The Dickinson press., 1909-01-23
Lytle Explains

The following letter has been sent to
the PRESS by J. o. Lyle Of Bowman.
with the request that it be printed and
we gladly give it space. 1t is Mi.
Lytle's side of the land contest story
as printed in this paper last week and
explains what the $3.50 was for and how
much of it went to him. Mr.. Lytle
Dies not seek to discredit the story given
by the PRESS as the readers will notice.
The facts given were taken, from the
land Office record. 1t is Mr.. Steele's
affidavit which MI. Lyle declares Is
false.
Bowman. N. D.. January Is. 1909.
Editor Dickinson PRESS.
Dickinson. N. D.
Dear Sir r:-ln your last weeks issue
under head of Unusual Contest you
printed an article which reflects on. the
writer. While averse to rushing into
print. l am Obliged to reply to the
article in justice to myself. Last August
r E. Roush and Jas. N. Steele came
into my Office in Bowman and told me
they had ARRANGED a deal between
themselves as follows: Roush was to
sell to Steele one certain relinquishment,
locate him on another claim adjoining
that was contestable, and also told him
that there was another claim in the same
section that was open for filing, and
Steele agreed to pay R0ush $3.50. 90, and
the money to be paid within IS days.
Steele employed the writer to attend to
the contest for which he was to receive
$50. 90. As Roush was going away for
a time, he empowered the writer to
settle with Mr.. Steele for him and gave
the writer letter of instructions under
which to settle. Hearing for the con-
test was set for November 10, 1908.
Time passed along and Mr.. Steele did
not settle and few days before the
hearing the writer went to Marmarth to
see Mr.. Steele and met him there. At
a conference at Woods hotel with Mr.
Steele Frank Woods was introduced into
the deal and said he was a former
partner in the land business with Mr.
Roush and if Steele paid the $3.50 he
wanted one half of it. Under the
writer 8 instructions from Mr.. Roush be
was not authorized to pay out any
money for alleged claims and so informed
Mr.. Woods Steele then said that he
would drop the contest as the land was
going to cost him too much, and said
he would not 60 any further with it. that
he would pay the attorney fee and drop
it. Thinking MI. Steele honest in his
statement, the writer withdrew the con-
test and placed another thereon for a
gentleman who was looking for claim.
On the 10Th day of November 1908, Mr..
Steele accompanied by his witnesses,
appeared at Dickinson to prosecute the
contest, which he few days previous had
said he would drop. and which he ad-
mitted to Mr.. Nichols of Quinlivan &
Co., that he had told the writer to drop.
He found the contest withdrawn and
made an application to reinstate, alleg-
ing in his affidavit that the writer had
attempted to make him pay $3.50 for
prosecuting contest that deeming the
charge extortionate he refused and that
the case had been Withdrawn without
his authority. This affidavit was co1ro-
borated by Frank Woods of Marmarth.
Steele's contest was reinstated and the
balance is matter of record at the
Dickinson land Office. In closing l wish
to say that I had no interest in the
$780, The only interest I had in the
case was my attorney fee of $50 which
Mr.. Steele still owes me. Furthermore,
the affidavit made to secure reinstate-
ment was q deliberate falsehood which
Mr.. Steele and his corroborating wit
ness we'll knew. l also venture to say
that Mr. Steele was not present at the
hearing on January 14th. and that in
the future his name will never appear
as the entryman for the land in ques-
ton.
Yours respectfully.
T