The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-02-09
LIFE IS LUXURY
IN THIS PRISON
That Is, For millionaire Cattle.
men Of Nebraska.
CELLS ARE ORIENTAL DREAMS

Quartet Convicted of Defrauding Fed.
eraI Government of Public Lands
Permitted to Choose Jail at Hastings
Japanese Chef Prepares the Meals
Near BY and Conveys Them In Auto
Prisoners in the. Adams county Jail
at Hastings, Neb., but enjoying near
ly all the luxuries of well ap-
pointed clubhouse. is the position in
which the millionaire quartet of cat
tlemen-Bartley Richards, Charles
Jameson, Aquilla Triplett and w. q.
Comstock of Cherry and Sheridan
counties-find themselves
They are occupying four connecting
cells. the floors covered with costly
oriental rugs, sleeping in soft beds and
lOunging on costly divans and easy
chairs. Their cells are lighted by cleo
tricity, and when they read they take
their books from a carefully selected
library With the outer world they
have telephone connection. Carved
mahogany tables and bric-a-brac are
scattered about in endless profusion.
Meals Prepared Outside.
When the four millionaires sit down
to their meals it is not to the ordinary
Jail fare. but the best obtainable deli
cacies prepared by japanese chef
who has possession of Il large mansion
a few blocks away. Instead of the food
being carried by hand when cooked, it
is placed in an automobile and. steam
ing hot, is whisked away to the Jail
apartments, to be served upon china
dishes. spread upon a table covered
with snow white linen that is changed
daily.
Something like fifteen years ago
Richards. Jameson, Triplett and Com
stock went into the then unsettled por-
ton of the sand hill country of Ne
braska, selecting Cherry and Sheridan
counties as their field of operation.
They incIOsed millions of acres of gov
eminent land, which was soon stocked
with vast herds of cattle.
Ten years ago men seeking land
II md e many rich areas of fer
IT,, was all inclOSed with
in the fences of the four men who had
become millionaires. There were some
brave men among the settlers, and,
cutting through the wire fences. they
made their selections and filed claims.
Homes Are Burned.
Returning to the lands, the settlers
commenced the erection of their
homes In this they were interrupted
by the cowboys in the employ of the
cattlemen. The settlers were told in
unmistakable terms that they would
have to move. Some moved, but 9TH
ers remained. The homes of those
who remained We're destroyed. They
were torn down or burned.
The storm then commenced to gath |
err, and orders were sent out from
Washington that the fences must come |
down and that the land be open to IN
disturbed occupancy.
This order compelled the land grab |
bling quartet to play another card. |
The soldiers homes for Nebraska are |
located at Grand Island and Milford. |
Emissaries of the cattle kings told the |
that if they would go to Cher. |
ry and Sheridan counties and file, each |
on $40 acres of land. the cattlemen |
would pay all the expenses, would |
build their houses and that by remain |
ing there one night each six months |
at the end of fourteen months they |
could acquire title by paying S1.25 per
acre.
The cattlemen. they were told. would |
put up all of the money, and when
proof of residence was made each |
man would be paid a bonus, provided
at that time the land was decided to
the millionaires.
Government Takes a Hand.
Scores of veterans went into the
scheme, and many thousands of acres
Of land were apparently occupied.
actual settlers sought to
buy the land and were told the facts
in the case by the old soldiers. In
due time this information reached the
interior department at Washington.
The government investigated and
found the facts as had been reported.
Many of the old soldiers were brought
before the federal grand jury at
Omaha, where indictments were re-
turned against two for unlawfully
fencing government land.
Before the men were convicted two
federal officials at Omaha were re-
moved for favoritism Then all four
we're sentenced to one years impris-
for defrauding the government
and conspiring to acquire title to gov
eminent land. intimidating settlers
and presenting false papers to the land
office.
Then the convicted men petitioned
that they be sent to some other Jail
han the one in Douglas county, in
sisting that it was not suitable and