Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-03-23
F federal Records
Reveal Further
Deals by Byron

Further details regarding the oper-
ations Of Carlos L. Byron. now serv-
ing sentence in the federal prison al
McNeils Island for using the mails
with intent to defraud, are announced
from the office of the United states
district attorney in Portland and print
ed in the Oregon Journal. as follows:
Carlos L. Byron. Oregon land
frauder now serving Is months in led
eral prison at McNeils Island, has a
laugh. All at the expense of 115 prom
inent Salem citizens who are holding
the bag and wondering how in time
they were induced to part with n1Iv
than $4,000 for nothing more than
promises of each obtaining S2S'OO0
timber claim.
Long has the story been bottled up
in the land office and the United States
attorneys offices here. And not IN
thousand years would the Salem citi-
zens peach
His Life Work.
'Suave, convincing, talkative, Byron
entered the state capital several
months ago. even while under the sem
tence he is now serving. But what's
an impending 8 months when mans
life work is the betterment of others?
$50 they fell. According to details
collected here, City Superintendent of
Schools Todd gave Byron use of the
high school for a get-together meet
ing. Teachers, business and profes-
sional men were invited to bring along
their cash to get in on a real money
making scheme.
at is said that when Byron walked
out of the meeting he had about S15,-
600 in cash. He gave receipts for the
money, and said that any time his Gus
toners were dissatisfied with their
bargains, he would repay them.
All on the Quiet.
"'But,' 1t is said he admonished,
don't write anything about this. The
land office doesn't want me to go about
selling good timber this way, 50 if you
want to clinch the bargain, be still. If
you want to know anything come and
see me or ask me to come up here
Later, learning that government
agents were investigating his Salem
operations, Byron returned to his cis-
ents and Cancelled the receipts he had
already written, giving others in ex-
change, it is said.
u he reason for this was that ne hat
given contracts agreeing to settle his
customer on a certain quarter sectioL
of timber land for $500 down and 5000
later. He was incautious enough to
issue several contracts for the same
quarter section. His new contract
mentioned no certain plot, it is said,
but agreed that the customer should
be satisfied with his buy.
Knew the Good Timber.
Byron was enabled to sell his serv-
ices only because certain timber claims
had been declared void, he said He
knew where the good timber was,
would show it to clients, and then they
could file on it in the land office.
$50 nicely did his scheme work that
his clients refused to tell government
dBeiAlS any tHlllB NDout ilAS oPSio
it is said Several of them disregard
ed advice of persons who had well
grounded beliefs as to Byron's opera,
tions and said they would hold to their
bargain.
Among the victims now holding the
sack are: Dr. Carl S. Doney of Will
lamette university, who paid $1,000;
Frank Myers, William McGilchrist, F.
$. Barnes, Walter Winslow, attorney;
Professor Won Eshon of Willamette
university, A. A. Dee and City Surerln-
tendent of Schools Todd.
Todd Goes TO See Byron.
Todd has just returned from Nc
Neils Island where he conferred with
Byron about the lands Byron it is
said promises to repay everyone.
when up for commitment in United
States district court here several days
ago Byron's attorney asked for a brief
extension of time to allow his client
opportunity to settle business affairs,
among them these Salem matters.
However, the request was not granreo.
but said government official,