The Detroit times., 1910-01-27

WASHINGTON, Jan Ell. r.
CLAWS, former chief of the field di-
vision of the general land office, and
q bitter foe Of Secretary OF the Interior
Ballinger was the first witness before
the Joint senate and house committee
that is investigating the charges
brought against Ballinger and CHIEF
Forester Pinchot. CLAWS is Pinchot's
able ally in the fight that Is being
waged against Ballinger who is al
legged to be unfriendly and antagonistic
to the Roosevelt conservation policies.
CLAWS plunged at once into "A
description OF the coal land cases.
He said that during the spring OF 1907
while working as special agent for the
general land Office he was assigned to
the Wilson coal cases. located In the
western part OF Washington. Watson
Allen, one OF the claimants, the witt
ness said, consulted Ballinger, then an
attorney at Seattle. regarding his
claim. Ballinger. so CLAWS testified,
drew up an escrow agreement and
deeds for Allen. CLAWS also declared
that I'm the record of these cases now
before the federal courts in Washing
ton, the name of the attorney for Allen
was left blank, by stipulation. CUES
tioning by Chairman Nelson brought
out the fact that Ballinger. as attorney
for Allen. held the papers which he
had drawn for his client.
Four Men Were Dummies"
Explaining the Wilson cases. CLAWS
testified that four Of the parties con-
cerned had not proved their claims at
the time OF the alleged employment of
BallingeI as attorney for Allen. These
four men he said were practically
dummies"
Attorney Brandeis, CLAWS counsel,
then brought out the fact by Ques-
tioning the witness that the claims re-
ferred to were unlawful because the
agreements were executed before the
patents were issued.
CLAWS explained he had to start his
testimony with the Washington claims
in order to lead up to his evidence of
the Alaska coal claims. He told the
committee he was at present fruit
grower and until his dismissal on Sept.
10. 1909, had been In the general land
office since September, 1902.
When Watson Allen was examined
by II. M. Hoyt, government counsel,
he said Ballinger's name appeared as
the man who had drawn up papers in
the Wilson Coal Cos case
CLAWS said, in answer to questions
by Senator Nelson. that Allen did not
sign the stenographer's report OF that
statement but that the statement was
In the possession OF the United States
district attorney.
CLAWS then said that when six
months later, Aliens deposition was
filed in court. Ballingers name was
omitted by stipulation made By the
counsel for the government and the
claimants. Senator Sutherland want
ed to know how CLAWS knew that there
was a stipulation. CLAWS said that he
was told so by p. c. Richardson, who
Is a resident of Seattle. Sutherland
asked whether Richardson had told
the source of his information. CLAWS
said he had not.
Hoyt Was Government Counsel.
IF there was a stipulation. said
Brandeis. 1T was entered into by the
government counsel and the attorneys
for the claimants. The government
counsel. / believe was Henry NJ Hoyt
and p G. Sullivan
CLAWS confirmed that statement and
II seemed 90 promise a call upon Hoyt
and Sullivan regarding the alleged
stipulation 10 leave Ballinger's name
out Of Aliens deposition.
Then. taking mp the Alaska coal
claims CLAWS said there were two large
fields I'm southwestern Alaska on which
filings had been made on about 900
claims. The Cunningham group held
thirty-three claims covering about
$500 acres. CLAWS also mentioned
other groups holding from 2 TO SO
CLAIMS
Claws said that the Cunning
ham claims had first been brought
TO his attention by a reporter
on the Seattle Star, who re-
lated to him some Of the alleged
fraudulent methods OF the claimants.
CLAWS was az this time In Seattle -
see Henry NJ. Hoyt. then district al
torney there and subsequently solicit
tor-geuerai OF the United States
Claws at this point giving indications