Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-09
Let's Go of Half Section of
Nebraska Land, in Return
Taking Over Bronchos
Running at Large.
EXPECTED TO MAKE MONEY
Thomas Matters Figures in
Deal and Assures Preacher
Others Anxious to Get
Animals.
OTHER NEBRAsKANs FALL

S. L. Flowers, pastor of the First
Naxarene church. Burns. Ore. and
formerly of Boulder. Colo, and prev
ious to the timea pastor in Kear-
ney, Neb., church for twelve years,
told the wild horse" jury in United
States district court that he lost land
and merchandise valued at $4,000,
speculating on the wild animals.
Flowers was allowed only $3.50
per week by his Kearney parishon-
ers. he said, so when he had a chance
to exchange his wo-quarter sections
of land in Nebraska for wild horses,
which he was told would find ready
sale on the market, he traded. This
was the substance Of a part of his
testimony brought out in the wild
horse case in which the government
is, prosecuting the Union States Live
Stock company and the Omaha Land
and Investment company for the use
Of the mails to defraud.
The<pastor told OF his coming to
Omaha in 1910 and meeting Mr.. Smith
OF the United States Live Stock conf
pany in his Office in the Omaha Ma
tional bank building. The converse
ton. he said casually turned to
horses. when Smith showed him
number of pictures of fine animals,
which he told the pastor he owned
on his ranch i'll Coconino county,
Arizona.
Wanted More Facts.
But the pastor wasn't CONVINCED
enough of the validity of the United,
States Stock company to part with
any of his land for the animals.
Il wanted some, evidence from Mr..
Smith to show me that he was on the
square" the preacher testified.
We'll, did he furnish it," Tom AL
len, United States district attorney,
We'll, yes" the parson answered
Matters, who showed me a couple of
letters which he said came from a
man in Arizona who had recently
purchased some OF the animals.
THE letter said that he had caught
100 animals and that he was tickled
10 death that he had had dealings
with 1.-THE United States Live Stock
company"
What did Mr.. Matters say to you
about the reliability of the man who
wrote the letter.
"He told me that the man was SO
enthusiastic at the time that he wept
for fear he would lose the deal.
Matters said that the man had tied
up everything he had i'll the deal"
And did you make any deal with
the United tSates Land company"
Tom Allen, United States district at
torney asked him.
"Yes, | traded my two quarter sec
ions Of land for l44 horses he said.
Twenty-F -Four More Horses.
Once, that he was assured that the
deal was all right. he told the jury,
he also Offered TO trade his $500
stock OF general merchandise which
he owned N Tampora, Neb. This he
traded directly with C. NJ. Thompson,
an officer OF the live stock, company,
who allowed him twenty-four more
head of the animals He said that his
two sectors OF land we're worth about
So,50O, and with the value of the stock
# merchandise, would total $4,000.
How much were the horses to cost
"ou" he was asked
u gave approximately SOS for those
traded my land for and $50 for the
twenty-iour ! gave my merchandise
or
Il asked Thompson if | hadn't bet
'er go out and investigate the horses"
flowers stated.
MIR, Flowers you didn't accumulate
he property you disposed of, on