Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-21
Declines to Tell About
Trip That He Declares
Was on Other Matter.
Former Governor Tcole
Thinks Conley's S Work
Gave Satisfaction.
(Trlbune's Helena Bureau)

Attorney General w. y. Rankin. and
upon other occasion retaining several
sheets of memoranda which he had
made while on visit TO the state
prison, and refusing to give them up
or permit them to become court ex-
hibits, Secretary of State Charles T.
Stewart created several interesting
incidents of the trial Of the case Of
the state against Frank Conley while
he was on the stand Tuesday as a
witness for the defense.
Mr.. Stewart was being questioned
as to the Walton ranch deal. which
enters largely into the Conley case
and in which he was concerned as a
member with Governor s. V. Stewart
and Attorney General s. G. Ford Of
the board of prison commissioners,
and also of the state board of exam
iners.
He testified that the lease for the
Walton ranch was considered a good
business bargain In connection with
which the board directed Conley to
attend to the details and that later, in
1920, Conley was directed to obtain
an option upon the ranch for it's pur-
chase. He said he was satisfied that
at the time he knew the details of the
transaction. but that he did not know
if the option was being taken in the
name of an individual or of the state.
His understanding was that Conley
would be reimbursed for the money he
was to put into the deal as soon as
state funds were available. He added:
Thinks Place Good Buy
There isn't, in my judgment, bet
ter ranch bargain than that Walton
ranch in the Deer Lodge valley. We
had every reason to believe a suffi-
cient amount would be realized out of
the Nimrod highway job to enable the
state to exercise it's option on the
Walton ranch"
He was asked by the attorney gen.
eral as 10 his trip about April 16 or
II. 1921, with Potter and two or three
others to Deer Lodge, but declined
to relate what he did on that day. He
explained that the trip in question
had nothing whatever to do with the
case under trial.
The witness was then shown by Mr..
Rankin several sheets of memoranda
which had been brought into the case
earlier in the trial and which it is
known, had been in the possession of
Governor Dixon from the time they
had been turned over by Mr. Stewart
to A. f. McFatridge clerk of the board
of examiners, to assist the latter in
making up his minutes of meeting
of the board of examiners immediately
following the trip TO Deer Lodge. He
explained the notes as:
My personal memoranda-to re-
fresh my recollection in connection
with a meeting which has nothing to
do with the case. | did not 90 to Deer
Lodge to close a deal for the Walton
ranch"
Ills attention was called to a sheet |
which contained list Of the buildings |
on the Walton ranch and then Mr.. |
Rankin asked to see the first exhibit, !
whereupon the witness declined to re- !
Ilnqmlsh possession and said:
This Is my property. These are |
my own personal notes-a memoranda |
made by myself for the purpose of re- /
treshlng my memory as to what took |
place that day. ! made a report to |
the board which ycu will find fully |
N the minutes
Keeps His Notes
May | see the notes:' asked Mr..
Rankin.
No he replied.
see you have some notes there
concerning prices" said Mr.. Rankin.
:, .lhere are no prices concerning the
alton ranch" answered Mr.. Stewart.
Later on Mr.. Rankin walked over
md took the notes from the lap of the
who demanded their return
and said he did not want them to 90
n as court exhibits.
Judge A. J. Horsky informed the
that the notes had not been
idmltted and that the numbers there
m had been placed there merely for
purposes of Identification.
Mt. Rankin: rs there any men
ion there of $50 per acre for the hay
anch q
Witness: There is not"
Mr.: Rankin: why did you make
MENTION OF the fact that 500 acres
o4Id be purchased at $50 per acre?"
witness; Those notes had moth
hg TO do with the Walton ranch''
Mt: oconnor: Did Conley say
nythlng indicating he wanted $50 per
ere for the Walton ranch?"
Witness: He did not"
Attorney O'Connor then objected to
nrther questioning along this line as
here was nothing in the notes to show
nat Conley had made any proposition
egardIng the Walton ranch.
Offers to Submit Notes
After period of questioning, argu-
rent by counsel and remarks by the
ourt the witness finally said the fig
res throughout the notes merely rep
esented prices which he and Conley
greed upon should be recommended
y him to the board regarding the
iking over of real and personal prop
rty at the prison. He then changed
is mind about retaining possession !
the notes and agreed they could 20
ito the case.
Judge Horsky said he would submit