davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13
coal land IN an illegitImate manner.

coal land in an illegitimate manner
Upon charges made by the special
oficers of the government, indict-
uepts were returned against Mr. For
ter and many others, dragging their
names, which had always stood ior
honor and integrity. into the mire OF
an imaginary corruption, which II Is
now clearly apparent never existed.
What was legitimate speculation on
the part of the company was made
out to be a graft ON the government
But when It came to trial OF the
charges, or similar ones, before Judge
Lewis in Denver. the court asked Tor
proof OF the existence of coal on the
land. Then the glaring weakness oil
the governments case was seen. The
prosecution was based on the charge
that coal lands had been Illegally op-
| tained, but there was no PROOF tnat
| the coal was there. No shafts mad
been sunk and the evidence was sad
Iy lacking. The court was asked 10
allow shafts to be sunk by federai
| agents but ruled that this would not
be proper. 1t would be no proof OF
fraud to show the existence OF coal
at this late hour; the fraud, IL any
| existed In proof of the fact that thN
company knew there was coal there
and obtained the land in an iilegal
manner. This the government agents
4
abandon their case.
| Now that the vindication has come,
there is much comment of sympa-
thetic nature for the men who were
subjected TO the unjust charges
brought against them. MIR. Porter
has been resident of Denver for
over thirty years and has probably
done more than any other single men
to develop the mineral resources OIL
the southwestern portion of the state.
He is known 10 bankers and business
men in all parts of Colorado and these
charges were naturally a great blow
TO him. Connected with him in the
Porter Fuel company were such men
as Gen. Palmer, DIR. Bell and w. 5.
Jackson of Colorado Springs. and al
together some thirty stockholders, in
Guiding some of the states most
highly respected citizens.
: The land Itself was sold to the
Union Pacific railroad some three
: years ago. long before the indictments
were found.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

efforts Of certain subordinate repre-
sentatives of the government, who for
come time past have acted upon the
assumption that Colorado has been
veritabIe hotbed OF fraudulent Grim
tnal practices In connection with pub
lie land entries. especially Of coal and
timber. proceeding upon the irrational
theory that the bare fact of ownership
by company or corporation OF lands
exceeding few hundred acres in ex-
tent, where title had been acquired
from entrymen shortly after the lat
ter had purchased from the govern
ment, afforded in itself presumptive
evidence that a criminal conspiracy
existed in connection with the obtain
Ing OF title from the United States,
and In their eagerness to afYord jnsti-
fication FOR their official existence,
they have sought to institute criminal
prosecutions, unprecedented as to
numbers, and endeavored TO impart to
trifiing circumstances, entirely con
sistent with innocence. the semblance
Of guilt.
"Mr. Porter became one of the vic
tins OF this programme of overzeal
Gus official activity. resulting in the
Indictment dismissed on yesterday
From the moment he was formally ap
praised OF the existence document, he
l has been ready for and insisted upor
a trial before jury, to the, end thai
| lished and the dismissal of the
charge is a tacit admission by the gov
ernment that 1t had no case. and tha
a grave wrong was perpetrated wher
the Indictment was secured.
"Mr. Porter is well and favorabl.
known In business circles Throughout
Colorado. He has lived here, an hon
ored citizen, for over thirty years
and has been an important factor IL
the development of the mining re
sources OF the southwestern portion
of the state, and II affords us un
feigned pleasure to congratulate hin
on the vindication of his character
through the abandonment of tn
groundless charges above mentioned
Thomas Ward, Jr., recently az
pointed United States district attoi
ney for Colorado, is to be commende,
for his manly course in promptly dis
missing the indictment when satisfie
that he had no reasonable assuranc
of securing conviction. He was no
instrumental in securing the indie,
ment. Indeed. our information
that his predecessor, MIR. Cranstor
took no active part in that respect.
let us trust that no Indictment
will be found in the future. except o.
sufficient reliable evidence of gull
and that reputable citizens will no
hereafter be subjected to the injus
tice which Mr.. Porter and his code
PENDANTS have suffered through til
siiperserviceable zeal of special IL
vestigators. who are always fain t
credit themselves with official impoi
tance proportionate to the number q
offenses their vigilance ostensibly III
masks"
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13
ASKS DISMISSAL OF IN
DicTMENTs IN LAND CASES.
Denver Republican

/ A complete vindication for John A.
Porter, James A. coppinger, W. n.
Bagby and all others who had been
implicated in any way with the in
| dictments brought against the Porter
| Fuel company has now been secured
Pueblo yesterday afternoon. Thomas
Ward, Jr., United States district at.
| torney, asked dismissal of the con
spiracy charges, thus making vir-
tual admission that the government
| never had case in the first place
but had perhaps proceeded with the
indictments through the work of over
| Jealous officials.
Mr.. Porter was represented in the
Pueblo court by his attorney, John NJ
WaldroH. and there were witnesses
on hand TO proceed with the trial OF
the case If II had been necessary.
But since his incumbency of the dis
trict attorneys office Mr. Ward has
made special study of the situation
Lewis In Denver to guide him Where
at first there had been a hue and cry
against those suspected of acquiring
coal lands illegally. the investigation
completely changed this attitude and
even the federal court recognized that
whatever development there had been
of these lands was rather tribute to
the enterprise and progressiveness OF
the men undertaking it than anything
else. Men like John A. Porter and
those associated with him have been
pioneers in the upbuilding and devel.
opment of the state and that their
integrity should have been in any way
questioned is now regarded as a blum
der that will now be difficult to re-
pair
Originally the land holdings taken
over by the Porter Fuel company
were filed upon by seven individuals
under the stone and timber act. The
company was organized for the pur-
pose OF opening up coal mines on n
large scale and desired naturally to
acquire as much land as possible in
what appeared to be coal sections. II
proceeded TO pay the individuals hold.
Ing the land In question as much as
- and 81 per acre. giving them n
reasonable profit. 1t was presumed
that the coal formations extended to
these lands, but there was nothing
definite about this and I'm fact 1t is
not known to this day whether the
coal deposits will be found there as
anticipated
When the government special
agents began making their investiga-
lions, year or more ago, the con-
clusion was apparently jumped at
that conspiracy had been formed be-
tween the company and the men a. |
Ing on the land by which the com |
pany had "gohbled" . lot Of valuable J
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13
PORTER LAND FRAUD
CASE is DROPPED.
(Denver Post.)

The governments land fraud pros
ecution policy was given another hard
Jolt at Pueblo this afternoon when
United States District Attorney Thorn
as Ward, Jr, asked the dismissal of
the indictments against John A. Por-
indicted on the charge of conspfring
as an officer OF the Porter Fuel COM
pany of Durango to secure Illegally
from the government more than
thousand acres of coal lands.
The action means much to the
scores of other defendants, as it in
dicates the policy of the prosecution
has been faulty and many other big
Porter case. 1t is also a vindication
of Mr.. Porter.
The weakness of the governments.
case must have been apparent at the
torney. 1t was his first big case set
for trial, and as an appointee of Pres
ident Roosevelt 1t was naturally ex-
pected that he would endeayor to up
Icy.
He first sought to have the case
postponed until he became more
familiar with it, but Attorney John
Waldron insisted on an immediate
trial from the start. Mr.. Waldron
insisted that the Indictment OF Mr.
Mr. Porter was brought about by the
horde of government bloodhounds
sent here to carry out big stick meth
DDS and who had to make record at
any cost. sparing no mans reputa-
ton"
The papers in the case were in the
hands of Attorney General Rush of
Omaha and when United States At
torney Ward received them he per-
ceived that the case against Porter
was weak, and accordingly decided to
recommend dismissal. Mr.. Porter de-
sired public trial In order to be the
more completely vindicated. The wit
nesses all had been summoned to Pu-
eblo and were ready for trial today
When Mr.. Porter left the Porter
Fuel company 1t owned $4,000 acres
Of land near Durango. 1t sold out to
the Union Pacific Coal company. 1t
has been proved that not over 1000
acres of this vast tract Of land has
developed coal, the rest being devoted
to agriculture. timber reserves and
grazing.
The case was dismissed at 2 O'Clock
this afternoon.
Included with Mr.. Porter In the in
dictment was w. N. Bagby and ]. A.
Coppinger of Durango. the indictment
being joint one against the three
men. Messrs. Bagby and Coppinger
were expecting to leave for Pueblo
yesterday morning to attend the trial
but receiving a telegram the evening
before announcing the dismissal OF
the case 1t was not necessary for them
to go, as both Mr.. Porter and his at
torney, Mr.. Waldron. were on the
ground. Mr.. Porter has at all times
insited on the case going to trial be-
cause he wanted every fact brought
out, being confident of acquittal.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

the Southern thic morning. one Of
them intending 10 20 to the property
and the other to Mancos and Cortez
to see parties who are going into the
company. They have a traction en-
gine with which to pull the well drill
from Mancos or Dolores to Biuff City.
They report that the well where the
oil was struck has been plugged and
the owners have gone east to organ
lie a company and to secure more ma
chinery. M
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

The swellest line Of neckwsar ever
shown In Durango IL ON display At
Nathan's. and the price v oaly SOC.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

The best work and dress shoss In
town arc At Nathan's nrstclass cloth
Ing store,
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13


had betrayed by the wretch had
it, though the law had not prescribed it.
gospel-n sacrilege call him
believe that dwell in sin ali his life utterly
conadng gia girl helpless and trusting harmless all
listened
would believe that could wreak ruin such
that he converted and 50 heaven This might be called re-
under copuon Gillette probably tried believe what the
and his girlh victim to heig
be
by lightning through
"ou repent and heaven they
teaches and the Bible teaches and Christ teaches that sin carries its
punishment There deathbed
'A s sn no n h e ,rps Christian ~ @ @ ~ ,s @ o. b a
She
necessary that's she shoul
show
not
depths and elevate him the heights
OF
that holders
the did
thing psaceable ahong anarchists peace
anarchist
and orderly but whom he going Just like
his Both with mankind
wait strike The wisdom centuries
aush MN Der e Is RUE win US mat ine must not Dc
kills
drker ages And this is why It is that the poison breed of mankind al
liberal than
kind Europe and multiply alarming until
The anarchist IKE the aenake mas no right TO exist While no one
would desire that they be literally those
should be depoed or detained where they could do harm and others
might follow in their should be effectively discouraged
Allison say.
processes.
people in my opinion
favored situation Our land rich in all tina, makes
making up his opinions strong opm the subject of the Amer
people,
making the
from
being Tough.
indiana bit backward giving favore flee Prssh
cent u.a n'" o 1 s noua ' b. Ams o
Republican national convention will have
me" to " single enc having mortgage on the
about tho Hearst
landing
versatile
ician conscience keeps him awake at night
New Yorker
revealed history sekenins.
associations will cut the girl and the
of their service
alleged
Hartman unable
talent find hn'ca'w eds the
to collect it is altogether another thing
will shoty the building for the
Bureau Of American Republics toward which Andrew cane
MARBLE
o. he
Chicago twelve married. returned
his wife with the
hssdsssr The uymsn had evidently had experiences
creed In
Denver Xii
ksnny hpht the
seris1y alone.
Ths government its diplomatic
foreign capital
tewY enthusiastic
otoanluss had
snnase1 prsvisenai psried
claim
nvs ue The
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Carl Brown, one Of the ranchnen
on the Florida mesa, was IN town
today. Mr.. Brown. along with other
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Nbt Thaw for what she
hosteIries Tho entire
and the
Graz family
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

subject Of
equally about tho Hearst
enthusiasm, landing
versatile
tician. conscience
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

DURANGO
$50
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Anyone wishing 70 brighten their
home with little girl or years
old should call on Judge Clements.
He is looking for homes for two.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

of million
from Hartman unable
rishtfuiy the but
% collect altogether another thing.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13
tFron Tuesdays Daily,

Mrs. Wesley Helm and her folks
win see the big feet Mrs. Helm is
staying with her folks about 40 miles
north of San Francisco.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

indiana bit backward giving favor |es Prss
ine This should be- And isn't
pary7
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

will hhory building for the
which Andrew
American
marble, that will
landmarks OF the
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13


wife with tho
hesdpssr. Iurymen evidently experiences.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

making
fight bitter
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Ths government uslng trained In its
ies instead purusnu providing lot OF
sJnna trip the and view Of soms foreign
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

like tho Psesonspeer creed In
Xii
aside let the
seriu9iy alone
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

New ohHoai who has been visiting Havana 10 entnu
x eteaSuss city Imagine what Cuba would bs Tan
lnnsnod tise prpvIsienai psrod.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Mr.. and Mrs. j. T. Terry will spend
a few days in Durango, coming down
from Eureka yesterday. They are
staying at the Strater.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Steps have been taken to organize
company to drill for oil at Bluff
City, near where the oil strike was
recently made. The company will be
composed Of Durango and Montezuma
men. Messrs. !. o. Miller and Heffer-
man were In town yesterday arrang-
ing the preliminaries. q. W. Spencer
go into the company and will furnish
the drilling apparatus. Mr.. Spencer
having well drill at his place on
the Florida mesa which he used In
drilling for artesian water. Messrs.
Miller and Heherman have been In
the vicinity of Bluff City for some
time and have secured $40 acres ad-
joining the oil strike. Now they In
tend perfectins the organization of
company and getting to work as
sooa ~ possible. They won't out ON
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

The dance given by the baseball
boys last night was a happy event,
being largely attended and the crowd
being a happy one. viii Grogan and
his sister Mamie were awarded first
prize as the best waltzers. This was
ticket for each to attend all the ball
games this summer = The second
prize was won by Sam May. This
prize is permission to crawl over the
fence, provided no one catches him at
1t.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

In the United States district court
at Pueblo. on yesterday a Judgment
OF dismissal was entered In the case
ofrthe United States against Mr. John
A. Porter. w. N. Bagby and J. A. Cop
pinger. wherein the charge was con-
spiracy to deffaud the government Of
its title to certain alleged coal land.
situate near Durango.
The indictment against Mr.. Por.
ter and his associates was secareA
nearly : rear ago. through The uaaus
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Judge Chas. F. Easley and Vernon
l.. Sullivan of Santa Fe were arrivals
last evening. They went down to
San Juan county this morning to look
over an irrigation proposition.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Luck. Young and Keck have agreed
on price and terms with Mr.. Ecker
man for the Z. o. d. laundry. but the
deal has not been completed yet. J..
e. Cook, who is leasing the laundry,
is still In Possession.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13
(From Fridays Daily.)

Jesse Haller is spending the day in
town.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

The social given for the Christian
church at the home Of Mrs. Elicit last
evening was well attended and very
pleasant time was enjoyed by those
present.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Mrs. +. 9. Conoway. NJ. D.. who has
been visiting friends at Pennington
or the past few weeks, departed this
for her home In Texas.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

They say that new bridge just fin
shed at Ignacio is the best bridge in
he county Except the Durango stone
brodge, Of sourse). T. F.. Peterson
put 1t up about right.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

4xscs Il not trying to claim
fsv1s u Askansas own The
@ an6k ga parts vinA
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

G. c. Backus, representing r. G.
Dun Il Co.. is on his eighteenth visit
to Durango. That covers a period OF
% years. Mr.. Backus has been COM
ing to Durango for SO long that he
feels like one Of our own pioneers.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

A. L. Fellows. formerly in charge Of
the government reclamation work in
this section, was an arrival last eve
ming from Denver and went to San
Juan county. N. NJ. this morning tc
look over some irrigation proposition
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

]. G. Kent, In the government In
dian service. was an arrival last night
from Washington. d. c., and went
down toward Shiprock this morning.
MoritE Stockder returned last eve
ming from Ophir. where he had been
to look at mining property. and con-
tinued on to Silyerton this morning.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13


will We lie
subject of the
leans
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

Since Durango is getting to be quite
town for automobiles. 1t may be OF
interest to some who are not informed
to know the pronunciation of the
word chauffeur" The French die
tionary at the public library gives it
as "sho-fer." with the accent on the
last syllable.
Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13

George Logan has received a Black
Hand letter--one OF the genuine kind.
He will refer the matter to the post
Office inspector.
Arizona republican., 1908-12-09

JOHNSON, PHOTOGRAPHER, LOS ANGELES.
Arizona republican., 1908-12-09
NEW COMPANY OPENS
 AT THIRD AVENUE
The StTeeter-Bryan Aggregation Will
 Arrive in Phoenix This Morning.

The Streeter- Bryan Co, which was to arrive here yesterday morning Ow- ing to a change of program by the manager. did not arrive, but will be here on this mornings train. The first performance of this well known com pany will take place at the 3rd avenue theater on Thursday night, December 10th. The Watsonville Evening Jajar- onin says: It is safe to say that the production last night was one of the best ever seen in Watsonyille. not only from an interesting standpoint but also from an artistic.
 The honors of the evening must go to MOrrie B. Streeter and Miss Blanche Bryan Streeter is indeed very yer satile. a quality that few actors have and that they all need. Heretofore Streeter has appeared in upIoaripus comedy roles. but last night he acted the part of Jack Delmore, gambler, road-agent and highwayman, in finish ed style and there was scarcely any comedy in that part. Streeter always does good work and he eclipsed his former efforts in the play last night.
 Miss Bryan is another member of the company that can be depended upon for good work. She took the part last night, of Salomy, the girl. and from the very first won the sym pathy of the entire audience.
 Harry J Terry as the sheriff played the part of the william in excellent style.
 Every seat in the house was filled.
 The same play will be put on in Phoenix. Tickets will be on sale at Larson's Drug Store today.
Arizona republican., 1908-12-09

erty of others. Away with any man who subornes perjury in a court of justice Are you going to accept the evidence brought here by Burns, the heart and life of the prosecution and the creator of testimony"
 Mir. Ach concluded without a perora- tion after he had been reminded by the court that his time was drawing to a close. After the recess, Thomas l.. Dozier. for the defense. began the closing address at the evening session.
Arizona republican., 1908-12-09

It is CrystaIlized Cactus Candy, That makes the world seem bright. Then keep a box handy Of CrystaIIized Candy To keep you feeling right. And if there is girl expecting That you will call tonight, if you want kiss that Is brin full of bliss, get A package of Crystallized Candy
 At Donofrios'.
Arizona republican., 1908-12-09
Good Blood
Means good health, and Hoods SarsaparilIa has an unapproached record as a bIood-purifier.

It effects it's wonderful cures, not simply because it contains sarsaparilla but because it combines the utmost remedial values of more than 20 different ingredients. There is no real substitute for it. If urged to buy any preparation said to be "just as good" you may be sure it is inferior, costs less to make, and yields the dealer larger profit.
 Get Hoods Sarsaparilla today. In usual liquid form or in chocolated tablets known Sarsatabs.
Arizona republican., 1908-12-09
CONTEST CLOSES SATURDAY

Remember the contest will close Saturday. 10 pm. Don't wait till the last minute to pay your subscription. Make the payment and send the certi- ficate of votes to your favorite or or der them given at once. A boost now will be worth more than million boost after we are all dead. The contestant will be happy, SO pay up. or subscribe for Your friend somewhere.
Arizona republican., 1908-12-09
PORTRAITS.

crayon, Pastel, Water Color or SePia. Enlargement from Photos a speciality work absolutely unique and prices very reasonable. Photos received by mail and portraits returned in few days by express. The only exclusive portrait house on the coast Agents wanted. HOPKINS PORTRAIT CO, 3O3-3O4 Severance Bldg, Los Angeles, California.
Arizona republican., 1908-12-09
WEATHER TODAY.

Washington. Dec. S.-Weather fore cast for Arizona: Fair Wednesday. warmer in the northern part Thurs day and increasing cloudiness.