The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-07-19

The trial of J. w. Brigham, promi
net farmer and former state senator
living near Genesee, on charge o.
boarding flour and using seditiou'
language against the government, wal
called before Judge H. R. Smith
United States commissioner, at Il
o'clock Thursday morning. Judge
J. L. McClear, United States attorney
for Idaho, with headquarters in Boise
was here to prosecute the case and
the defendant was represented by w
E. Lee and C. j. Orland, of Moscow
The first witness called was H. D.
! Martin, Latah county food admins
traitor, who testified that he and L. F
. Parson, chairman of the county coun-
Gil of defense, visited Mr.. Brigham
at his farm and found that he had 13
acks of flour more than the amount
lowed by law and that he persistent
Fly refused to return it and that he
talked in an cbusive manner of the
government and government officials,
saying:
"The government officers are no
more fit to run this government than
lot of yellow dogs" or words to
that effect.
Mr.. Martin told in detail of the con-
versation and other abusive remarks
against the government and the
methods of conducting the war which
he claimed were made by Mr.. Brig
ham.
Mr.. Martin described the work of
the food administration and told of
trouble it had had with Mr.. Brigham
about not delivering his wheat in the
time specified by the national food
administration. He was rigidly cross
examined by attorneys for the de-
fense, who went into every detail of
the food administration work in this
state and county. From the line of
questioning it is evident the defense
Will Vi y w SllOW tLdG CllSlS 10 oil ClS-
ment of spite work in the prosecu-
tion of Mr. Brigham. Mr.. Martin
was on the stand for nearly an hour.
The trial was set for 10 o'clock, but
it was nearly IL when it began and
Mr.. Martin was on the stand until
adjournment at IL o'clock until 80.
Greenville Clark, a druggist of
Genesee, was called after the noon
recess and testified to remarks he
had heard Mr.. Brigham make when
the Italians captured large number
of Austrians. Clark said that Brig
ham expressed regret that the Aus
trians had been captured.
L. F. Parsons, county chairman of
the defense council, testified that he
went with Mr.. Martin to the Brigham
ranch on June 19 and that Brigham
had said he would let the government
have the flour if it sent for it, but he
would not deliver it. He admitted
that Brigham had said that the gov
ernment could take anything he had.
He said Brigham had said the gov
ernment officials knew no more about
how to run the government than a
lot of yellow dogs; that the flour SUBJ
stitutes were not fit to feed hogs;
that if the government took his flour
it would be as bad as Germany and
he would as well live there as here.
Mr.. Brigham denied making some
of these statements, admitted making
some, but modified or explained them,
said he had been sick and worried
and his "yellow dog" remark was in
tended to apply to Mr.. Parsons and
Mr.. Martin, and ''such white-collared
men who come out and try to tell |
farmers how to run their FARMS" and
did not apply to the president nor to
government officials. He said that |
when told the Italians had captured
100000 Austrians, he laughingly said
sit is too bad. They ought to leave
some for seed" This testimony was
substantiated by c. P. Whalen, banker |
of Genesee, who said he heard the