The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1909-10-29
SAYS He WAS BRIBED
HUGE sum TO ED. BARRILL TO
PASS lie TO DIR. COOK.
Story Of How He Acted When Nego-
tiating the Deal About Dr.. Cooks
Climbing Mount McKinley-AfRda-
Wits Secured From G. G. Bridgford
and Others.

davit contradicting the assertions of
Edward N. Barrin in his affidavit de-
claring that DR.. Cook did not reach the
summit of Mount Mckinley was Sc
cured by the attorneys representing DR..
f. A. Cook in this city from c. G..
Bridgford, until recently a partner with
Barrill in the real estate business in
Hamilton, Mont
Other afidavits ~contradicting state
ments made by Barrill and declaring
that the latter made contradictory
statements before he made his aft
davit were also secured by the artor-
neys, but have not yet been made pub
he. Bridgford will leave here Mon
day for New York, where he will ap-
pear as a witness in support of the
sworn statement he has made. His
affidavit r%ecites:
81 have known Edward N. Barrill
of Darby, Ravalli county, Mont, for
about 10 or ~ years. During that
time 1 have had business relations
with Mr.. Barrill. We have been in the
real estate business together. We
had offices in the city of Hamilton,
Mont, and our business relations con-
tinued until he went to Seattle, about
the last of September, 1909; during
the time 1 have known Mr.. Barrill we
have been intimate acquaintance,
having had more or less business
transactions and associations together.
During this time l have always found
Mr.. Barrill an upright citizen and a
man of integrity. Our relations at
this time are friendly, although we have
dissolved our partnership. We never
theless bear to one another the closest
+, relations of friendship.
Negotiations for Statement.
"The first time 1 heard Mr.. Barrill
say anything relating to DR.. Cook s
ascent of Mount Mckinley was in Sep
TENDER of this year. This was about
e the time of receiving the news of the
discovery of the north pole. He and
[ started out in an automobile up IN
e the south end of Hamilton. l stopped
y at the Ravalli hotel to see a gentle
man. When / came out he and Mr.
h Nichols were talking, This Mr.. Nichols
is from Chicago and is connected will
1t the Bitter Root Valley Irrigation com
g pany. They still talked while l wa
t. there and Mr.. Barrill said to MI
# Nichols: Il will see you this evening.
S. Mr.. Barrill told me that afternoon tina
Mr.. Nichols wanted him to come t
r his Office in Hamilton and make
,e statement to him regarding DR.. Cook
J. ascent of Mount Mckinley.
"Mr. Barrill said that he did not II
a tend to 90. He said that this mean
h money to him. The next evening h
met Mr.. Nichols at the Hamilton ba
If and Mr.. Nichols asked Mr.. Barrill VIII
he did not come to his Office the ever
h ing before. Mr.. Barrill said he didn
t. have time; that he was too busy; h
I'd could not go. Mr.. Barrill told me tha
IL Mr.. Nichols told him if he would CON
ne there and make a statement wit
a, reference to DR.. Cook reaching I'll
summit of Mount Mckinley he woul
~ give him a bond that he would get h
a money.
hS Means $4,000 to $4,000.
bo "Then the next communication 1 hi
as with Mr.. Barrill was the evening b
fore he started for Seattle. He h'
told me a time or two before aboI
~ getting a telegram from a man by Il
name of Miller. l think Mr.. Miller
a photographer in Seattle. l went
him that evening and told him we hi
y some men to take out to look at sor
land the next morning. He said to m
L can not 60; that party Miller trc
y Seattle is at Missoula and l am
% meet him there tonight. This mea
- from $4,000 to $4,000 to me-
'e s'That was the last 1 saw of n
,Barrill until he came back from Sci
u tie. which was on Thursday, Octot
III. 1909. He came up from Nilsson
~ and he went on up home to Oar
'pe that night. Mr.. Barrill came fr'
Seattle and before going to New Yo
left the impression with me that
D. was going as a friend Of DR.. Co.
AT Mr.. Barrill stated that he was there
Mount Mckinley when DR.. Cook mi
u the ascent of Mount Mckinley.
HI Barrill showed me pictures in a be
and said the pictures had been tai
MY on the trip up Mount Mckinley.
also showed me a picture Of the pl
where they were cutting the steps
Mount Mckinley. He then showed
where DR.. Cook froze his toes, shov
me the packhorses crossing the wa
and also showed me right where
NIT blaze Of ice was on the mountain.
irly "Now. from what Mr.. Barrill sta
'au Judged that DR.. Cook n he
ons reached the top Of Mount Mckinley
ny iudged as much from what other
told me as from what Mr.. Barrill
,o,o me. Mr.. Printz told me that when
,taI Cook and Mr.. Barrill returned +
the their trip and rejoined him that
oIdt riu said: Il introduce to you the
who went to the top of Mount
kinlev-Dr. Cook; congratulate