The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-17
SENSATION LIKELY
IN TIMBER CASES
Expected Confession of Part
ners in Big Alleged Frauds
May illuminate.
MEN IMPLICATED ARE
ASSISTING GOVERNMENT
Defense Claims That Purchase
From Entrymen Was ''Judic-
iOus Investment"
Special 70 The Trlhnne

BOISE. Ida, Feb. 16.-It was Tu.
moTed about the corridors of the federal
building this evening that sensational
evidence is expected in the kettcn-
bach -hester .Dwyer case. now on trial,
which will involve confessions by j. l..
Chapman Il. j. Steffey and Clarence
W. Robnett. prominent Lewiston citi-
zens implicated, but now assisting the
government This rumor was verified
after Peyton Gordon had made his
opening address TO the jury this after
noon.
Chapman was cashier Of the Lewis
ton National bank ct the time govern
600. He was charged with being re-
sponsible for $4,000 of the shortage
and will be placed ON the stand 10 tell
where this money went and If IL was
used IN the purchase of timber
Status Of Steffey.
Steffey is a locator and was purchas-
Ing agent for Ketteubach. 1t was
through his evidence that indictments
were returned last fall The story he
will probably tell will relate that he
executed note for $4,000. borrowed
this and used this amount TO purchase
two timber claims. Later Kettenbach
redeemed the note out of bank funds
and beld the paper over StcfTcy's pro-
test, using IT as bank collateral. Stef-
fey purchased the claims through prior
agreement with Kettenbach. kcster and
Dwyer, Robnctt was indicted, tried and
convicted on the charge of subordina
tion Of perjury and on the charge of
conspiracy with the other defendants.
The charge Of perjury was annullcd on
appeal through decision III Tie Sena-
tor Mitchell land fraud case Of Oregon.
Robnett was also indicted in the Lewis
ton bank cases and confessed 10 being
responsible for 500. 900 Of the shortage
and approved of il. He claims the de
PENDANTS knew of the shortage and APP
proved of it. In his confession, he will
tell of the use made Of some of this
money III the purchase of timber. These
are The three star witnesses on which
the government banks its case.
Routine Proceedings.
Todsv's proceedings IN the trial con-
stiiutcd the reading Of fine i've rolum
nous indictments aud the opening ad
dresses of counsel 10 the jury Pcvton
Gordon, for the government. stated be
would attempt to prove that the tim
Der conspiracy was formed in 1901.
hester and Ecttenbach were the Gnan-
cisl hackers and Dwyer did the local
ing. The latter secured the ertrymeu,
paid their expenses IN making entry,
securing necessary papers, etc. Tho
land office was over the bank and en-
trvmen were lined up by kestcr, fur
nished with the necessary cash and
dummied' through the legal process
of securing the land. which, through 4
prior agreement. they signed over 10
the defendants, thus securing Il vast
tract " valuable timber. Entrance WAS
gained 20 the land office from the bank
by the cnirNmen. who left later through
The back door so cover up suspicion.
4 h. i
ciarcd that the jury would be shown
tho defendants purchased the timber
in legal manner, paving 81 per acre
for it. lie said the law permitted 10
eating lands and the sale of it by
cutrvmen. that the defendants had
simply made iudicious investment in
buying their entries He denied the
ALLEGATIONS of the government