Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-04-14
EX-GOVERNOR WEST
ON WITNESS STAND
Methods of Handling Copperfield AT.
fair Are Probed BY Court Trial For
Damages.

Baker, Or, April l4.-Govcmor West
was on the stand in his own behalf yes
terd0y in the case Of William Wiegand
former councilman and saloonkeeper of
Copperfield, who is suing West, Colonel
Lawson Of the National Guard ct al, for
damages alleged due for liquor confis
Gated when Governor West put Copper
[ field under martial law in January,
/ 1914
Some time was devoted 20 reading l6
letters from Copperficld citizens, de.
scribing conditions there prior to the
declaration Of martial law, Attorney
Nichols, for the plaintiff, objected to
the introduction Of the letters to justi-
/ by selling Of the liquor the court ruling
that they could be admitted only to
Justify martial law
/ West Is testimony, following reading
Of the letters, largely concerned his
conversation with Rev Mr.. Lee Of
Huntington, who made a personal visit
to Salem, complaining to the governor
that District Attorney Goodwin and
Sheriff Rand were not enforcing the
law.
Objections Are Frequent
Nicholas frequently objected, when
West gave his opinions, reached as n
result Of Lee Is information. The court
finally ruled that the witness must con.
| fine himself TO statements made by Lee.
With the exception Of testimony on
the value of the seized liquor, plain
tift's case rested yesterday afternoon.
Attorney Collier for the ex-governor,
and Attorney General Brown, represent.
/. ing Colonel Lawson aud the miltamen,
Immediately moved for nonsuit. Motion
of the attorney general was sustained,
and Golfers motion was denied, max.
ing West now the only defendant.
"Lce said" !" testified West, "that
Sheriff Rand was an excellent officer
for catching murderers horse thieves,
etc, but having served 80 long he had
bocomcd hardened 10 conditions in min.
ing camps, TO which Lee attributed
Rand 's failure 10 enforce the law at
Coppprfield. The witness told fur.
ther Of complaints lodged by Mrs Tin.
lmh, president Of the state w. G. r. g.,
and Superintendent shelton Of the Anti.
Saloon League, which had much to do
with the governors action in declaring
martial law
"Didn Z you know that you were di.
recting the eyes Of the United Stutcs
to the 'lnwless element Of Baker c0un.
.tyl Didn't you write nm article FOR the
American Magazine concerning the Cop.
pcrfeld episode, and weren't you and
Miss Hobbs snapped by moving pie.
ture man on the state house steps, Just
before she set ont for Eastern ore.
gonln asked Mr. Nichols
Publicity Is Admitted.
The ex-governor admitted the pub.
licity through the press and the mnga.
zine article bat could not recall the
moving picture incident,
d" / merely wanted the people TO know
what was going on, be caid
Asked regarding his desire for noto.
riety, he said he had not sought noto.
ricty, had at all times been sincere and
biz modcsty was o matter Of opinion
Were you sincere in sending n
young girl 70 such hcllhole as Cop.
perfcldl" shot Mr.. Nichols.
~ was, wanted to show the people
of the state that anybody even 100.
pound girl could do the job when
clothed with the authority Of the gov.
ernorn
Cost Of Raid Estimated.
Mr. West said that the cost Of the
Copperfield raid might have been W, 900
but wds not sure. When asked why he
had not spent more on investigation IN
preparation for 1t, he replied that funds
For that purpose were exhausted and
that while he was in office he had Dor.
rowed $500 10 advance personally FOR
vice crusade work, but that the state
had reimbursed him
~ om out quite little yet f" he said.
lIo rohearsed his cleanup campaign
fu Eut,ua and nufflu al and sutd thnt