The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-13
LIVE IN GREAT
LUXURY IN PRISON
Four Millionaires Occupy Connecting
Suite of Cells Lavishly
Furnished.

ot well-appointed clubhouse, ID the
position in which the millionaire quar-
tet OF land barons and cattlemen
} BARLEY Richards. Charles jameson,
Aquilla Triplett and w. G. Comstock,
OF Cherry and Sheridan counties, Ne
braska, find themselves. They are
occupying four connecting cells, the
floors covered with costly Oriental
Jugs, sleeping in soft beds and loung-
ing on costly divans and easy chairs.
! Their cells are lighted by electricity
ara when they read they take their
books from carefully selected
library With the outer world they
have telephone connection. Carved
mahogany tables and bric-abrac are
scattered about in an endless pro-
fusion.
When the four millionaires sit
down TO their meals II is not to the
ordinary Jail fare, but the best OBJ
tainable delicacies prepared by Jap
anese chef who has possession of a
large mansion few blocks away. In
stead of the food being carried by
hand when cooked, 1t is placed in an
automobile, and steaming 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.
They Can Smell the viands.
Across the corridor, and but six
feet away, men who happen to be
down on their luck have committed
some minor offense. look on, watch
ing the millionaires dispose of their
tempting food, and'sniff the aroma Of
the imported cigars
Something like 10 years ago, Bart
. ley Richards, Charles Jameson
Aquilla Triplett and W. G. Comstock
went into the then unsettled portion
OF the sand hill country OF Nebraska
selecting Cherry and Sheridan coun-
ties as their field of operation. They
inclosed millions of acres of govern,
ment land. which was soon stocked
with vast herds OF cattle.
Ten years ago men seeking land
treked to Cherry and Sheridan coun-
ties and found many rich areas OF fer
tile land, but it was all Enclosed with
in the fences OF the four men who
had become mllionaires. There were
some brave men among the settlers
and cutting through the wire fences
they made their selections and flied
z claims.
Their Homes Are Burned.
Returning to the lands the settlers
\ commenced the erection of their
homes. In this they were interrupted
by the kings. The settlers were told
in unmlstakable terms that they
would have to move. Some moved,
but others remained. The homes OF
those who remained were destroyed.
They were torn down or burned.
The storm then commenced TO
Gather The control OF the range Of
Cherry and Sheridan counties became
a stencil in government circles and
orders were sent out from Washing
ton that the fences must come down
md that the land be open to undis-
turbed occupancy.
This order compelled the land
grabbing quartet to play another
card. The Soldiers Homes for Ne
braska are located at Grand Island
md Milford. Emissaries of the cattle
>ings told the veterans that IL they
would go TO Cherry and Sheridan
counties and file. each on $40 acres
of land, the cattlemen would pay all
the expenses, would build their
houses and that by remaining there
one night each six months. at the
end of fourteen months they could
acquire title by paying s1.25 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, pro-
vided at that time the land was deed
ed to the millionaires.
Scores of veterans fell for the
scheme and many thousands of acres
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 Washing
ton, = The government investigated
and found the facts as had been re-
ported. Many OF the old soldiers were
brought before the federal grand jury
/ at Omaha, where indictments were
returned against BARLEY Richards
and w. G.. Comstock, charging them
with unlawfully fencing government
land
This was in 1905, and after some
delay the two men pleaded guilty and
| by Judge Munfer given a sentence in
the custody OF T. r. Matthews, then
United States marshal for Nebraska,
The sentence having been recommend
cd by Irving F. Baxter, then United
States attorney for the same juris-
diction. Instead of the marshal com
hitting his prisoners 10 jail. he turned
them over to r. s. Hall. their attor-
ncy, who took them to the exclusive
Omaha club. where they spent the
night.
Theodore Roosevelt, then president,
heard Of the proceedings, and by tele-
graph removed Messrs. Matthews and
| Baxter from Office. \ few DAYS latcr
Charles A. Goss OF Omaha was named
rs United States attorney. for Ne
-braska. He was called 10 Washington
by President Roosevelt, where the Ne
braska land matters were discussed.
Before Goss left the White House ne
assured the president that he would
prosecute Richards, Jameson, Triplett
and Comstock as vigorously as was
possible.
Convicted and Sentenced.
The next federal grand jury returned
indictments against the four cattle
men. charging them with defraudlng
The government and conspiring to ac-
quire title 10 government land, intini-
idatinG settlers and presenting false