Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-29
GUIDE BARR|[L PAID
Got $500, Maybe; Not as
Bribe, But for Expenses.
J. M. ASHTON'S Statement
Tacoma Lawyer Employed by Hub
bard ito Get at Facts"
AFFIDAvITs WERE PROCURED
Defends Character of Man Who Says
Cook Did Not Climb to Top
Of Mt. Mckinley.

paid BafrllI, Ut. COOK Mount NC
kinley guide, between 500 and $500 for
the deposition in which he stated that the
explorer did not reach the summit OF
Mount Mckinley by fourteen miles,
This statement is made by Gen. James
NJ Ashton Of Tacoma, Wash, and now
in this city for few days. He is the
man who rounded up the guides and
others employed by DR.. Frederick A. Cook
in his ascent of Mount Mckinley, over
which a controversy has arisen second
only in Importance to the discussion as to
who really discovered the north pole.
The money paid to Barrll. whether it
be 800 or 500, is marked time and ex-
penses" on the expense account in the
Office, according to Gen. Ashton. who
says his Office records show the exact
amount, although he cannot remember
the figures.
Hubbard Asked Him to Learn Facts.
Cen Ashton. who bears the military
title on account Of his long service in
the Montana National Guard, Is a Ia
coma lawyer. He received a telegram
from Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard some
time ago asking that he find the guides.
examine them thoroughly and ascertain
the exact truth of the Mount Mckinley
matter.
In answering the questions of a Star
reporter, he said today:
II have known Gen. Hubbard for q
long time and have had business dealings
assumed that / was to take no sides
in the matter, that / was to conduct the
examination exactly as a judge on the
bench would conduct trial. The fac,
that he wanted the truth and plainly ex-
pressed this desire showed me that wa;
not to be partisan.
IT did not know at the time that Gen
Hubbard was interested in arctic explora
ton or was connected with any associa
ton interested in 1t. l may have though
scientific body here In the east 1t wa.
not for two weeks that I learned of nj.
connection with the Peary Arctic Club.
Cook Aids Assembled.
1.-The first thing I did was to send out
a man from my Office whom I employ oc
casionally to get evidence and to fine
people. The guides live many miles apart
for instance, Barrill lives 700 miles from
my home.
my man found the photographer Of the
expedition and he helped bring the mer
in. / promised them expenses and pei
diem sum for their time.
"When they were in my law Office
put thenp through a course Of sprouts as
rigorous as any cross-examlnatlon l have
ever witnessed. You can say / put them
through the third degree, for that Is
what did.
81 wanted the exact truth. The am
davits that have been published are the
results of those rigorous hours in my
private office.
LAS for Barrill, the guide who swears
that Cook did not get within fourteen
miles of the summit of Mt Mckinley. he
may be nothing but mountain guide,
but he is type OF our hardworkinr
western men who will fight rather than
lie.
What Barrill Offers to Do.
He was born in Buffalo, N. Y. has
raised family of five children and
both he and his wife are frugal and
respectable residents of Montana.
HE says that any one can go up on the
mountain with him, take photographs OF
him, as Cook did, in the spots that Bar.
rill will indicate and get the self-same
results that Cook got. claiming different
localities for them. however.
"Printz was the only other man from
my own state. and did not go up the
mountain any great distance But his
testimony, as far as 1t goes. corrooorates
II understand from some of the papers
today that Barrin was not allowed to
make a reply to Cook at the meeting at
Hamilton. Mont. l do not think 1t fair.
"Barrill does not fear Cook, but does
not care to have any legal trouble with
him. For that reason he has retained me
as counsel in case Cook files suit against
him.
Denies Bribing Guides.
That was about all Gen. Ashton would
say on the matter. He vigorously denied
bribing the guides, or tempting them in
any way with sums of money, and was
frank In his statements on that point.
When asked whether or not he had any
further dispositions to make public, he
would say neither yes nor no.
Gen. Ashton Is in Washington on busi-
ness connected with a suit In the Supreme
Court Of the United States.