The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-01-27
DISMISSED SPECIAL AGENT
FIRST TO TESTIFY
CLAWS Counsel in Opening
Statement Furnishes List
Of Specific Charges
lBy Associated press.l

gan its public session Yesterday az.
ternonn with Louis II CLAWS. The
cnief accuser OF Secretary Balling.
er, on the witness stand Due 10 many
Interruptions and the final decision
OF The committee TO insist that CLAY
is counsel should make an opening
statement OF what specific charges
were made against Mr Balllnger the
Witness did not get very far along
in his narrative There was oppoftuni-
~, howeyes. to draw some conclusions
as TO the preliminary line mp of the
committee.
In his enthusiasm over the actual
beginning Of the inquiry ana as the
result Of tendency 10 argue his
views Of The testimony to be addnced
tAe special counsel for CLAWS, Louis
D. llrandes OF Boston had some dif'
ficnliy IN reducing his statement to o
brief recital OF the charges, but fin
ally he summed up the ease for the
prosecution" in this way.
5alIinger Charges
That prior to entering the govern
ment service in any capacity, r. a..
3allinger acted as attorney in draw
| ing up an agreement and deeds IN
the Wilson Coal company eases In
Lewis county, Washngton these cas-.
es being In alleged fraud upon ihe
land laws. Mr.. Ballinger's name did
not appear IN the coult records Of
! the case.
That Mr. Ballinger as commissions
er OF the land office in 1907, did not
show due diligence in investigating
lFhe alleged frauds connected with
! the Cunningham coal lands claims
in Alaska; that he had knowledge Of
all the circumstances surrounding
these claims. and In spite Of this en-
tered the employ Of one of the claim
ants after leaving the land office and
4 before becoming secretary OF The III
terror. And he ordered these claims
TO be "clcar listed" for patent with.
ont due investigation and that they
would have gone to patent II Claws
and others had moi INTERVIEWED.
Duty OF Committee
1T Is not any one act. but a series
4 of acts and circumstances declared
/ Mr. Brandles. adding II was for the
committee TO determine whether OF
not the lands which should be held for
the benefit Of the people and of pos.
terity are IN safe hands.
lie said CLAWS attention first was
called to the fraudulent coal land
claims when he was in Seattle as
chef of field division, in 1907 Bal.
linger at that time was commission.
er OF the land office. CLAWS heard
that n number of prominent people In
Seattle were interested in the fraud
lent claims In Alaska He met Spe
elal Agent Jones. Of the land office
who was on his way 10 Alaska 10 IN
vesiigate the Alaska claims.
Orders Modified
When Jones after a preliminary in
yestlgation returned TO Seattle IN
August, 1907. he was directed AT one,
!. to Commissioners Ballingeg, who was
in Seattle al The time.
we claim. said Mr.. Brandles
THAT Commissioner Ballinger therenp
, on modified The orders which hat
been given TO Jones by Assistant Con
missioner bennett TO make a full anc
, thorough investigation 10 making ONLY
! part investigation, taking only on'
| or two affdayils III each group in
stead of fnlly covering the matter
/ Mr. Brandeis said recommendation
> by CLAWS and Jones In the Alaska
/ case were not acted on by Commits
: sioner Balinges CLAWS sought al
affidavit from a man named Davis
/ Davis said he had talked the matte
! over with Ballinger and had been tol'
not 10 make any statement to wal
until charges had been filed by tn
< government
/ Sew Danner OF Scandal
\ After this CLAWS came to Washing
r ION and atgueJ with the land offc
s as 10 he danger Of scandal in tn
Alaska cases. lie then was directe
K 10 proceed with a fall investigation
y "ln January. 1903" Brandeis col
( tinucd. "filayis heard that Bailinge
1 rad ordered the Cunningham claim
10 clear listing foT patent. lie a
! once tclcgraphed asking that this ~
= llon be suspended and came on |
Il Washington. He sad he had jasi OF
ialned possession OF The Cunningham
II journal. which bore conclusive cy
Ii dence of friend.
4 lie met ex-GoYernur Moore ~
b Clarence Cunningham here and va
l. told by Moo-e that but for his lGla
n Isl action. tire hnd would have gon
d to patent
o Got inrlde information
o CLAWS also discovered that co
(. trary 10 all practices, Cunningham an
other claimants had received info
mat'o OH as TO what tho field agents
" tie department were doing
" sen'tor Sutherland Of Utah Int
m rupted
Ie4 a. ~ ei.-.m tla. i.alliss1