The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-04-13
IDAHO MEN TOFACE
FEDERAL JURY
D. w. Standrod, A. B Moss, B Per-
rne and Paul A. S. BickeI Are Ac-
cused of Fraudulent Use Of Mails.

The Indictment in Spokane Satur
day night by federal grand jury of
d. w. Standrod, president of the
First National bank Of Pocatello; A.
B. Moss, banker, Payette; l, B. Fer
rine and Paul S. A. Bickel, irrigation
project promoters of Twin Falls, al
Though not entirely malooked for,
created a sensation among their
friends and in business and political
circles i'm Boise. The fact the Capt.
tai News had given publicity to the
probe and the possibility of tndict-
ments, several days before they were
returned, prepared the friends of these
prominent men for the shock The
sixth man indicted is JGmes A. Muir
ray of Butte, Mont, a multi-million
ter Works. They are all charged
with using the United States mails
~ fraud in the promotion Of the sale
Of. tnk of the American Hardwood
compasIv in connection with the sale
of eucaA; 'ptus tree lands located in
Kern coM'ty, southern California.
Regard1A 5 of whether or not the
charges CON lined in the three counts
of the indie ment returned against
these prominA ASt southern Idaho men
are true, thei4- frieads here declare
they are highly indignant over the
taking of their case from the federal
district of idaho and transferring it
to that of eastern Washington They
assert that in all fairness to the de
PENDANTS they were entitled to a hear.
ing before a grand jury i'm the south
erm Idaho district either at Boise or
Pocatello Unless a change of venue
cam be secured i'm the event the mem
Indicted are forced to stand trial,
they will 0hNe to go to Spokane to
face the charges and defend them
selves, leaving their home state to
do So
The changes are reliably reported
i'm federal circles here to be of a very
serious nature. They are said to
show that the American Hardwood
company was organized with d. W..
Standrod as president and the other
men indicted as directors. Don Dav-
enport, a we'll known local promoter,
Was selected as marager. Both
Messrs. Bickel and Perrine are said
to have disposed of their interests
in the company shortly after it was
organized. The company incorporated
to purchase h tract of land in south
ern California suitable for the rapid
growth of eucalyptus trees noted for
their hard fiber and valuable on the
market Highly colored literature
was circulated freely through the
northwest and principally In southern
Idaho among investors, representing
that the tract of land would be plant
ed to the trees and if they purchased
tracts they would reap a large re-
ward The prominence of the mem
to have had great deal to do with
influencing investors. 1t was after
this they discovered that the land
was not planted to the trees as had
been represented. I'M view of the
fact the literature inducing many to
buy had been sent Through the mails,
investors complained to the federal
officials, who worked on the case to
secure the necessary evidence to pre-
sent Ito the grand jury.
1t is alle2ed i'm the indictments THAI
Promoter Davenport and the directors
and officers of the company gave
their personal notes for the stock is
sued by the company. These notes
were given to the First National
bank Of Pucatclro as security ON a
$4,000 loan with which to purchase
and improve the eucalyptus tree
lands. After part of the land was solo
and money raised to redeem the loan
the notes were taken up and returned
to the directors ard officers, the in
ference being that they did not pay
actual cash fer their stock but in
stead the investors did SO when they
purchased tine lands.
The government subpcenaed mine
witnesses from southern Idaho to ap
pear before the federal grand jury al
Spokane last week. They were S. B
Anderson, Mackay; E. H. Dewey .Mm
pa; w. C. Cassin, Soldier; Franz
Anthony, Mackay; l. E. Thurber
Manard; William C. Short, Payette
Charles Riddefcrd, Spokane; Waite
Service, Pocatello, and H. E. Wesley
Pocatel1o
e. H. Dewey is said to have beel
offered am Office in the company bu
upon learning the character OF the el
terprise decMned to accept Don DaN