Gunnison news-champion., 1918-06-07
0UTCA[T FINED
$500; WONT PAY
COUNCIL OF DEFENSE UNANI.
MOUSLY FINDS HIM GUILTY OF
HOARDlNC FOOD; DENIES HIS
GUILT.
Case Will Immediately Go to Federal
Courts; Outealt Also Forgot His
Income Tax; He II Oldest Resident
Of County.

Income Tax; He II Oldest Resident
Of County.
John Outcalt was found guilty of
boarding in violation of the food laws,
and assessed q fine Of $500 to be paid
into the Red Cross fund. The flour
which was siezed May 20, by the food
administrator was also confiscated and
the 3S2 pounds will be sold and pro-
ceeds donated to the same purpose.
Outcalt refuses to pay the fine as
sessed and the case with its sworn
evidence will be Immediately carried
up to the United States Federal Dis
trict court.
The trial was held yesterday before
the County Council of Defense, Judge
Stone presiding. There were seven
teen members present as jury, in
cluding Messrs. Nourse, Jorgensen,
Palmer, Lake, Lightley, Lobdell,
Kreutzer, Steele, Kelley, E. NJ. Collins,
Comstock, Berkstresser, C. H. Stone,
Sargent, Otis Moore, Miss Martha c.
Brown and Mrs. Margaret White
OLeary. Their decision was unanim-
GUS that Mr.. Outcalt had failed to do
his duty as citizen in al the war
activities and had actually violated
the regulations by holding and not
reporting all -four over the proper al
lowance. Mr.. Outcalt denied the
charge absolutely, employed Judge
4cDougal rs attorney to defend him
and brought in many witnesses.
The trial began with large attend
ance of interested citizens. Among
witnesses against Mr.. Outcalt were
Sheriff Hanlon and E. L. Sargent, who
went and got the -four rs described in
the News Champion last week. The
food administrator declared that he
was Suspicious because Of tho small
contribution Of "a cents which Outcalt
had made to the recent Red Cross
drive. The latter had also given so
cents to the Y. N. C. A. cause, Mrs.
Outcalt had given so cents to the Red
Cross, besides a freezer full Of ice
cream at party, and $50 Liberty
Bond was purchased by the family al
tho the committee in charge had thot
. man of Mr.. Outcalt's means should
buy thousand dollars worth.
The case hinged around the intent
to hide this flour in the hay and that
81 cents, which was like red rag in
the face of the patriotic men and wo-
men who devote SO much time and
strength and money to war work.
The holding of the -four was not de-
MED, but Mr.. and Mrs. Outcalt de-
elared it was purchased year ago
IN May, when they bot ton from the
Robuck closing out sale. 1t had been
kept regularly in this barn, which was
periodically filled and emptied of hay.
The loft had been filled that morn
ing, which accounted for the hay on
top of the big cans. Daughters Of the
family and hired men testified to the
practice of keeping this flour in the
barn. The Outcalt family all denied
knowing thing of the food regula-
tions, altho they take the newspa-
pers which had published them. They
were always too busy or too tired to
read the papers. In rebuttal, Rev.
Ferris testified to hearing E. n. Col
lins tell Mrs. Outcalt about the flour
rules. Mr.. Collins could not remember
the conversation, as he had explained
the regulations to hundreds, he said.
Richie Walker stated that on May 6,
at tie school election she said they had
no flour in excess. Also in March she
purchased fifty pound sack Of flour
with substitutes altho they then had
this excess Of -four ON hand.
But outside of whether the food
boarding was wilful or not, the Ques-
tion continually harked back to that
"a cents. The full details Of how the
committee composed of Mrs. VIM.
Spann and Mrs. Laurel Spann went
mp Spring creek to find Outcalt, Of how
he borrowed the dusty nickels and two
Indian heads Of his little daughter,
Vererelle, and Of how, few days la
ter when asked by Chairman Samp-
liner to contribute $25 he stated that
ehe had already given to that outfit, -
were repeatedly testified to. Mr.. Out
calf denied using the words THAT
outfit"
Much stress was laid by the defense
and by Judge McDougal in his closing
remarks, about the age Of the defend
ant, who is now u, altho 8 vigoruus
hard working ranchman. OF how he
came to Gunnison in 1874, and is now
the oldest resident Of our county, Of
his apparent sincerity in denying that
be knew of the food regulations ard
the testimony Of corrobrating witnes-
ses that there was NO intention Of hid
ing tie hour. The law was unoues-
tionably violated, thot the conmft*ee,
and that q cents was the sticker.
Evidence showed that the defendant
owned property variously valued at
from &z6tA00 by the assessor 10 S7b,-
600 md $10O000 by Other parties. he
wAs believed TO haye . large equity in
! the 1le0 acres ef Ane rapeh Land and
the 60 Rod II eat43e, AltAo poooeo-
I'D q nleans ~ 1a1lily's tetal eaih
eont1eutaong = Nax aeeivities weso
lcsIl.si = 1yutA rass)