The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-20
Attorney General Jackson Talks
About Lumber Combine.
Satisfied That It Doesn't Apply
to Topeka.
rALKSOFTHE RESULTS
Secured More Evidence of Com
pact in Northwest.
Threats Of Judge Necessary to
Bring Out Facts.

Ii ing O0V = WSVcs
Concerning the offer of Jonathan
Thomas to pay $1,000 to an person
who will obtain evidence of lumber
combine in Topeka, Attorney General
F. S. Jackson said today:
ct am inclined to the opinion that
Mr.. Thomas is safe in making that
offer. 1 have talked to some men high
up in this lumber combine, and they
tell me that there is no combination
between Topeka dealers. The Topeka
dealers have been cutting prices a
good deal. and have not entered into
any combination.
Furthermore, I will say that from
what 1 have heard, Mr.. Thomas him.
self is above the average run OF men
who conduct tn csc chain lumber yards,
and that in whatever investigation I
have made of his business, I have
found it conducted on high plane"
There were plenty of exciting incl
dents in connection with the opening
of the fight on the lumber trust, which
took place at Colby, Thomas county.
last week.
One of the witnesses was threatened
with being locked UP for inability
to remember" search and seizure"
of two of the Colby lumber offices was
made for the purpose of digging up
cipal witnesses whose evidence was
greatly desired was absent at Hot
Springs, and it is claimed that he went
because he heard the investigation
was coming.
Attorney General Jackson today ex-
pressed himself as well pleased with
the grist of evidence secured.
1.-TWO Of the agents of lumber
yards said Mr.. Jackson. admitted
that they conferred together about
prfceS One Of them had a very ha d
case of failed membory until Judge c.
w. Smith gave him a severe lecture
and told him that he had better re-
member some things. The Judge re-
satisfy himself that the witness was
lying to induce him to order the Of
fender to jail. The mans memory at
once improved, and it seemed to serve
also to improve the memory of some
Of the other witnesses who had not
been called"
There were until recently, three lum-
Der companies doing business at Colby
They were the Fowler, the Foster and
the Chicago The Foster and the Chi
but the property of the latter has not
been divided yet, and the manager Is
still there. A man named Conant Is
manager of the Fowler yards, and he
gave some important testimony for the
state combining the combine. He was
employers concerning a certain other
letter enclosed. The enclosed letter
was missing, it having been returned
to the company according to 1nstruc-
tons. This missing letter was evident
ly of greatest Importance, because the
agent was enjoined to show 1t to nc
one and keep it's contents secret. When
the agent was asked concerning the
contents of this missing letter, he de-
clared he had forgotten 1t, and there
bo the tIIdRa &c
tell the truth.
Mr.. Beaver, the agent Of the Foster
company, was placed on the stand, and
gave evidence Of being a truthful wit
ness. He told of the arrangements
which existed between the Foster anC
Chicago lumber yards. ze..
The evidence produced Indicated thai
| the Foster and Chicago companies were
| forced to buy out the Fowler company
and that the Fowler company some
times cut the prices and made troubte
expressly to force a trade Of this kind
Attorney General Jackson secured
| the necessary papers to force the
| lumber company agents to produce
| certain evidence pertinent to the case
and under order Of the court, Arch L
! Taylor, county attorney of Thomas
| county, went with the agent to the
lumber company offices to lool
| through all correspondence and select
| that which he desired. He secured q
| large amount of discriminating cor
| respondence.
The correspondence at the Office Of
| the Chicago Lumber company was moi
searched, nor was its agent examined
| because he was absent. The agent o.
| that company is Robert M. M
| Gonigle, the we'll known sixth distric
| Republican politician, who was re
| Gently elected as a oeregate to tn,
| Republican national convention. Nc
| Gonigle went to Hot Springs abou
a week ago, and the state officer.
intimate that he got wind of the ap
preaching inquisition, and left t,
| avoid testifying.
TT is the general impression IL
| that country, "said Attorney Genera
| Jackson today that If we can ge
McGonigle on the stand, he will tel
the truth. He may have gone ava!
| to avoid going on the stand e
! Mr.. Jackson declinec TO say whel
any further evidence will be TAKEN O.
| where it will be taken. The stat,
doesn't want the lumber trust t.
| know where it will be hit next.
Above Eighty Degrees Today.
The mercury registered SO degree
above the zero mark this afternoo