Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-12-16
GRAND JURY WILL
INVESTIGATE CONDITIONS
Surrounding Many Of the Deals in Govern
ment Lands Made By John
H. Garrett

BOISE, Dec. 15.-The Great
western Beet Sugar company of
Mountain Home, its officers and en-
trymen who secured government
land under the desert act in the pro-
.ject by that name, will be investi-
gated by the grand jury which con-
vened in the United States circuit
court in this city today with a view
of probing into the affairs of that
defunct company, now in the hands
of a receiver, and the method used
by John H. Garrettfi former man
ager, and other officers of the COM
pany, to determine whether or not
perjury, subornation of perjury or
conspiracy was used to defraud the
government out of a large amount
of land which the Great Western
sugar Beet company contracted to
irrigate for the settlers. The jury
was impaneled, given an intimation
bv United States District Attorney
C. H. Lingenfelter of what matter it
would probably consider, instructed
by Judge Frank S. Dietrich and turn
ed over to the baliff at 1910 o'clock
this afternoon to make its plans and
prepare for a session which the court
announced would probably last dur
ing the remainder of the week. H.
A. Partridge of Nampa was designat-
ed as foreman by the court and in
structed.
Probe a Surprise.
The announcement on the part of
District Attorney Lingenfelter that
the investigation by the jury. which
promises to occupy large share of
its time, would involve probe into
the actions of the Great Western
sugar Beet. company and its officers,
of Mountain Home. came as a COM
plete surprise to those in the court
room at 10 o'clock this morning,
soon after court convened, and to
many who have followed the trend OF
.sueculations with reference to what
matter the jury would have called
TO it's attention. While it was known
that the jury would investigate al
legged illegal land transactions on the
part of entrymen and possibly COM
panies. it was not generally known
that the fire of the jury would be
concentrated upon the defunct
Mountain Home irrigation company.
Through the entire proceedings Is
seen. the directing hand of c. H.
Harrison, chief of the field division
under the department of the inter-
Tor in this state, who, assisted by
force of special agents, has been
collecting evidence against the COM
pany and its officers, which he
placed in the hands of the district
attorney, and secured immediate ac-
tion.
Garrett in Chicago.
John H. Garrett, who for some
time virtually constituted the Great
western Beet Sugar Co.. as man
.ager and president, from which
office he was later removed, is a.
present in Chicago. where it is claim
ed he is engage in real estate bust
ness. When it was discovered thu
company could not weather the fin
ancial conditions which stared it il
the face, Garrett is said to have
quietly deserted the company, lef
the settlers without water or irri
Qation purposes, to whom it is al
legged he sold over again and again
the same water rights, and myster
iously disappeared. He was late
heard of at st. Louis, where he en-
Gagged in the circus business as
ring master with Rice Brothers con
solidated show. This venture ais
proved a financial failure. H
is then reported to have gone t
Chicago to engage in the realty bus
ness. In all probability he will b
subpoenaed by the grand jury an
summoned to appear before tina
tribunal
Affairs of Company.
Since Garretts departure the a
fairs OF the Great Western Bee
sugar company have been in ba
condition and the other officers b
ing unable to bolster the concer
up. allowed it to enter litigation.