Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-01-22
IMPORTANT CLUB MEETING
The Judith Gap Commercial Club Discusses
Many Subjects Of Local Interest.

The Judith Gap Commercial Club Discusses
Many Subjects Of Local Interest.
The Judith Gap Commercial club
held meeting in Lawyer Bills office
Monday night. which was we'll at
tended by the members.
The first reading Of the bylaws
was had, and the second reading and
final passage will occur at the meet
ing next Monday night.
In response to letter from the club
to the railroad commissioners in re-
gard to compelling the two railroads
here to make track connection, the
following reply was received:
Helena l. 1900
Judith Gap Commercial Club.
Gentlemen
Referring to your letter Of the 18th inst. in re-
gard to establishing track connection between
the Billings 4 Northern Railway. and the {. NJ.
\ ST. r. Ry. at some point in Fergus County
where these lines intersect. We have had a good
deal Of correspondence this subject. and we
beg to quote from the Attorney Generals letter
of the 18th inst to this Commission following-
4 advise you that i'll my opinion the law auth
orizng the Railroad Commission Of the State Of
Montana. does not confer any authority under
which you could make the order requiring COM
panes to install this connection"
We will continue. however. to use our hest ef
forts to have the railway companies interested.
establish connection without process of law.
and the matter will he taken up with that end in
view. and trust to ,e able to advise YOU fovor-
ab, in the future
Yours very truly.
The Railroad Commission Of Montana
X. r. McI.aren. Secretary.
Several matters Of Importance were
fully discussed, which if brought
about will result in much good to the
city.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS INDICTED
Millionaire Stockman and Mining Operator
Charged With Conspiracy.
Benjamin u. Phillips, millionaire
mining operator and stockman, for
mer member of the Montana legisla-
ture, and one of the best known resi-
dents of northern Montana, was taken
into costody Wednesday afternoon to
answer to the federal indictment
charging him with entering into a con-
spiracy with other persons, names un-
known, to defraud the United States
of approximately 32 900 acres Of land
in Chouteau county. Mr.. Phillips
maintains Il Helena home where he is
living at present.
Bail was fixed in the sum of $500
by Judge Hunt, which was Immediate
lyfurnished and Mr.. Phillips released.
lie has retained Gunn \ Rasch to de-
fend him.
In the amount of land involved,
there have been few more important
indictments ever returned in the
United States. Several years ago an
indictment was brought against
Montana stockman charging him with
having illegally fenced thousands of
acres of land, but this Phillips indict-
ment looms up far bigger than the
fencing Indictment referred to, be-
cause in this case Phillips is charged
with having tried to defraud the gov
ernment of title.
The indictment charges Mr.. Phillips
with having entered into conspiracy
with 100 other persons to have them
make, file, swear and subscribe to
false and fictitious first declaratory
statements for the entry of desert
land tracts of 32O acres in the Glasgow.
Great Falls, Helena and Yellowstone
land districts.
The Indictment is a lengthy docu-
ment containing several counts.
FIRST NATIONAL