Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-10
CON[EY Tells 7.
ABOUT SELLING
WATER CHEAP.
Explains Low Rate to
Milwaukee Was to Get
Road to Deer Lodge.
After 10 Years Charge
Was Same as Made to
Prison, Conley Says.
(Tribune's Helena Bureau

(Tribune's Helena Bureau
Helena, Iune Claims that he
was selling water to the state at
much lower rate that could be OBJ
tained from any other concern, that
he had tried to induce the state to
purchase the plant and that he wished
the state at this time would secure its
water elsewhere were made by Frank
Conley Friday in the course of his
testimony bearing upon the cause Of
action relating to the construction by
convict labor of the South Deer
Lodge water plant and the water
rentals paid by the state.
Mr.. Conley claimed he was not OBJ
taining returns from the plant suffi-
cient to pay the going rate of interest
upon the investment and figures were
introduced to show that during a
break in the water mains of his plant
water had been obtained from the
competing plant at cost about triple
that which was charged by him.
Testimony relating to three causes
of action was introduced during the
day that bearing on the fifth cause
of action which had been started
Thursday being completed during the
forenoon, all of the testimony regard
ing the sixth being put in during the
day. and start was made on the
seventh cause late in the afternoon.
When was the agreement made be-
tween you and the board regarding
the use of automobiles" asked Mr..
Rankin at the resumption of the trial
Friday morning.
Il cannot tell replied Conley.
MAY be in 1912 or 1911, or as far
back as 1910"
With the old board?"
"Yes, the old board"
"Not with the new board?"
"No. l wasn't there long enough.
You bought a car for Potter. You
never bought one for me-"
Il never bought a car" explained
Mr.. Rankin.
''Well, one was bought. anyhow"
The witness was then asked about
the agreement as to the replacement
oy the state of farming machinery be-
longing to Conley & McTague and he
said this agreement was made by the
first board in fact by all of them, he
said.
A half hour was consumed in a
series of seemingly unimportant ques-
ions and answers regarding the vari-
BUS outfits Of blacksmithing tools.
some of which was furnished by Con-
ey & McTague and some furnished by
he state.
Rehash Gas and Tires
Then the matter of gasoline and
Tres furnished for Conleys cars was
lgain dug up and Conley said all the
BOARD members had been agreeable TO
he plan of the state furnishing these
supplies for his cars. He said that
altogether, during the time he served
is warden. he had about 13 cars and
he state got the use Of all of these
ars with the exception Of one. that
belonging to his wife. which was used
principally as pleasure car.
Mr.. Conley's connection with the
tate highway commission. the division
# expenses of automobiles used in the
ighway work and various other fsAA
ures of highway commission activi-
les in which Mr.. Conley and the
onvicts were concerned came up and
esulted in long series of questions
nd semi-argument between Mr.. Con-
ey and Mr.. Rankin. which led the
ounsel for the defense to intimate
1atters at issue.
spin Itf0 expense
Conley said that the state bought
Tres for his Packards but that he per-
onally bought and paid for all tires
sed on the Cadillacs. He said there
-ere no new tires on hand at the time
I the change of wardens except few
elonging to the highway commission
nd that he took these tires with him
hen he quit the prison because he
'as personally responsible for them.
lie said the highway commission had
t one time received from the govern
lent about carload of tires, for
-hich the commission was not com.
elled to pay.
You spoke of Potter being two-gun
ian and for that reason you wanted TO
love your stuff quickly suggested Mr..
.ankin in recalling a statement to that
fleet made Thursday by Conley.
yes" said Conley. Governor Dixon
pnt him down there to take care OF
le."
''You said that in jest?"
II did not say that in jest. We
light have trouble. / am the last man
! the world that Is looking for
.ouble."
You are not afraid of him?" asked
IT. Rankin.
II never saw man in my life l was
raid Of just put that under your hat"
"As a matter of fact you we're not
the least bit alarmed at Potter" said
le attorney general
Il have f&mily and I am not look.
(Coptintsd ON Pass XAEsa>
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