Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-05-02

I SAAt ANaHNs MAt - ne cur
tain dropped last night on the frsl
act OF the drama Of alleged graf
among state ofieials here. which re,
volyed about NJ, !. vhnroh. register
OF the land once. when the land
board accepted the resignation Of
Church with unanimous diaapproval
Of his conduct"
Governor James II. brady lost Ia
his fight to have the register re.
moved from once Ia Disgrace. but
there Is little In the victory for
Church. for he was not exonerated.
After stormy session.
The action OF the board. coming a.
Il does IN the face Of allegations that
Church held up the promoters or the
Lemhi Irrigation project for $4,000
for services rendered. and that he
asked Charles J. Perkins. promoter OF
the Dubois project, for $4,000 In
water rights. $4,000 In cash and en-
ployment as attorney for his company
az $4,000 per annum, was the result
OF a compromise. reached after q
deadlock and a stormy session that
waged through the morning and late
into the afternoon.
Through Il all Church was defiant,
declaring he had done no legal wrong
and branding his accusers as pre-
varleators.
Just before adjourning the land
board gave out the following state.
ment As the result Of its deilbera-
lions.
DisappFOves ChHrch's Actions.
After hearing all the evidence
offered In the investigation just closed
and the statement Of M Church
relative to his actions while occupy
ing the position OF register Of the
state land board, Il Is hereby ordered
that the resignation OF NJ. l. Church
be. and the same Is hereby accepted
and the board unanimously dls-
approves OF his actions as disclosed
by the investigation. /"
Suspect nrady Of Political play.
The deliberate move Of two mem
beers OF the board in not following the
OF Governor Brady
to discharge the accused ofEiclaI. was
due 70 the fact. M stated by a promi-
nent state ofIicer, that the same
identical evidence. aired at the hear
ing this week against Church. was
placed In the hands OF the chief
executive before the board IN open
meeting by Secretary OF State Lans-
don six months ago. but no attemp,
was made TO verify them.
These two members of the board
this action and refused. at
the hearing. to order church's dis
missal In disgrace.
One OF the most startling dis.
closures made al the hearing came
when Register Church admitted send |
Ing a telegram to the secretary Of
The interior requesting that the con.
Test on the water rights and reser-
Eoir sites on the Dubois project be-
held up indefinitely
The inference was that the register
wished 10 have an agreement reached
between the promoters whom c. l.
was representing. and the
Aason-Shearman people, who were
ilso attempting 10 secure the Begre-
yatiOn Of the land.
Church stated in explanation that
he sent the telegram at the suE-
yestion Of o. o. HaEa. one Of the
prominent attorneys Of this city, who
represented the MaHon-shearmau
,eople.
Church veFT DEFIANT.
Governor Brady pointedly told
;hurch he had no right to send thia
slegram, and Il was his duty to con.
ult the board In ali such matters.
'hureh replied he did not think this
vas necessary.
In bis nnal reply 10 the charges
gainst him Church declared:
III ] have been accused By anyone
4 giving the impression that must
'e paid IN order 70 get favorable
elton from the board. whoever has
made such statement. n II vas made.
! a liar. and demand that be pro-
nee the evidence substhntlating such