Evening journal., 1916-12-20
miller UNDERCOES
Government QUIZ
In Cross Examination He
Further Explains Peruvian
Gold Incidents
MORE LETTERS ARE
PUT IN EVIDENCE

Nctune, charged with conspiracy and
using the mails to further an alleged
FRAUDULENT scheme connected with a
Peruvian gold field took the wit
ness stand again this morning when
trial of the case was resumed in the
United States District Court. Miller
was cross-eXam ined by United States
District Attorney Charles +. Curley,
and retold much of the story related
by him yesterday on direct examina-
tion.
Touching upon the 1,400 shares OF
Peruvian Exploration Company stock,
VIII ch Miller is alleged TO have OBJ
tained from McCune as a part of the
$4,000 worth of shares McCune was
TO have had upon successful termina-
tion of his exploration trip to Peru,
the witness stated that he never in
formed directors of the Peruvian EX-
plorat'on Company that Miller-Frank-
hnS@nd Company were TO receive the
400 shares with the exception OF
Nh. Bassett, one of the members of
NJ Franklin and Company, Mil
ler's firm in New York. He also
seated that the transfer of these 400
shares from McCune to him was not
noted on the books Of the Peruvian
IANAlAoA aAAbAA NNiAl lnAf sAAAAN@ tAN
mitted sending a personal letter to
Porter Hoagland. the Trend OF his
son Robert Miller. requesting Hoag-
land 10 be present a. the meeting Of
stockholders Of tho Peruvian Explor-
alton Company, September 20, 1913,
when McCune's initial report was TO
be presented. Miller said that his
son and Hoagland we're not practical
mining engineer. but that he believed
their reports Of the gold fields.
Mr. Curley read a letter from John
J. Raskob dated March 81. 1914. in
which Mr.. Raskob wrote Miller eX-
pressing surprise at Miller's attitude
towards sending an engineer to Peru
IN 1914 to invest gate the gold fields.
ATr RaskOb also wrote that he was
placed in the position of having faith
In the Peruvian scheme, but OF being
unable 10 arouse in others that ia tn
and enthusiasm in the project that he
he enterta ned He alluded to Nc
Cune. in the letter. as not being q
graduate of Columbia University and
Ga n man who had not achieved any
thing 10 warrant placing him in the
position he held of general manager
Of the company in Peru.
MillCr admitted writing 20 Mr.. kas
kob under date of March so. 1914, il
which he used the words: "YOu may
think that fear 20 have an engineer
sent down there, which is true to Ger
tain degree" going on TO explain that h
alluded in tlra last phrase TO difiicultie
thef engineer might experience in making
hisltests.
Several other letters which passed be
tween Miller and Mr.. RsslSob in tn
sprina Of 1914. were read and presented
As evidence. which seemed to indicat'
that the two were not Of one mind ne
sarding an the affairs Of the gold com
pany.
Under date Of March %, 1914. Mile
wrote to Mr.. Rasl1ob that he had ap
pointed himself thc watch dog Of thi
treasury" Quoting in the letter from
remarks made by McCune, Miller stste'
that McCune lad said he had led Nc
Henry around New York. but that il
Peru. McHenrv was sn energetic boss
expressing much intenst in the gol'
fields.
Asked what he meant when he wrot'
AIcChme in December, 1914, that h
would he glad to receive a cabled reply
'Tnspired" as an answer to the letter
Miller explained that he wished McCun
20 leave 10 stone unturned 70 push tn
development Of the gold fields under th
engineer, McHenry.
Miller also stated in this letter TO Nc
Iune that in the gold fields they hai
the biggest speculative scheme in tn
world with ''plenty Of good people L
begin on" Asked If he meant by "plent,
of coed people" those already IN tn
company, Miller explained that he ha
in mind the men then interested in tn
project.
Mr.. Csirley read paragraphs from tw
letters one sent 20 McCMne by MilleI
the other being McCune's letter 20 tn
company as general manager, in whic
The substance was similar, the inferenc
being that Miller had conveyed geologi
cal information on the nature Of tn
Maranon river country and that the az
Of the world had been estimated al >
million years 70 McCune. with the ide
that McCme, as general manager, woul
Incorporate that information in lette
he would write to the stockholders.
Miller explained that the information
contained In his letter 70 McCune wa
Information that he and McCune hat
discussed while the latter was in New
York and that he had put the infOrma
ton which had been discussed IN tn
form OF memoranda for McCune 4
use in his letter to the stockholders
Asked why he had not compiled tn
information and used IL in q lette
10 the company over his signature
instead of having McCune do so, III
witness said that he was not familis
with the geological subjects treated o
in the conversations alluded TO Will
McCune was
Asked II George P. P. Bonnell's lei
ters to the company TO the effect tha
prospects for gold on the Msrano
river were not very good. did not di:
courage him. Miller replied, mo. bG
cause Bonnell looked at things fror
limited service"
did the reports make you fee
more optimistic?" he was asked.
They had no affect upon me whai
ever" witness answered.
Miller was shown several letters an
asked in whose handwriting they @
the signature to them was One of tn
letters was read in part by Mr.. Curle1
II was a letter to Mr.. BCnnell in whic
Bonnell was cautioned as to DANCE
of afixing an address or signatur
because the letter might get lost
Peru and # it bore no address or sil
nature the finder would not kno'
from whom 1t came nor for whom
was intended. Miller also cautione
Honnell that sometimes men wOul