Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-02
CON[EY PUTS
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well. you might think so," was the
reply, but | was after results and
got them"
why was this system permitted to
continued" asked Mr.. Rankin later in
the examination.
Il know what you want answered
Conley. You want me to say it was
due to a democratic administration.
won't do that-and I am a republican,
too"
Mr.. Rankin then took up a process
OF questioning intended to develop the
idea that Conley had made a large
amount of money in connection with bis
administration of the prison affairs.
How much money did you have
when you started at the prison?' he
asked.
Says Flat Like Dixon
II had just about as much as Gov
ernor Dixon had when he started to
congress-" was the reply.
How much was that?"
1T was nothing answered Conley.
l"I was flat. And I will be flat again
when l get thorugh with this case"
You are worth about q half a mil
lion, aren't you?" queried the attorney
general.
Where do you get that stuff" Con
sioo, o sSa'S 'a'A' not worm
The attorney general then proceeded
to quiz the witness as to his various
holdings. which brought out that Con-
ley owned a quarter interest in the
Realty block. for which $1,000 was
paid, that he had q half interest in the
South Deer Lodge Water Works COM
pany. that he owned his own resi-
dence, worth $4,000 to $4,000, that
he had a $4,000 interest in the hotel
at Deer Lodge. that he and McTague
own the Irwin and Bratton ranches.
about 20 lots across the river from
Deer Lodge which they may let 20 for
the taxes. that they own four lots in
Deer Lodge, have about a S13.O 900 in
terest in the Walton ranch, and an in
terest of about $1,000 or $4,000 in a
grain elevator at Deer Lodge.
Debt Only Bank Interest
He said they also owned the Valley
Creamery company, which, however.
might no longer be in existence as they
bad sold all the cows. He said he owned
no stocks or bonds and had no interest
in a bank other than that he owed
100000 to the bank.
Mr.. Rankin tried to bring out that
Conley owned some suburban acreage
near Seattle but the witness insisted
that that belonged to his wife, had
COME to her from the estate of her
parents. and that he had furnished
about $1,000 to clear up the title to
the land.
Well. how much did you make out
of it," asked Col. Nolan of Mr.. Rankin.
! got about $685. 200" was the
reply of the attorney general.
Turning back to the affairs of the
prison Mr.. Rankin asked if the land
npon which the prison is located be-
ionged 10 the state and was informed
by the witness that it did. that the
property. was turned over to the state
by the federal government.
The witness was then subjected 70
further questioning regarding the
products of the various ranches esne.
cially as to hay and vegetables.
Didn't you have to buy vegetables
for the PRISON. he was asked.
He replied that vegetables were
bought only for the outside camps.
that practically all the vegetables used
in the prison were raised by the state
unless in bad years when the crops
were poor. One year. he said, all the
cabbage and most other vegetables
were killed by insects and in certain
seasons it was necessary to buy cab
bage and onions. He said in 1917 the
prison bought $4,000 worth of seed
potatoes and other seeds.
The witness said that when he was
one-third of the rental on the |
ranch he was getting hay |
and pasture from it to not exceed the |
value of $500 per year while the state
getting $1,000 to $4,000 worth
of vegetables in return for its two
thirds share of the rent.
Board Advised Johnson Sales
Questioned as to why he sold some
Of the hay through George johnson,
Jr.. he replid that one of the mem
bers of the prison board told him to
sell it through someone else. He said
thought it was Dan Kelly, then
general.
Il always thought he knew his buis-
ness and l still think So" remarked
Conley. 1
He added that he made the sales
Johnson because johnson was
then engaged in selling beef to the
that in all Johnson had sold
The state about $4,000 worth Of beef.
In reply to some question about the
prison boards Mr.. Conley sug-
yested that the boards acted with har-
nony, in great contrast to the present
prison board, and that they had sue
in erecting a million dollars
worth Of buildings at Warm Springs,
those built at Galen and Deer
a record which he intimated