Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-12-03
|rHE SHAME OF
WASHINGTON
Fact Established That Great
Northern Framed Supreme
Court Decision.

SSS@A
SPOKANE, Wash, Dec. 3-Carry-
ug with them some Of the original
documents and many authenticated
Opies of others which show the re-
atoms between Attorney Gordon Of
he Great Northern railroad and
Judge Milo A. Root, of the state su-
breme court, the members of the in
Testigating committee of the state
Jar association departed yesterday
fternoon for Seattle. While the COM
nittee did not procure possession of
pr even get to see all of the docu-
nents which it came to Spokane in
earch of, it did procure enough Of
hem to establish the astonishing
act that Attorney Gordon and not
Judge Root was the author of the de-
ision in the case of w. H. Harris
ersus the Great Northern railway
Ompany and that Judge Root, in
Presenting the decision for filing as
be opinion of the court, acted as the
Dol of Attorney Gordon.
Gordon note Books Examined.
This fact is established by tran
cribed copies of the stenographic
Otes of letters dictated by Gordon
J. ]. LAWN, formerly his private
eCretary, now one of the Spokane
ttorneys for the Great Northern.
lr, LAWN was before the committee
vice, and yesterday morning the
nembers of the committee spent
bore than two hours in Mr.. LAWN s
nice in the Great Northern depot
Oing over the Gordon note books
nd deciding which of the Gordon
etters were material in the Gordon
loot Investigation.
In getting the Gordon notes and
ther information from Mr. LAWN the
Ommittee was materially assisted
L. c. Gilman, general western
ounsel for the Great Northern, who
vorked with them throughout their
pokane sessions.
Since the first publication in the
eWspapers that Attorney Gordon
as short in his accounts, at which
me Mr.. Gilman verified that fact
public interview Mr.. Gilman has
ersistently and studiously refrained
rom discussing the Gordon-Root
natter publicly. The report is cur
emit that in so doing he was acting
nder instructions from the higher
metals of the road.
But since the spokane hearing by
ne committee began Mr.. Gilman APP
arently has appeared willingly be-
ore the committee. Whether this
as been done with the consent OF
pc higher officials of the road 1t is
npossible to ascertain, but the pres
nee OF President Louis w. Hill OF
ne road in the city while the COM
Ait'ee w2s in session is interpreted
attorneys who are closely follow
70 the investigation as indicating
iA' Mr.. Gilman was acting with con-
h' II not actually under instructions
his superiors.
Gilman Aids Committee.
nj Gilman came to Spokane on
oaday, the day following the arri-
= OF the committee. When he frs
a Oh thee ommittee. When he frs
oasht to convey the impression that
vas here on routine company bus
Ness II soon became known how
eE' that his presence in the com
'''ee and his assistance in getting a
documents in the case were de
~ ey the investigating COMMITTEES
= ior the last two days he has beer
Nss'ed with the committee almos
'Antly during its formal sessions
among other rumors set aloat il
lHeetion with the Root stories hai
= one that Attorney Gordon OF
: occasion procured the writer
1OfiEation OF one or more Of tn,
eAef otheials of the Great Northern
soatrieute some sort Of financIa
s1la OF assistance to Judge Roo
consideration for the favOrs show
(Continuea "a 49, go