to take
up the cudgel in defense of Ruick, who was prob
ably not warranted in prosecuting Senator Borah
but it seems that Borah should not expect to fill
Ruicks place with the former attorney of the men
now under sentence.
1T is not fight against attorney Lingenfelter,
but the policy his appointment represents" said
Mr.. Thompson There is absolute proof to show
that Mr. Lingenfelter was retained as counsel for
Messrs. Kester and Kettenbach and at the time Sen
ator w. f. Borah their chief attorney His ap-
polntment now, accomplished as it was during the
senate recess would suggest that Mr. Borah has for
gotten the high position to which the people of Idaho
have elected him and allowed his influence to be
used in furthering the interests of his former clients
We do not believe President Roosevelt was familiar
with those conditions when the appointment, was
made, as such an appointment, with full knowledge
OF Mr.. Lingenfelters identity with the land fraud
cases, would be inconsistent with the policies that
have characterized ROoSevelt'S administration"
1t is said that the complaining newspaper witness
in the foregoing presentation of an ugly case is
politician who has not been addicted to the purihca
ton of politics and is fair to suggest that he may
be actuated by Interior motive in thus pro-
jecting himself into disturbance that developed
outside the sphere of his influence Concurrent tes-
tmony, however gives strength to his assertions and
they deemed worthy of credence by many
familiar with the circumstances until dsproved
Another Lewiston newspaper Dispatch sent out
under date of the 18th of June contains the follow
ing developments:
Sensational allegations were made against United
States District Attorney Lingenfeter today by his
former law partner John O. Bender adding more
fuel to the factona fire which threatens to disrupt
the republican party in Idaho and which has already
assumed national Importance Mr.. Bender, by i'm
p1cat1on, charges his former partner with furnishing
Kester and Kettenbach with an affidavit from Mrs
Harris generating them so far as that con-
cerned Mr.. Bender does not directly charge Lin
gentelter with furnishing this affidavit to Kester and
kettenbach, but he says it was locked in Lngenfel-
ters safe, was removed without his knowledge
consent photographed and this photograph was in
PRODUCED in evidence by the defense in Idaho land
fraud trials.
If Mr.. Lingenfe1ter furnished the defense with the
evidence above described while he was the partner
of Mr. Bender, who legal adviser to Mrs Har-
ris, of the complaining witnesses it may be said
that he procured it in an unprofessiona1 way This
seems to be the burden of the exposure made by
Mr.. Beder.
1t is understood that Senator Borah was also an
attorney for Keser and Kettenbach being associated
with Mr.. Lingenfelter in the case These defendants
convicted of subornation of perjury in connec-
ton with the entry of timber land and part of the
sentence imposed them was confinement in Jail
An appeal was taken to the state supreme court on
points of law execution stayed and the appeal is
still pending.
Under the appointment procured by Senator Bor-
ah his former associate in the defense of the case
will become the prosecuting officer
Mr.. Lingenfelter has been dorsed by the Com
mercal club of lewiston Idaho, his home city That
organization sent the following communication to
President Roosevelt Attorney General Bonaparte,
Senators Hepburn and Borah and Congressman