Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-31
LUXURY IN JAIL
Millionaire Cattlemen of Ne
braska Enjoy Their Pris-
or Sentence.
CELLS ORIENTAL DREAMS
Quartet Convicted of Defrauding the
Federal Government Are Given
Unusual Liberty.

PRISONERS In the Adams county jail
at Hastings, Neb., but enjoying near
( ~ all the Injuries of a well ap-
/ pointed clubhouse, is the position in
which the millionaire quartet of cat
/ tlemen-Bartley Richards. Charles
jameson, Aquilla Triplett and W. g.
| Comstock of Cherry and Sheridan
/ counties-frd themselves
/ They are occupying four connecting
cells. the floors covered with costly
oriental rugs, sleeping in soft beds and
! lounging On costly divans and easy
chairs Their cells are lighted by cleo
/ tricity, and when they read they take
their books from a carefully selected
/ library. With the outer world they
have telephone connection. Carved
mahogany tables and bric-a-brac are
scattered about in endless profusion.
! When the four miIlionIires sit down
10 their meals it is not 10 the ordinary
/ jail fare. but the best obtainable deli
cacies prepared by japanese chef
/ who has possession of a large mansion
! a few blocks away. Instead of the food
being carried by hand when cooked, it
! is placed in an automobile and, steam
/ ing hot. is whisked away to the jail
apartments, TO be served upon china
dishes. spread upon table covered
with snow white linen that is changed
daily.
/ Something like fifteen years ago
| Richards. Jameson. Triplett and Com
stock went into the then unsettled por-
/ ton of the sand hill country of Ne
braska, selecting Cherry and Sheridan
? nF ton
They inc3osed millions of acres of gov
eminent land, which was soon stocked
with vast herds OF cattle.
Ten years ago men seeking land
! trekked to Cherry and Sheridan coun-
ties and found many ri, areas of fer
tile land but it was all inclosed with
in the fences of the four men who had
become millicnaires. There were some
brave men among the settlers, and,
cutting through the wire fences. they
made their selections and fled claims.
HOMES ARE BURNED.
Returning to the lands. the settlers
commenced the erection of their
| homes. In this they were interrupted
by the cowboys in the employ of the
cattlemen. The settlers were told in
3
have to move. SINE moved, but 9th
ers remained The homes of those
who remained were destroyed They
were torn down or burned.
The storm then commenced to gath
er, and orders were sent out from
Washington that the fences must come
down and that the land be open to IN
disturbed occupancy
This order compelled the land grab
bing quartet to play another card.
The soldiers homes for Nebraska are
located at Grand Island and Milford
Emissaries of the cattle kings told the
veterans that If they would go to Cher
ry and Sheridan counties and file, each
on 64O acres of land, the cattlemen
would pay all the expenses, would
build their houses and that by remain
ing there one night each six months
ct the end of fourteen months they
could acquire title by paying $1.25 per
acre.
The cattlemen, they were told, would
put up all of the money, and when
proof Of residence was made each
man would be paid bonus, provided
at that time the land was decided to
Scores of veterans went into the
scheme, and many thousands of acres
Of land were apparently occupied.
Prospective actual settlers sought to
buy the land and were told the facts
In the case by the old soldiers. In
due time this information reached the
interior department at Washington.
The government investigated and
found the facts as had been reported.
Many Of the old soldiers were brought
before the federal grand jury at
Omaha. where indictments were re-
turned against two for Unlawfllly
fencing government land.
Before the men were convicted two
federal officials at Omaha were re-
moved for favoritism. Then all four
were sentenced to one years impris-
onment for defrauding the government
and conspiring to acquire title to gov
ernment land. intimldating settlers