Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-25

and others to prevent his being retained
IN the cabinet. and that was the reason
he was not retained by President Taft.
They wanted some one in the cabinet who
understood the needs of Alaska
Jones said he and CLAWS felt that r
Mckenzie and the other claimants in
cabinet officer that they themselves
would be removed If their reports didn't
suit
Sheridan Sharply Criticised.
The witness next sharply criticised II,
conduct OF Special Agent James NJ
Sheridan, who was sent by the land Office
to supplant CLAWS as the man to conduct
hearings on the Alaska cases before the
commissioner appointed to take testi-
mony. Jones declared that he attempted
to assist Sheridan, but he wouldn't listen
to anything.
He just went i'll and at the beginning OF
the hearing threw the Cunningham lour-
nal and all our affidavits on the table ami
said that was prma facie case. The
other side Immediately asked for re
cess, du. ing which they examined all our
evidence, every bit of our case, and then
when we resumed the hearing the Wit
nesses all denied that they meant what
they said in the affidavits. Sheridan's con-
duct was such as to give the other sid"
the advantage of knowing in advance al
the evidence we had.
experienced lawyer. as the land officr
claimed. Jones said Sheridan was grad
uated only year o. two ago from law
school in Washington.
Too Big for Sheridan.
Jones gave some incidents of the hear
ings which he claims indicated that Sheri-
dan was not competent to handle such
big case, especial when he was opposed
by two of the leading attorneys of Seat
tie. Sheridan at the time was receiving
a salary of 81 200 or 81, 500 year. Jones
said the affidavits were intended for use
in cross-examining witnesses. Sheridan'S
conduct OF the case nuliifed the AMI
davits.
Senator Fletcher: do YOU mean TO say
to this committee that there has been II"
serious prosecution of these cases up 10
this time?'
1T was serious Ia the extent of I'll"
ability of the prosecutor. l don't mean
to say there WAS any purpose or inten
to smooth the cases over.
did you indicate your objections {"
the manner in which the cases were be
ing conducted to the department."
NO replied the witness. and thcn
added amid laughter: They might have
thought l was insubordinate.
Jones said it would have been absurd
for claimant to say that he had not in
would not have been possible for any one
to work single claim Of loo acres.
Representative Denby-Then whr
should any one take up these claims T.
they can't work them themselves and u
is unlawful to have an intent 10 combine
with others?
That's what I've been trying to lind
out" replied the witness.
Sheridan's Alleged Incompetency.
Returning to Sheridan, Jones said he
suggested many questions to Sheridan on
t,,.s no
wouldn't ask them. saying: You Sd
On the stand at the finish and rebut all
you want to-
Attorney Brandeis said he had received
from the forestry bureau copy Of the
record Of the Cunningham hearings. and
he desired TO introduce ii In evidence to
show the incompetency of Mr.. Sheridan
to conduct so important a case.
The attorney wanted printed only
such excerpts as he should indicate 70
show this .'incompetency"
Senator Root declared that whers
there was a general charge of this
character the whole record ought TO be
printed.
1T is not so much a charge againSt
Mr. Sheridan as It is serious rene,
Mr.. Brandeis. for having selected :,
man Of SO little experience TO try suci
a case. 1t was not Mr.. Sheridan
fault"
serious charge, against Mr.. Sheridan.
and the whole record OF his conduct Of
the cases should go in" said Senator
Root.
1t was so ordered by the COMMITTEE
DO you mean TO charge that Sheridan
was incompetent or corrupt? demanded
Senator Nelson of the witness.
Il think he was unwise in his condurf
OF the case. ] think he is bright aud
competent. l don't believe he Was cor
rupt.'
The witness detailed more about Sheri-
dams conduct of the case. Once. AMID
laughter, he said that when Sheridan WAS
cautioned against leading witness, ne
replied: Il wasn't lead ng him; WAS
only trying to indicate to him what his
answer was expected to be-
At the close of his reference to Sheridan
the witness naively added: But | don't
mean to criticise." He said he was a
lawyer himself, and that lawyers often
differ about the conduct of case.
IF Sheridan hadn't been sent out there
TO present this testimony, Mr.. CLAWS
wou have presented II, Wouldn NJ.
asked Representative Omsted-
Yes, sir
And do you think he has had more cN-
pelfance as a lawyer than Sheridan:
mfr CLAWS is not lawyer, but ne
knows more law than Serbian
The witness said he considered II a re
Election on CLAWS for the department I"
send Sheridan out to take charge OF 1
case CLAWS had worked up
Indifferent as to Inferences.
When Attorney Tertrees undertook the
cross-eXamination of the witness, ther"
soon came a clash with Attorney Bran-
dels. Mr. Vertrees asked Jones il H.
wanted an unfavorabie inference draw
from his testimony as TO the testinonN
being taken before a commissioner rath'l
than before the register and receiver 81