Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-04-29
CHURCH STATEMENT
INVOLVES OFFICIALS
State Land Board Scandal Grows With
Developments

BOISE, Idaho, April 2s.-Behind
closed doors the members of the
state land board are conducting an in
vestigation into the alleged Irregular
tiles of NJ. l. Church. late registrar Of
of the board. The board positively
refuses to make the investigation
public and its action is causing much
criticism and unfavorable comment.
The secrecy is said to be for the,
purpose of whitewashing the whole
affair and protecting those involved
in addition to Church. On account of
the secrecy maintained and the re-
fusal of all parties to talk there are
no new developments today and 1t is
thought an effort is being made to
hush the matter up
Land Board Investigates.
BOISE, Idaho, April 2S.-The state
land board began an investigation in
to the accusations preferred against
Register NJ. /. Church following the
tender of his resignation to Governor
Brady, which the chief executive has
stated was. in his opinion, presented
after the governor had confronted the
register with evidence of his being
interested financially in the success
full issue of the Lemhi Carey-act pro-
iect, matter before the board, all of
which he then and now undertakes
to justify as being without wrongful
intent and in no wise inharmonious
with his duties as an employee of the
land department
The investigation was held behind
closed doors, Mr. Church was cross
examined at length, F. A. Shaw, who
had the agreement with Church. was
to give him $4,000 of his commission
of $500 on the Lemhi project deal.
He said among other things that he
had told Church he CChurch) was
trying to hold him up. Shaw told
the board he came through" as
there was nothing else for him to do.
Church admitted his interest in the
Shaw contract and his connection
with the Pratt Irrigation company
and claimed he was acting within his
rights and attempted to justify his
conduct.
During the examination Governor
Brady referred to his statement filed
with the board. Church said in his
statement that the insinuations con-
veyed by Governor Brady in his inter
view of Tuesday were wholly "un-
justified" but he would not say the
governors account of their converse
ton was untrue. In this statement
Church denied having made a confess
sion to the governor, but on the stand
he admitted he had, at least, in eff
feet. He also denied that he had i'm
plicated members of the land board
in wrongful actions. but he admitted
on examination statements that he
had told the governor that the other
members Of the land board had profit
ed by knowledge acquired, and be
said he made special reference to
Lansdon.
Church's Statement.
The statement made ny Church was
as follows:
ITO the Honorable Board of State
Land Commissioners OF the State Of
Idaho, Boise, Idaho:
Gentlemen: In compliance with
your request that / submit to your
honorable body a written statement
In relation to the matters appearing
in the public press as coming from
the governor OF this state l submitted
the following:
''The following appeared in the
Evening Capitol News of the 25th IN
slant as coming from the governor Il
Idaho:
an. I. Church, register Of the
state land board. late Saturday eve
ming placed his resignation in the
hands of Governor Brady to forestall
the threatened demand by the chief
executive for his removal by the board
by whom he ID appointed. The imme-
date cause for this action was the
acceptance Of q contract By the regis-
ter By which he was to receive t2.Se0
In case q Carey act project pending