The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-20
P|NCHOT PROBABLY
is ABOUT THROUGH
DepOsed Forester May Make
Statement Before PrOsecu-
ton Closes Case.
BALLINGER'S ATTORNEY
FINISHES WITH CLAWS
AttOrney-General for Porto
Rico Principal Witness EX-
amined Saturday.
BY Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.--The case for
the prosecution In the BallinEcr- Pinchot
inquiry practically has been closed When
the committee adjourned today until Fri
day, Mr.. Brandcis stated there was some
cOrroborativc evidence yet to be produced.
and that Clifford Pinchot probably would
want TO make statement before he could
announce his case was ended.
Mr.. Pinchot was to have taken the
stand this afternoon but he could not be
found during the luncheon recess,
The days proceedings hegan with the
unexpected announcement that the cross
examination OF Louis r. Claws was
ended. Henry M. Hoyt, attorney general
for Porto Rico, was called to the stand
TO corrohorate that portion of CLAWS s
testimony In which he told OF seeking the
advice of Mr. Hoyt In Washington in
MAY 1909, after First Assistant Secre-
tary of the Interior Pierce had rendered
an opinion which CLAWS thought would
permit the Cunningham claims in Alaska
TO go 10 patent,
Mr. Hoyt told OF how deeply worried
CLAWS seemed TO be at this time and said
that before going to Attorney General
Wickersham he and CLAWS had discussed
the advisabillty OF taking the matter up
also testified TO the good character OF
CLAWS, saying he had known him for a
number OF years. and he had told the
attorney general that CLAWS was an hon
orable, upright young man.
Wilson Coal Gases.
The only other Phase OF lne case 10
which Mr.. Hoyt directed his testimony
had 10 do with the Wilson coal land cases
ia which ne acted as special attorney for
the United States.
name OF r. A. Ballinger, an attorney ioI
some of the Wilson claimants, has been
left out OF the court record by stipulation
of counsel
suggestion and without the knowledge OF
Mr. Balliuger that the stipulation had
been entered into, AS q matter of fact,
however. Mr.. Ballingers name did appear
fifteen or twenty times in the testimony
given Mr.. Hoyt said Il search had been
made for the alleged escrow agreement
which Mr.. Ballinger is said by CLAWS TO
have drawn up. and which. according to
Claws, constituted a criminal act. but
that II could not be found. and the only
evidence as to its existence was an In
formal statement by one OF the wilt
nesses. who. at the trial, denied the ex-
istence OF such an agreement
Still More Documents.
The remainder Of the day was taken
I'm with the Introduction OF documentary
evidence, by Mr. Brandeis, who read such
extracts as he considered OF peculiar IN
terest 10 the committee. These consisted
largely OF references in the agents re-
ports to conversations or interviews with
Mr.. BaIlinger. as commissioner of the
land Office on the subject OF the Alaska
claims This was done, the attorney
said. 10 show that Mr.. Ballinger had been
actively Interested In these cases before
he left the land office and acted as at
torney for some OF the claimants.
He also read from statement by II.
II Schwartz chief OF the field service,
that il was at Mr. Balllnger,s direction
in January. 1908, that the Cunningham
claims were ordered to be clear-listed
for patent This was Withdrawn after
CLAWS had been notified and had pro-
tested.
Mr.. Brandeis accompanied the intro
duction of the documents with sort OF
sum,ninp up statement in which he said
II was claimed Mr. Ballinger had acted
on a favorable report by Special Agent
Love He then read letter from Love
10 Commissioner bennett OF the land Of
0ce in which Love denied that his re-
port of August .. 1907, favored the clear
listing OF the claims.
This report. he said. suggested the ad-
visibility of further investigation, al
though previously he had recommended
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