The daily sentinel., 1914-01-29
HOUSTON CLAIMS He
WAS HELD PRISONER
FOR HUNDRED DAYS
Tells Lodge Brothers of Escape
From SanitaTiuIn After Tor
iure and Robbery.

Narrating a thrilling and most
sensational story and exhibiting a
series of remarkable affidavits and
signed statements, kilograms, ETC.,
George W. Huston. claiming to have
been a special agent in the employ of
the federal government. attracted
considerable attention here yesterday
and last night.
Huston, who is apparently about
80 years of age, we'll educated and of
soodly countenance, but shabbily
dressed, claims that he only recently
escaped from private sanitarium To-
Gated near Oakland. Calf, where, he
alleges, he was confined for over
100 days. and put through all man
ner of terrific tortures in order to
force him to deliver up certain pa
pers and to make certain disclosures
by people who were afraid of arrest
at the hands of the federal govern
ment, should Huston be able to give
the evidence he had secured or to
make delivery of papers he had in
his possession. Huston claims that
while on special mission to the
coast tracking certain parties and
compiling certain evidence to be de-
livered to the government and which
would result in the capture of a
gang of crooks the government had
| long been seeking, he was trailed and
bounded by these men and their con
| federates, finally taken as prisoner,
carried to this ssanitarfuHi, cut off
from all outside communication, rob-
bed of his papers, tortured. danger
ously injured and finally after sew
eral months permitted to make his
escape, weakened in soul and body,
with all his credentials and papers
gone.
Here Last Night.
He reached Grand Junction night
before last. He claimed to be a
member of four or five leading fra
ternal orders and enc railway organ
ization, and he convinced many that
he was or had been embers of
these orders.
Huston had series of affidavits,
made by himself and others before
U. S. commissioners and notaries
public in California, Nevada, Utah,
Kentucky and other states, setting
forth his Identification and in the af-
| fidavits made in the western states
the details of the alleged tortures he
underwent are given. These affidav-
it's all bore signatures and seals of
the various officials before whom he
appeared
| Huston had a copy of telegram
he had sent to Governor Johnson of
California on his release from the
sanitarium, acquainting the govern
or of the sufferings he had under
gone.
Huston claims that he is now en-
route TO Denver, where he can get in
touch with certain officials to whom
he can and will give valuable infor-
nation and who can and will assist
in getting him in connection with
Washington. He visited Grand juno
tion postoffice yesterday, notified the
postmaster of certain letters that had
been stolen from him in California
told to whom they were addressed,
and asked that they be held up il
they passed through this office.
Huston claims that he Is a native
! lucky, and easily established this
fact and proved his acquaintance
with many people in that section.
Claims He Was Tortured.
Huston claims that owing to the
fact that he was bereft of all his
credentials, his good clothing, his i'm
portant papers, his funds, ETC., while
held a prisoner in California he has
not been able to re-establish his con-
nection with the government. He
contends that the men who held him
and tortured him are men whom he
has been trailing for a long period
and whose identity he will not dis
close to the public as it would pre-
vent their capture. Judging from
Huston's story these men must be
some gang, probably of Kentucky
rnoonshiners with whom Huston has
been acquainted for long period
and who, learning that he expected to
turn them or some associates over
to the government. had him followed
in his trip across the west.
While Huston's story is not con-
vincing in many details still in 9th.
ers it is. He tells a most connected
as we'll as most startling and baf-
fling tale. He gives names and dates
and under rigid cross examination is
not easily involved. He is apparent
~ not dissipated man and has Ger.
tainly been well educated and has
many marks of refinement His ia
mj.iarity with government operation.
is mcst pronounced.
!. The man was not endeavoring t
!. secure large contributions in the wa,
lof mo.ey or other assistance, only
!, appealing in one quarter so far a,
|, known for sufficient funds to pro
vide meals for him until he could