Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-16

safe. The latter ruling made it an
economic necessity for men owning
stock to place it on land and get its
full worth Immediately.
Took Stock for Debts
Together with many others who had
confidence in the valley the Chap
Inns bought large blocks of this stock
when it was cheap. They also took
ii in payment of debts due them from
the California Development company
and bought it from employees of the
corporation and others who had stock
which was worthless to them because
they owned no land and wanted none
With this stock the speculators could
do nothing. But this stock placed on
desert land was worth a large amount
because of the possibility of wedding
the two and making the desert blos-
som.
To dispose of their stock they hit
upon the scheme of having entries
made on the land by men who would
sell their rights cheaply. Such men
would make out assignment and re-
unquishment papers in blank and de-
liver them to the Chaplins. The lat
ter would then place water stock on
the assigned piece of ground and sell
land and water to any conner who
might appear to become a real settler
1t is alleged this method was used ex-
tensively in the early days of the
valley, and the records of the gov
ernment substantiate the allegation.
The Chaplins undoubtedly made
money by these deals. They contend
now that the Imperial valley would
today be largely a barren waste If it
had not been for their cooperation
with the California Development COM
g.,
ing them on land. Many Of these set
tiers could not afford to buy their
water stock and work their land also,
as they had but limited capital.
Given Time on Loans
Such men received one, two and
three years in which to pay for their
stock, and at the end of the specified
time found themselves in possession
of land on which they could raise
money, or the products from which
they could sell at a sum sufficient to
meet the debt on the water stock.
Practically the scheme, although ad-
mittedly one productive of great sell
fish benefits TO the Chaplins and their
ilk, was a means of making the val
ley the most rapidly reclaimed dis
trict in the southwest.
Concerning the moral turpitude in
volved and the strict legality and
lawfulness of the plan there are di-
vergent opinions. Sigel Skinner at
tackled the rights Of some Of the last
settlers on these lands dealt with in
the above described manner, and in
several instances was upheld in his
contest, an innocent purchaser from
the Chaplins or a later arrival who
purchased in turn from that purchas-
er, being, in many instances, a suf-
ferer by this means. Attorney Ward
asserts Skinner endeavored to bring
the Chaplins to terms in one or two
contests and that, when they refused
to talk to him at all and drove him
from their office, he turned on them
with threat to set even. They be-
lieve this is his method.
Skinner undoubtedly Is the most
cordially despised man in the I'M
perial valley today, and frequent
threats against his life have been
made by men whose rights to well
cultivated and highly improved
ranches have been attacked by him on
technical grounds. Meantime it is
also a fact that the Chaplins and
many agents and dealers who have
employed similar tactics in the past
the hard working ranchers who have
come by their land and possessions by
means less shrewd but more proYoea-
tive of the proverbial Sweat of the
brow"
Three Forces in Clash
It seems certain the present trial
will bring these three forces together
in a clash that will have far-reaching
results. Either Skinner will prove the
Chaplins guilty of criminal methods
or they will be free Of membranes
so that they can turn on him. In
either case, the people Of the valley
viii find out much that is Of interest
to them. A large number of them are
expected to appear in these cases as
witnesses.
]. N. Eshelman. district attorney of
Imperial county, and his partner,
Phillip Swing. are in Los Angeles
from El Centre to appear as associate
counsel for the defense. The other at
torneys who will oppose Mr.. Lawler
and United States District Attorney
A. l. Mccormack are u. A. Meserve,
Shirley Ward, Lecompte Davis, Jud r..
Rush and Oscar Trippet.