The Nome nugget., 1925-12-05
WEDNESDAY,, Ik'ccnil,cr ?, 1925. THIRD DIVISION GRAND JURY
 CONDEMNS PRACTICE OF
 ALASKA CANNERlES

Cordova, Dec. 1, lPD-The grand jury report brought here from Val dez by District Al orney F. II. Eos fer, bitterly attacks the Boring Sea bringing their employees from the States to Alaska, stating, such characters cause the greater part of the violent crimes committed in this part of the territory" the re- port further states:
 The jury condemns the practice of having men paruled from the iails and reformatorirs of the Paci- tir Coast tn engage them during the canning season and says. most of the lawlessness charged by Wash inetun officials against bonafide residents of the territory, are main ly due To the canneries bringing 'the scum of The earth. composed of il polyglot aggregation of crim- inals.' adding that in this part of Alaska half of the annual business of grand juries is composed of in vestigating crimes perpetrated by this class of people, and advocates ployees, barring dope fiends, de generates and criminals.
 The grand jury criticised the U. $. Commissioners at Bristol Bay ports for putting such shamefully small bail that many charged with felony skipped out, and advocated that the marshal be provided with g skilled criminal investigator who would be able to prevent delay in many cases. causing loss of evi- dence in remote districts. also urg- ed the appointment of a deputy U. s. marshal and United States Commissioner at Renal where num- erOus crimes are perpetrated. The hundred and is without any officer or other representatives of the law.
 It was also suggested in the re- port that the legislature pass law providing severe punishment fer habitual criminals and deportation of alien criminals, other recom- mendatiOns were the stationing of Coast Guard cutter at Prince William Sound for the purpose of aiding vessels in distress and sug gesting that the Territorial Legis lature pass law requiring that laborers be paid in currency or check on Alaska banks.
 A remarkable story of stolen identity was revealed in the trial of John Akin Flanders. who acted as cannery doctor at kenai, as re- vealed by District Attorney Foster. when he returned here last night from Valdez Flanders was arrested in October, by indignant citizens of Kenai and taken over hundred miles to Seldovia and charged with a statutory crime, was bound over to the grand jury who brought in an indictment against him for which he was tried last week and ac- quilted. but during his examination while on trial admitted that his name was not Flanders but Rudolf Griess a German. and his former home was in Chicago. that he never had a medical degree but confessed that while a student at the Loyola college. medical school, in 1919. he roomed with John A. Flanders now successful medical practi- tioner in Chicago. afterwards he strayed out West and two years later in San Francisco got a job as doctor with the Alaska Packers Association at Chignik. assuming the name Of John A. Flanders and basing his reputation on the record of the Chicago d0etor.- after that he was doctor for the Libby. Me- Nell and the Northwest Fisheries ats their Bristol Ray and Kanni