The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-13
CASE Of FROST IN
HANDS OF THE JURY
Judge Lands Delivers Charge,
Making Clear Nature of
Crime of Conspiracy,

CHICAGO, April 1.-THE case of
with conspiracy TO defraud the United
States government of Alaska coal
lands went to the federal jury tonight,
after more than month of hearing
testimony and arguments. Judge Ken
esaw NJ. Lands gave an hour and q
half to his charge to the jury, devot-
ing his instructions chiefly to making
clear the nature Of the crime of con-
spiracy.
Frost and his associates are accused
of inducing more than sixty persons
to locate coal lands in the Matanuska
valley IN Alaska, with the idea that
the entire group would come under
their control. At the time of the al
legged conspiracy the defendants were
promoting the construction of the AL
aska Central railroad
"Congress has made the law that
only one coal claim may be taken out
by one person. Judge Landis said.
'Tbis is TO give the benefits of the
coal to as many persons as possible.
If there is evidence to show that the
D6uCllt VI lOES ludH Ouc Cldlul was
expected to go to one person, that is
evidence of guilt.
"If you believe that only one or two
Of these locations were made in bad
faith, that is evidence Of guilt. 1t is
not necessary for conspirators to meet
or to put their intentions in writing
Direct proof Of the conspiracy is not
necessary. All conspirators are respon.
sible for the acts Of each in further"
anoe Of conspiracy.
HThe government is not real estate
dealer. The intention to give every
one a chance at the public lands Is
plain.''
The government arguments were
closed by Special Attorney General B,
D. Townsend. He attacked the defense
by charging that an attempt had been
mado to ovade the law by subtle
means.
"The science of land grabbing has
tsTshss ss high b sad stat0 q saHs o on
hoped to prove the conspiracy by direct
testimony, The more cunning and
subtle the disguise Of the agreement
the more certain we may be of the
evasion of the law
Judge Lands announced that If a
verdict were not reached tonight. he
would come to court for report Of
progress tomorrow morning.
Frost and the other defendants were
indicted by a federal grand jury on
March 10. 1911. The defendants are:
A, C. Frost, former president Of the
Alaska Central railroad and OF the
Chicago & Milwaukee Electric railroad.
George NJ Seward of Chicago, former
vice president OF both roads,
Pierre G. Beach of Chicago, former
secretary of both roads.
George c, Ball, glass manufacturer
of Muncie, Ind, financial hacker of
tho locators, who furnished the funds
to perfect the titles.
Frank Watson of Spokane, Wash,
most of the sixty-four coal claims. Four
others also were indicted. Duncan Nj.
Stewart Of Seward. Alaska. was not
tried because of the statute Of limita-
tions. Francis II. Stewart. Gwyn L.
Francis and Henry C. Osborne, bank
ers of Toronto, Canada, were not
brought TO trial, because the offense
charged In the indictments is not COW
cred by the Canadian extradition
treaty.
In his defense Frost contended that
he was actuated by the highest motives,
aud sought not wealth but to be known
as a pioneer of Alaska, and to open
to civilization the wealth OF ITS interior
through the Alaska Central railway, He
declared that the coal lands were
consideration with him, and
that he only desired to keep them out
OF tho hands of enemies of the road.
The other defendants, through their
counsel. asserted that they were limo,
cent Of intent to conspiro.